OTTAWA – CBC/Radio-Canada released the details of its plan for the transition to digital over-the-air television today.
The transition to digital television, whose deadline is 390 days away, is an industry wide issue requiring a concerted effort by all players – broadcasters, the CRTC, and government – to ensure that Canadians are properly informed of the changes coming and how to deal with them.
So far, the industry has produced little when it comes to ensuring Canadians are properly informed, so this plan is a welcome, if late and small, beginning.
CBC/Radio-Canada will be installing digital transmitters in all of the markets…
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TORONTO and KINCARDINE – Rogers Communications has purchased Kincardine Cable, Cartt.ca has learned.
The deal closed on July 31st and employees were informed this week, according to a Rogers spokesperson. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Kincardine Cable is based in Kincardine, a town of about 12,000 on the eastern shore of Lake Huron in Ontario, approximately 225 km northwest of Toronto. The company has approximately 6,000 cable customers across 27 systems, ranging in size from 2,800 subscribers in its largest down to seven subscribers, all spread over an area spanning some 1,500 square kilometres.
The company has been an active, progressive independent cable…
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MONTREAL – Cogeco has offered a comprehensive new plan for the radio stations it plans to take over under its $80 million deal to acquire nearly all of Corus Entertainment’s Quebec radio stations.
The CRTC said Tuesday it will hear the application to buy the 11 stations on September 28. The stations involved in the transaction announced in April are: CFQR-FM 92.5, CHMP-FM 98.5, CKOI-FM 96.9 and CKAC-AM 730 in Montréal; CFOM-FM 102.9 and CFEL-FM 102.1 in Québec City; CJRC-FM 104.7 in Gatineau; CHLT-FM 107.7 and CKOY-FM 104.5 in Sherbrooke; CHLN-FM 106.9 in Trois-Rivières; and CIME-FM 103.9 in St-Jérôme.
"Cogeco…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC’s proposal to include broadband as part of the basic service objective (BSO) for telcos is getting lukewarm support, at best. The Commission proposed the idea in a broad consultation on a variety of telecom matters, referred to as the “Obligation to Serve” proceeding.
MTS Allstream Inc. and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) are two that have said making broadband part of basic service would represent a logical extension of the current regime. Presently the BSO only applies to local voice services.
“Including broadband access in the Commission’s universal service objective would also recognize the…
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GATINEAU – Citing “serial abuse” by Shaw Communications, Telus has reiterated its demand for immediate interim relief from the CRTC over the Calgary-based cableco’s tactics when customers want to switch from Shaw Cable or Shaw Direct to Telus’ Optik TV.
It did so while lamenting the Regulator’s decision to extend and expand CRTC 2010-406, the call for comments on the customer transfer process and related competitive issues, the very thing Telus (and others) want solved. Now. As reported by Cartt.ca, the Commission (prodded by Rogers Communications) decided to extend the deadline for comments on the proceeding because it…
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FEW FEEL THE turmoil in our industry like independent communications companies.
They lack the resources of the national cable, satellite and telco carriers and are quite small by comparison, of course – but their customers expect similar options (prices, services, broadband speeds, etc) that they see advertised by those big companies. Those independents also have to deal with the same regulatory and legislative change, negotiate contracts with programmers and others, and keep on top of the latest tech trends and new business opportunities, too.
Which is the reason why the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance exists and thrives. Working collectively, the…
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GATINEAU – When it comes to the Canadian communications industry, the web is taking over, according to the CRTC’s annual Communications Monitoring Report.
Based on 2009 data, (end of August for broadcast, end of December for telecom) the report shows the communications industry accounted for 4.6% of Canada’s gross domestic product with overall revenues rising 2.1% to $55.4 billion, compared with revenues of $54.3 billion the previous year.
And, Canadians are increasingly using mobile and Internet services to communicate and access broadcasting content. By the end of the year, there were 23.8 million wireless subscribers and 8.3 million broadband Internet.
From…
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CALGARY and TORONTO – The Ontario Superior Court of Justice today issued a order sanctioning the restated consolidated plan of compromise, arrangement and reorganization relating to Shaw Communications’ $2 billion purchase of Canwest Global Communications television assets.
Previously, Shaw announced that it had entered into agreements regarding the acquisition of 100% of the over-the-air and specialty television businesses of Canwest, including all of the equity interests in CW Investments Co., the Canwest subsidiary that owns a portfolio of specialty television channels.
"This is another important step forward with respect to the CMI Entities emerging from the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act…
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TORONTO – In a little over two weeks, Canadians (assuming carriage agreements are in place…) will have another TV sports option to pick from.
Rogers Communications today announced Rogers Sportsnet One, a new sports specialty that will feature over 800 hours of live events, all in high definition, will launch August 14th.
The national live-event line-up features the Toronto Raptors, National Basketball Association, the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Major League Baseball and Barclay’s Premier League.
This also marks the return of pro basketball to Sportsnet. Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet One and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment have signed a deal to…
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GATINEAU – A local company in each of Montreal and Sudbury, Ont., were granted BDU licenses for their communities by the CRTC today.
A numbered company owned by Northern Ontario-based ISP and VOIP provider Vianet is the new license holder in Sudbury. It plans to launch an IPTV-based TV system to complement its phone and internet offerings.
The Montreal license recipient is another VOIP provider and ISP called Ormuco, which also plans to launch an IPTV video service.
www.vianet.cawww.ormuco.com
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