OTTAWA and GATINEAU – Profits for conventional television stations fell by 85% in 2012, according to the CRTC’s latest statistical and financial report for this sector released Thursday.
The Commission said profits before interest and taxes (PBIT) for private TV stations declined from $151.6 million to $22.9 million in 2012.
Revenues dropped by 5% from $2.14 billion in 2011 to $2.04 billion in 2012. While local advertising sales remained relatively stable at $354.6 million, down just 0.2% from the previous year, national advertising revenues decreased 7.5% from $1.47 billion in 2011 to $1.35 billion in 2012.
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TRACKING TRENDS REMINDS ME of what Henry Ford said when he was quizzed about popular trends and his new Model T, "If I had asked people about what they really wanted they would have said a faster horse!" But here at the Banff World Media Fest there are some bankable trends emerging.
First, the rise of the multi-gadget digital viewer is a hyper-fact, and very often creators enjoy working with niche media and OTT platforms for the freedom and multi-platform thrill and innovation of it all. However, there is still nothing quite like broadcast television for the immediate future.
Second, broadcast…
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BANFF – CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais told Banff World Media Fest delegates it’s time for Canada to talk TV – really talk about it – in order to figure out what we as a nation want from our television system as the global electronic media universe just keeps changing and growing.
In the fall, said the chairman, the Commission will embark on an ambitious plan to potentially remake the regulatory system so that the rules work better in the face of the rampant technological development and consumer behavioural shifts we see today.
“I am already on the record as saying we…
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OTTAWA – Shaw Communications now has 100% ownership of specialty channel TVtropolis after the CRTC approved its application in a decision Tuesday to acquire Rogers’ 33% interest in the Category A service for a reported $59 million.
The acquisition of Rogers’ remaining interest in TVtropolis is part of a number of transactions between Shaw and Rogers announced in January. At that time Rogers said it would acquire Shaw’s cable system in Hamilton, Ont. and secure an option to purchase Shaw’s Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum holdings in 2014. Rogers said it would also enter into…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is not satisfied with Telus’ proposals to address violations of undue preference regulations regarding the marketing of OUTtv, and has given the telco until June 20 to come up with a more detailed marketing plan to promote the national gay and lesbian network as part of a lifestyle extra package on its OptikTV service.
In its December 2012 decision, the Commission found that Telus failed to market OUTtv in a manner comparable to other similar services on its Optik TV distribution service and subjected OUTtv Network to an undue disadvantage. The…
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TORONTO – “Ladies and gentlemen, you know better than anyone that wireless devices are at the very core of our lives – enabling us to work, engage in social media, play games, watch movies, get directions, buy products and so much more, including financial transactions,” CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said to Canadian Telecom Summit delegates Tuesday morning.
Turning to his overarching theme of making sure Canadian citizens are at the very heart of what he does, Blais added: “Your products and services have become an extension of our jobs, our families, our personalities. They have become essential to achieving our…
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TORONTO – Cell tower sharing remains a white hot topic for wireless competitors and the issue raised its head Tuesday morning during the Canadian Telecom Summit’s annual regulatory blockbuster panel, moderated again this year by Cartt.ca editor and publisher Greg O’Brien.
Although mandated tower sharing was included in the 2008 AWS spectrum auction rules – as it will be for next year’s 700MHz spectrum auction – the problems for new wireless entrants are the growing costs to share tower space and that access rules are not adhered to by the three incumbents, said Ed Antecol, vice-president of regulatory affairs and…
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TORONTO – Rogers announced today its recently acquired station The Score will be rebranded as Sportsnet 360, providing breaking news, scores, stats, highlights, analysis and live events.
Targeted to the hard core sports fans, Sportsnet 360 will launch on July 1 with a new logo, sets, animation package, and enhanced ticker that combines the look and feel of Sportsnet with familiar elements of The Score brand.
Rogers president of broadcast Scott Moore announced the launch today as…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC’s new Wireless Code issued today allows consumers to cancel their mobile wireless contracts after two years even if they have signed on for a longer term, and also places caps on data overage and roaming charges.
The code, which will apply to new wireless contracts beginning December 2, 2013, requires wireless service providers to cap data overage charges at $50 and national and international roaming charges at $100 within a single monthly billing cycle. Additional charges cannot be added without a consumer’s consent.
The Commission says capping these charges is…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadian mobile customers will be able to cancel their wireless contracts after two years without any cancellation fees under the CRTC’s new Wireless Code, which was released this morning.
The new mandatory code, which will come into effect on December 2, 2013, outlines basic rights for individual and business customers. It also requires all wireless service providers to follow consumer-friendly business practices that make it easier for individual and business customers to obtain and understand the information in their service contracts.
The wireless code will apply to all service providers in…
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