OTTAWA – Look for a number of new TV stations from the likes of Rogers and the CBC to hit the Canadian airwaves.
The CRTC approved five applications from Rogers this week for national, English-language Category 2 channels. Specifically:
– The Competition Channel, which will air reality-based programming, including competition-based reality and do-it-yourself makeover programs;
– Contessa, which will feature programming on relationships, lifestyle, beauty, trends and style, and focus on the interests and needs of working women aged between 25 and 54 years;
– Epic TV which plans to show classic television programming;
– Luxury Living featuring all things that can bring a…
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OTTAWA – Haliburton Broadcasting Group has received CRTC approval to buy three radio stations in Ontario.
The company said last September that it planned to acquire Stratford combo 1240 CJCS-AM and 1077 MIX-FM (CHGK-FM) from Raedio Inc. and CFSF-FM Sturgeon Falls from JOCO Communications. The Commission valued the transactions at $3.8 million and $500,000, respectively.
Haliburton Broadcasting Group owns and operates 17 radio stations throughout Ontario in rural markets that include Haliburton, Huntsville and North Bay.
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OTTAWA – Community-based campus radio station CKLN has received a temporary reprieve after appealing a CRTC decision revoking its broadcast license.
After filing a motion with the Federal Court of Appeal just days before it was scheduled to go off the air, Federal Judge Carolyn Layden-Stevenson granted the station a stay on the CRTC’s decision to shut it down. This allows it to remain on-air pending determination of CKLN’s application for leave to appeal.
Located on the Ryerson University campus in Toronto, the radio station had its licence pulled by the CRTC last month after determining that the broadcaster breached numerous regulations…
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OTTAWA – CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein used an interview-style keynote as a soap box of sorts to press broadcasters and producers on a number of issues. In responding to questions from retired broadcast executive Trina McQueen, he urged to broadcasters and producers to come to an agreement on terms of trade prior to the group-based licensing hearing in April.
Otherwise, he said, he’s prepared to impose one.
“If you don’t get it done at the hearing, I want to see your latest best offer and we will impose something on that basis. It’s all in an attempt to get…
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OTTAWA – Three major actors in the Canadian broadcasting sector say they are bullish on the future of the system in the face of new technologies and changing consumer TV viewing behaviour.
CBC/Radio-Canada, Astral Television Networks and Shaw Media said they have taken steps to ready themselves for new consumer content consumption behaviour resulting from new mobile technologies and other emerging platforms. They noted they did this even in the face of a significant advertising downturn resulting from the global financial recession.
During a panel moderated by former Global TV News anchor Kevin Newman, representatives from the three companies…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC says it has gotten the message loud and clear from Canadians regarding TV commercials that need to lower the volume.
It’s launching a public consultation, after receiving hundreds of complaints, that will seek possible technical and regulatory measures to ensure commercials are not perceived to be louder than the programs they accompany.
"Loud ads on television can disrupt an otherwise enjoyable program and are a source of significant annoyance for Canadians," said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. "Viewers should not have to adjust the volume at every commercial break, and we will work with…
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OTTAWA – After a Parliamentary committee decided yesterday to pull back from a 10-year-old request asking the CRTC broaden its rules applicable to false and misleading news, Commission chair Konrad von Finckenstein confirmed that the public notice will be withdrawn.
Speaking to the Canadian Media Production Association annual Prime Time event, he explained the rule has been in place “for a donkey’s age”, but a decade ago the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations – a joint Commons and Senate committee that studies government regulations – determined that the CRTC’s rules regarding false and misleading news ran…
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TORONTO – Canadian Satellite Radio shareholders today approved the merger of XM Canada and Sirius Canada at CSR’s annual and special meeting of shareholders.
John Bitove, executive chairman of CSR said the company will now continue to work with the CRTC and the Competition Bureau to obtain regulatory approval.
"The proposed merger of equals will create a leading Canadian media company and nationwide audio entertainment provider that will deliver exceptional value to shareholders and subscribers, and enhance the long-term success of satellite radio in Canada,” says Bitove.
It is expected that a combined XM Canada and Sirius Canada will yield synergies…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC has denied a request from SaskTel to deregulate business telephony in Regina.
In its submission, Sasktel argued that Regina’s existing telecommunications service providers, Access and MTS Allstream, were capable of serving the area and that the market was therefore competitive enough for deregulation.
However, Access noted in its submission that it does not provide a business service that is capable of serving at least 75% of the number of business local exchange service lines in the exchange. SaskTel claimed that Access meets the competitor presence test, and, in support of this claim, SaskTel conducted a survey of…
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OTTAWA – Partisan politics were on full display during Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore’s appearance before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage yesterday. While Moore was there to talk about the mandate and funding of the CBC/Radio-Canada, a good part of his time was spent responding to criticisms regarding the appointment of Tom Pentefountas as vice-chair broadcasting at the CRTC.
During Moore’s hour in front of the committee, the chair had to interject a number of times to ensure MPs remained on track with their questions. The committee also passed a motion requesting that Pentefountas appear to…
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