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 – 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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SINCE THE "CITY With a Heart of Gold” is the home town of Cartt.ca editor and publisher Greg O’Brien, we figured we would act as hosts of a couple of hours of cocktails and food the night before the “Obligation to Serve” CRTC hearing getting under way next Tuesday in Timmins.
Channel Zero (owners of CHCH TV, Movieola and Silver Screen Classics) generously offered to help us co-host the cocktail party to be held at the Timmins Days Inn, from 7 to 9 pm Monday October 25th in Ballroom D.
Knowing the city as we do, finding something to do there…
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TORONTO – Bell Satellite TV has added three new local OTA signals to its channel lineup: CTV Ottawa, CBC Edmonton and CBC Regina.
“Bell Satellite TV subscribers in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, as well as across the country, can now access the region’s leading local news broadcasts from CTV Ottawa,” said Louis Douville, CTV Ottawa VP and GM, in a release.
“We are responding to our customers in Ottawa-Gatineau who have told us they want to see their #1 local channel on Canada’s premier satellite television service,” added Heather Tulk, Bell’s SVP, residential products. Bell Satellite TV has 1.9 million…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has announced plans to resume the hearing that it began in May about the community-based campus radio station CKLN-FM Toronto, plus has added more information to its public file.
The Commission originally adjourned the hearing in Toronto on May 12 due to on-going litigation and judicial mediation before the Ontario Superior Court concerning the governance of CKLN Radio and the legitimacy of the current board of directors. The hearing has been rescheduled for December 8, 2010 at 9 a.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton – Toronto Airport in Toronto.
The deadline for interventions on the additional…
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TORONTO – Retiring CTV CEO Ivan Fecan worked in TV all of his life. He was a producer, director and executive at a number of levels. As CEO, he knows all there is to know about how TV in Canada works.
The background of the new CTV CEO-to-be is far different.
Kevin Crull, president of residential services at Bell Canada (CTV’s new parent, pending regulatory approvals) was appointed COO today. He takes the job January 1st and will become CEO once Fecan retires when the Bell acquisition is closed sometime in early 2011.
While Crull knows he’s going to have…
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SASKATOON – Golden West Broadcasting says that it has learned its lesson. After being denied an opportunity to launch a FM radio station in Humboldt Sask. in 2008, the company has come back with facts in hand, demonstrating that it should be awarded the licence.
But Golden isn’t the only company vying for a FM radio station licence in the small Prairie market. Fabmar Communications Ltd., the owner of a regional FM station that covers Humboldt, Melfort and other areas, also wants a licence.
The two companies squared off during a CRTC hearing on Wednesday over who’s better positioned…
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