Search Results for: crtc

Cable / Telecom News

Consumer groups appeal to cabinet to overturn payphone rate hike

OTTAWA – A coalition of consumer advocacy groups is petitioning the federal cabinet to overturn the CRTC’s approval to raise payphone rates from 25 to 50 cents per local call. The groups cite a public opinion poll of more than 1,000 Canadians conducted for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) in July showing that 75% of respondents agreed that 50 cents was too much to pay for a local payphone call. The petition calls for the cabinet to overturn the rate hike, announced as part of the CRTC’s new price cap regime, and send the matter back to… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Rogers’ profits swell 20% in second quarter

TORONTO – Times are very good for Ted Rogers and company and its shareholders. Profits are swelling, the dividend is increasing, and customers are growing to all aspects of the business, except for basic cable. Rogers Communications Inc.’s consolidated operating profits grew by 20% in the second quarter of 2007, the company announced today. In the three months ending June 30, adjusted operating profits were $898 million, compared with $746 million in the same quarter in 2006. Consolidated operating revenue rose 16% in Q2 of 2007 to more than $2.5 billion. The board of directors also more than tripled… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CanWest releases more details on Alliance Atlantis acquisition

TORONTO – CanWest Global Communications has announced more details on the $2.3 billion acquisition of Alliance Atlantis. The deadline for the deal has been extended by a week to Aug. 15, as reported earlier, so CanWest and Goldman Sachs can obtain bridge financing from a banking syndicate. CanWest said in a statement today that it’s deferring its previously considered high-yield debt offering “due to recent turmoil in the North American debt markets.” CanWest and Goldman Sachs say they have settled the terms of their joint venture, including their contributions of equity to the company that will acquire Alliance… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Broadcasters’ revenues rise despite fewer hours tuned, CRTC says

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadians are spending less time watching television and listening to the radio, but revenues continue to climb for both media, according to the CRTC’s annual report on Canadian broadcasting. In 2006, Canadians watched an average of 27.6 hours of TV per week, less than the 28.1 hours they spent in 2005. Nearly 78% of all TV viewership last year was to Canadian services. Revenues for conventional television were up by about $100 million, to $2.6 billion last year. Revenues for specialty channels, pay, pay-per-view, and video-on-demand services rose by about $300 million, to $2.5 billion in 2006…. Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

The TUESDAY INTERVIEW: Stephen Peck adds “Fuel” to Calgary radio market

ALBERTA IS BOOMING, and so are its airwaves. Calgary is getting four new radio stations in the latest licence award by the CRTC. One of the most recent to launch was Fuel 90.3, a second Calgary FM station for Halifax-based Newcap Broadcasting, which has been operating california 103, a smooth jazz/blues station, for five years. Fuel pulled in respectable numbers in its first BBM ratings period, according to the spring book just released. The aptly named Fuel hopes to cash in on the region’s energy boom with a “Triple A” format—adult album alternative. At the helm is Stephen Peck,… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Sale of CanWest radio stations to Corus is complete

TORONTO – The CanWest MediaWorks sale of its two Canadian radio stations to Corus has been completed. CanWest says Corus bought 99.1 Cool FM in Winnipeg and The Beat FM in Kitchener for an aggregate cash price of approximately $15 million. As reported by Cartt.ca, CanWest announced last fall it was getting out of the radio business in Canada, saying its failure to get applications for more stations approved by the CRTC meant it could no longer make the radio business work. Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

ATN set to launch new foreign third-language channels

TORONTO – Asian Television Network says it’s set to launch four new foreign third-language channels after the CRTC recently added them to the list of eligible satellite services. ATN has been given the green light to distribute SET MAX, Star India One, Star India News, and Star Vijay across Canada on a digital basis. The Toronto-based network said it will soon announce its launch plans for the channels. Sony Entertainment Television (SET) MAX offers Hindi movies, not only Bollywood blockbusters but also Hollywood movies dubbed into Hindi. ATN says SET MAX, backed by Sony Pictures International, is India’s premium… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CRTC seeks supplier to manage do not call list

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC has made another move with plans to establish a do not call list for consumers to stop unwanted telemarketing. The commission has put out a request for proposal, asking suppliers to bid by Sept. 10. Suppliers need to show they have enough cash to fund the start-up costs and first two years of operating costs, among other things. Earlier in July, the commission set out the rules for the list’s creation and operation. The request for proposal to manage the list can be found on the government’s tendering service, MERX. Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTF recommendations “simply unacceptable,” directors say

TORONTO – The Directors Guild of Canada is adding its name to the list of production industry professions upset at the recommendations by the CRTC’s task force looking into the funding of the Canadian Television Fund. The DGC filed comments with the CRTC this week urging the commission to reconsider several recommendations. The task force, led by CRTC vice-chair Michel Arpin, recommended in its June report that the CTF contributions from BDUs be taken out of the fund and put into a private funding stream. The directors object to this, saying that the BDUs make those contributions as… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Comments sought on CAB’s Equitable Portrayal Code

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC is calling for public comments on the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ proposed voluntary Equitable Portrayal Code to guide how identifiable groups are portrayed on radio and television. The CAB has drafted the code to replace its 1990 Sex-role Portrayal Code. The new code will cover not only women, but also how members of visible minority groups, Aboriginals, and people with disabilities are portrayed on the air. The CAB’s private broadcaster members are expected to adhere to the code. The association contacted 36 community organizations dealing with those issues, but only 7 responded to requests for… Continue Reading