GATINEAU – Canada’s major cable companies and telcos are squaring off against MTS Allstream and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre over the CRTC’s authority to mandate broadband as an essential service in the so-called “Obligation to Serve” CRTC proceeding beginning Tuesday in Timmins, Ont.
Comments filed with the CRTC in late August show that Bell Canada, Telus and all of the large cablecos are, not surprisingly, opposed to any Commission intervention on this matter, while PIAC and MTS firmly believe that the CRTC can make broadband essential.
The issue has become a central theme in the proceeding which will cover…
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GATINEAU – Since all of the country’s biggest broadcasters (save CBC) will soon all be owned by Canada’s biggest carriers, the CRTC has announced a new proceeding to examine safeguards to prevent anti-competitive behaviour.
The proceeding will include a public hearing starting on May 9, 2011, in Gatineau, Que.
“The broadcasting industry is being significantly reshaped by a series of major transactions,” said Konrad von Finckenstein, chairman of the CRTC, in the press release. “As a regulator, it’s only prudent that we study the implications to ensure we have the right tools to deal with competitive concerns as they arise….
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications will take full ownership of Canwest Global on Wednesday, the company announced this afternoon, just after the CRTC said it approved of the transaction.
"We are pleased with the comprehensive and expeditious review of the transaction conducted by the CRTC. We felt that we had a constructive and positive dialogue with the CRTC, and other interested parties, with respect to the transaction’s impact on the Canadian broadcasting industry,” said CEO and vice-chair Jim Shaw, in a release.
“We look forward to strengthening the Industry going forward through innovation, technology enhancements, additional investment, and a commitment to…
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CALGARY – As has been expected, Brad Shaw, the younger brother of CEO Jim, has been appointed chief executive officer of Shaw Communications, effective January 13, 2011. After 12 years as CEO, Jim has decided to step down and recommended Brad as his successor, the company reported this morning.
The younger Shaw fils has been taking on more of a public profile for the last 12 months or so, appearing at a number of industry events, even leading the Shaw team through much of the Shaw-Canwest purchase hearing in front of the CRTC in September.
(We even speculated, correctly as it…
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GATINEAU – Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Shaw Communications will soon own Canwest Global’s TV properties as the final regulatory hurdle was cleared this afternoon.
The CRTC today approved Shaw’s acquisition of the conventional television stations and specialty channels controlled by Canwest Global Communications.
“We are satisfied that this transaction will generate substantial benefits for the Canadian broadcasting system,” said Konrad von Finckenstein chairman of the CRTC, in the press release.
“Shaw will provide the television properties involved in the transaction with stable ownership as they emerge from a period of uncertainty. The broadcasting system also stands to gain from Shaw’s commitment to…
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CALGARY – Consolidated service revenue at Shaw Communications for the fourth quarter and full fiscal 2010 year of $939 million and $3.72 billion was up 8% and 10%, respectively, over the comparable periods last year.
This will be the last full fiscal year as a pure carrier company and under CEO Jim Shaw, as the company will close its purchase of Canwest Global on October 27th and Jim’s brother Brad is slated to take the CEO’s seat January 13th.
Total service operating income before amortization of $423 million and $1.76 billion, respectively, improved 7% and 14% over the same periods. Excluding…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC decision on the purchase of Canwest Global Communications’ TV assets by Shaw Communications will be announced tomorrow at 4 p.m., a Commission spokesperson told Cartt.ca.
Watch the Commission’s web site or Cartt.ca when the news breaks.
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GATINEAU – All the drama of a couple’s “big day”, not to mention the drama before and after the day, may soon be brought to life with the CRTC approval of The Wedding Channel, a new category two specialty service license for High Fidelity HDTV.
According to the approval, the channel will be “devoted to marriage, weddings, wedding themes and wedding-related programming,” it reads. “The service would offer feature films, documentaries, shorts, series and other programs that focus on providing unique insights to viewers concerning marriage and wedding themes.”
Click here for the full release.
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GATINEAU – Atop Broadband received a Class 1 Broadcast Distribution Undertaking license from the CRTC today to serve the Greater Toronto Area.
Under its license the company can serve Ajax, Aurora, Bolton, Brampton, Caledon, East Gwillimbury, Etobicoke, Georgetown, King City, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Newmarket, Nobleton, Oakville, Orangeville, Oshawa, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, and Vaughan (Kleinberg, Maple and Woodbridge).
The company is owned by Robert Socci, president of Atop Communications, and according to the proceeding’s documents, it appears it will be an over-the-top video provider that will provide its own set-top box using its customers’ existing cable DOCSIS or telco…
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TORONTO – Multi-platform specialty service Bite TV will debut its new fall lineup this Friday with a relaunch to the 4.5 million homes nationwide that it reaches.
“Bite’s focus on rising stars and up-and-coming talent remains unchanged,” reads the press release. However, the Second City, Yuk Yuk’s, Just for Laughs, and Edmonton’s Caution: May Contain Nuts sketch troupe are “set to inject a shot of Canadian comedy into Bite’s award-winning mix of short-form programming.”
The new Bite embraces Canada’s emerging comedy scene and is committed to developing and showcasing the country’s top rising comedians.
"Our commitment to budding home-grown talent is a…
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