MONTREAL – Bell Canada CEO George Cope used his opening address to the CRTC Monday morning to announce that post-merger, pending Commission approval, that is, Jacques Parisien will join Bell Media’s executive ranks, largely overseeing the company’s French media assets.
“Located here in Montréal, Jacques will oversee both French and English-language media properties operating across Canada. In addition, Jacques will contribute to Bell as a key executive leader in our Québec market development efforts through his extensive relationships with stakeholders across the province,” said Cope.
When it came Parisien’s turn to speak, he added: “I would like to begin by saying…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – In the end, indie-rock won out. The CRTC has granted a licence to Rock 95 Broadcasting to launch a new Toronto radio station on 88.1 FM. Rock 95 will offer an English-language music format with a focus on independent and emerging Canadian artists. Forty per cent of the music featured on the new station will be Canadian musical selections, of which at least 60 per cent will be from emerging artists.
“Even in the age of digital media, Canadian artists who do not have major-label support face a tough road to success. Rock 95’s station will give much-needed…
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MARKHAM – The CRTC has approved Bhupinder Bola’s application to air a commercial FM radio station in Markham with an Adult Album Alternative/Adult Contemporary musical format. The commission denied an application for a broadcasting licence to operate an ethnic commercial AM radio station in Markham by Canada Inc.
The station will operate on frequency 105.9 MHz with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 618 watts. Bola currently owns and operates Bolson Consulting Inc., a company offering technical and business development services to the broadcasting industry.
“ to operate a predominantly English-language commercial FM radio station best meets the…
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MONTREAL- Locked-out Bell TV workers are holding an information picket this week at CRTC hearings into the proposed Bell Canada and Astral Media merger.
"In our experience, the bigger Bell Canada gets, the worse it treats its employees," says Barb Dolan, Ontario Administrative Vice-President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) in a statement.
"Our members, who have been locked out while trying to obtain a first collective agreement, have a clear message for the CRTC: Along with corporate growth, goes a responsibility to treat workers fairly."
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TORONTO – Cartt.ca has confirmed the CRTC will announce tomorrow the winning bid for the coveted 88.1 FM slot in Toronto and judging by the wide range of applications it promises to alter the city’s radio landscape.
The 88.1 frequency became available after the CRTC revoked the license from Ryerson University’s CKLN after multiple license infractions spread over years.) The commission’s hearing to award the 88.1 slot attracted a record 22 applications. A common theme in all the applicants’ pitches was the stated need to take 88.1 FM in a completely new direction.
For example, Newcap wants to develop a…
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TORONTO – As Bell officials argue that a bigger Bell will be better for all Canadians at CRTC hearings this week in Montreal, Bell Media announced it will sponsor the Canadian Film Centre’s (CFC) flagship TV program that supports emerging writers for the next three years.
Now called The Bell Media Prime Time TV Program, it’s designed to help train writers and develop new projects for the television marketplace.
"Simulating the story room experience, the Bell Media Prime Time TV Program offers new talent the ultimate mentorship, the chance to learn from the best in the business," said Corrie Coe,…
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MONTREAL – They didn’t really want to say just yet, but under questioning this morning, CRTC Commissioner Suzanne Lamarre forced Bell into divulging the list of radio stations it plans to divest assuming its plan to buy Astral Media is approved.
Bell has said all along it would sell 10 radio stations in order to remain on side of the CRTC’s common ownership policy when it comes to radio stations. While it tried to keep the list confidential saying it would add further stress to already worried employees, commissioner Lamarre was insistent, saying in French they…
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WHILE BOTH SIDES OF the Bell-Astral deal debate were ensconced in Montreal hotels on Sunday polishing their lines and rehearsing their delivery in advance of the CRTC hearing starting Monday morning, the SayNoToBell forces fired out one more press release Sunday afternoon.
The Quebecor-Cogeco-EastLink backed public relations campaign claimed Bell has been preventing its TV ads from airing on CTV until just now.
“Twenty-six days after being asked, CTV has finally broadcast its first television commercial opposing its parent company's ambitions to control an even greater portion of the Canadian broadcasting space,” says the Say No press release which was headlined:…
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AND ON IT GOES…
As we said earlier, while both sides of the Bell-Astral deal debate were ensconced in Montreal hotels on Sunday polishing their lines and rehearsing their delivery in advance of the CRTC hearing starting Monday morning, the SayNoToBell forces fired out one more press release Sunday afternoon.
The Quebecor-Cogeco-EastLink backed public relations campaign claimed Bell has been preventing its TV ads from airing on CTV until just now.
“Twenty-six days after being asked, CTV has finally broadcast its first television commercial opposing its parent company's ambitions to control an even greater portion of the Canadian…
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MONTREAL – CPAC will present live coverage of the CRTC hearing regarding the BCE acquisition of Astral Media beginning Monday. CPAC will televise the week-long hearing in Montreal in its entirety beginning at 10 am each day, and provide online coverage beginning at 9 am ET.
Since the House of Commons is not sitting until the week of September 17th, CPAC has the ability to carry long-form coverage on the channel in addition to the web site.
Due to the size and scope of the proposed transaction, the Commission has stated it will likely…
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