OTTAWA – In a decision released today, the CRTC approved three of the four changes requested by Shaw Media in its application to amend certain aspects of the tangible benefits package related to the transfer of control of Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting Inc.’s broadcasting companies.
The Commission approved Shaw’s proposals to reallocate the $14 million of the tangible benefits package devoted to news and public affairs so that it would spend $6 million on a current affairs show and $8 million on the expansion of international news bureaus. It also approved the reallocation of $2.4 million…
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TUESDAY’S ARTICLE ON PACKAGING flexibility, the cost of sports, and the evolving demands of consumers unfortunately misinforms and misleads readers by providing a narrow view of a complex ecosystem. Several important facts are worth pointing out. (Note, for simplicity I’ll use “cable” to represent all cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors, except where specified).
FACT: Content costs are indeed increasing.
Creating and acquiring content is frustratingly immune to productivity and efficiency improvements demonstrated in industries like computers and technology. Creating content is entirely a people business. The cost goes up every year. And sports content costs are increasing the fastest. But…
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OTTAWA – If you’ve ever found it difficult to find things on the CRTC's web site, now you have an opportunity to let the Commission know (they already know the site needs a dramatic overhaul). The Commission launched an online survey today asking for input to help better organize the content on its website.
The survey, which uses online usability testing software from a New Zealand-based company called Optimal Workshop, presents a series of pages with lists of hyperlinks. You are asked to find specific pages of CRTC-related content by clicking through each list and indicating…
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WHILE ACQUIRING SPORTS rights is getting increasingly expensive for broadcasters, the fact is it’s still a profitable business – and in Canada, Rogers is in the best position to profit from sports programming, according to a new report from BMO Capital Markets.
Sports programming, reads the research report by analyst Tim Casey, is a critical category for all BDUs. “Sports are live. They are PVR-proof. They are relatively piracy proof. As media distribution platforms proliferate, sports programming has emerged as the most resilient, and therefore most important, category for video suppliers and packagers.”
National…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC announced today that Comwave Telenetworks Inc. has paid a penalty of $100,000 as part of a settlement over telemarketing practices pertaining to calls made by its independent dealers.
Comwave Telenetworks Inc. is affiliated with Comwave Telecommunications Inc., a provider of telecommunications services, such as home telephone, VOIP telephone and long-distance services.
The CRTC issued a notice of violation after its investigation and found that while Comwave did subscribe to the National Do Not Call List (DNCL), there were months where they erroneously did not download the list as required. As…
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AS THE DEADLINE APPROACHES for submissions in the CRTC's hearing to examine our plan to unite Astral and Bell Media, competitors are already revving up their rhetoric.
Last week in a blog post, Telus's director of regulatory affairs, Anne Mainville-Neeson, road-tested the company's lines on why "vertical integration in the broadcasting industry can be harmful.” This position conveniently overlooks the fact that the federal Competition Bureau has comprehensively reviewed and cleared the proposed Astral-Bell Media transaction, and that the CRTC is of course conducting its own comprehensive analysis.
It also ignores the fact that the CRTC already has a…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance and Quick Connect Solutions have paid $80,000 in penalties as part of a settlement over their debt consolidation robocalls after being investigated by the CRTC.
The CRTC issued two notices of violation after its investigation found that Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance and Quick Connect Solutions, both based in Brampton, Ont., had failed to comply with the telemarketing rules. These companies used automated calling devices, also known as robocalls, to promote their services to consumers without obtaining prior express consent. Ontario Consumer…
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OTTAWA – After almost two years of consultations, the CRTC has announced its revisions to the regulatory framework for small incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs).
The Commission says its determinations in this proceeding were made to ensure that the small ILECs’ customers continue to have access to reliable, innovative, and affordable services; provide the small ILECs with means and incentives to further increase efficiencies and innovation; and implement a regulatory framework for the small ILECs that minimizes regulatory burden to the greatest extent possible.
The revisions to the small ILECs’ regulatory framework…
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By Steve Faguy
MONTREAL – The owner of a yet-to-launch Montreal television station is being threatened with legal action because the brand he's using for it is being considered as a new name for Radio-Canada.
This week, the CBC's intellectual property lawyer sent a legal letter to Sam Nowrouzzahrai, whose family owns 4517466 Canada Inc. and the licence for an ethnic over-the-air television station in Montreal that is set to launch this summer. The letter orders the company to cease and desist the use of the name "ICI" because it infringes on the CBC's trademark.
The ethnic TV station had planned to use…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC launched a public consultation today on whether video relay service for Canadians who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired should be offered. As part of this consultation, the CRTC will hold a public hearing starting on October 21, 2013, in Gatineau, QC.
Currently, two text-based relay services, Internet Protocol relay and teletypewriter relay, are available to Canadians who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. Video relay service would enable people who use sign language to communicate with voice telephone users via an operator who relays the conversation…
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