GATINEAU – CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein told the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and Telus on Monday that the two organizations need not fear Bell Media withholding its TV signals while the independent carriers continue to try to convince the broadcaster to alter its new wholesale carriage agreement.
As Cartt.ca first reported last week, a number of Canada’s independent TV distributors have balked at signing the new contract, which encompasses up to 30 Bell Media channels (including TSN, BNN, Comedy, MuchMusic, Discovery and so on) and have complained to the CRTC that the terms demanded by…
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MONTREAL – Both of Canada's two French-language private television networks made commitments to increase local news programming as CRTC hearings concluded Friday in Montreal.
Remstar, which bought the TQS network out of creditor protection in 2008 and eliminated its news-gathering operations, read the writing on the hearing walls and committed to increase local news programming on its five owned-and-operated stations after spending the week resisting calls to do so.
In '08, the CRTC gave what is now called V Interactions three years of reduced local news minimums when the station was purchased (from…
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By Pierre Dion, CEO, TVA Group
WHEN IT APPEARED BEFORE the CRTC for television licence renewal hearing last week, TVA Group pointed to the changes underway in the competitive and technological environment for the broadcasting industry and explained the conditions it needs to continue to thrive in the new broadcasting landscape.
Over the years, thanks to the efforts of its 1,600-plus employees, TVA Group has become the largest French-language broadcaster of entertainment, news and public affairs programming in North America. It is also one of the largest private creators and producers of Québec cultural content. Every year,…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Bell Mobility gave itself a “significant competitive advantage” by entering into exclusive agreements for the mobile rights to popular National Hockey League (NHL) and National Football League (NFL) content, the CRTC ruled Monday.
The decision comes as a result of a complaint filed by Telus last January after it attempted to negotiate with Bell and the two leagues, without success, for the rights to the content. Telus said that “to the extent that bundling of services plays an important role in delivering value to consumers, the effect of ‘carriage of content’ (Bell’s content) exclusives on mobile platforms may…
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OTTAWA – A number of Canada’s independent cable operators have balked at signing a new omnibus carriage agreement for the up-to 30 specialty channels owned by Bell Media and instead are demanding the CRTC step in and decide who’s right.
According to sources with direct knowledge of the agreement and the ongoing battle, both Cogeco Cable and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance have been through a few rounds of official CRTC staff mediation, which hasn’t yielded much in the way of results. It now looks like the disputes are headed towards binding, final offer arbitration in front of a CRTC…
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OTTAWA – In an effort to lessen the administrative paperwork, the CRTC has simplified some of its requirements for BDUs.
On Wednesday, the Commission said that it is eliminating the requirements for BDUs to seek regulatory approval for amendments to their service areas and to file service area maps as part of an application for a new BDU licence, for a licence renewal, or for an extension to their licensed service area.
www.crtc.gc.ca
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has amended the exemption order for terrestrial BDUs serving fewer than 20,000 subscribers.
The Commission said Wednesday that starting April 1, 2012, exempt BDUs will be required to make a contribution to Canadian programming of 5% of gross revenues from broadcasting activities. For the 2011-2012 broadcast year, this contribution will be payable on gross revenues from broadcasting activities earned between April 1 and August 31, 2012, and for subsequent broadcast years, the contribution will be payable on gross revenues from broadcasting activities earned over the entire broadcast year.
In addition, exempt BDUs are authorized to…
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OTTAWA – A new channel called SuperHero plus a new Canadian pay-per-view service received CRTC approval Wednesday.
Owned by Bell Media, SuperHero is a national, English-language specialty Category B service that would offer programming from international markets featuring the latest trends in non-violent action, adventure, superheroes, comedy and interactivity. The service would reach an interactive level with programs on the games associated with action series as well as magazine shows to cover current comic book trends and the classics, according to its application.
Canyon.TV Inc. was given the go-ahead for a broadcasting licence to operate a national, English-language terrestrial pay-per-view programming…
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MONTREAL – Cogeco Diffusion shut down its Sherbrooke-based radio station CJTS-FM Tuesday at noon after failing to find a buyer. The move puts a dozen employees out of work, the company confirmed to Cartt.ca.
After approving its acquisition of Corus’ Quebec radio stations last April, the CRTC told Cogeco to divest of three of the stations in keeping with its common ownership policy which limits the number of stations in one market owned by the same company. Cogeco sold off two of its four Quebec City area stations last week to Leclerc Communication Inc., as Cartt.ca reported.
Cogeco said…
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OTTAWA – Manitoba and Saskatchewan regional CRTC Commissioner Candice Molnar has been reappointed for another five-year term, it was announced today.
In a short note to staff, CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein congratulated her for the renewal which will take her service until 2017. Her term was due to come to an end on January 6th.
Molnar spent over 20 years at SaskTel, as general manager of customer service and GM of the Crown Corporation’s regulatory department. (Ed note: And regularly asks tough, intelligent questions during Commission hearings. She clearly does her homework.)
www.crtc.gc.ca
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