OTTAWA – A year after submitting a report to the CRTC on the presence, portrayal and participation of people with disabilities, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has outlined plans to help influence a positive shift in attitudes.
It announced today a three-pronged campaign to help counteract negative social attitudes and misinformation about people with disabilities.
The campaign includes the release of “Recommended Guidelines on Language and Terminology – Persons with Disabilities”, a glossary and manual for news professionals.
A public service announcement, entitled “Open Your Mind”, has been prepared to encourage the hiring of people with disabilities in…
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VANCOUVER – Canadian stars told Canada’s private broadcasters today it is time they invest in more Canadian TV drama.
Instead of producing more “reality” TV shows, said Gabrielle Miller, star of Corner Gas and Robson Arms, “what we need is new rules to protect our Canadian cultural sovereignty and to get more home-grown dramas on our televisions.”
Miller was speaking near the annual Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) convention where the theme is “New Realities, New Rules”.
He was joined by other stars, including Joy Coghill (Da Vinci’s Inquest, Stargate), Jackson Davies (X-Files, Beachcombers), Donnelly Rhodes (Da Vinci’s Inquest,…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC told Bell ExpressVu today that it can’t add XM Radio Canada or Sirius Canada to its entertainment lineup without first getting a license amendment.
Specifically, "the Commission finds that satellite subscription radio (SSR) undertakings are not programming undertakings and that the licensees of direct-to-home broadcasting distribution undertakings, in the absence of a specific condition of licence allowing such distribution, do not have authority under section 39 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations to distribute the programming of SSR undertakings," says the decision.
Mainly, XM and Sirius aren’t like Galaxie or MaxTrax, is what it means.
The…
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PUBLICLY CALLING OUT SOMEONE as a bigot is generally considered a poor way to build a business relationship with them.
However, the folks at English language Muslim channel Bridges TV, for whatever reason, believe this is their best chance at gaining carriage in Canada. And, not only have supporters of the channel labeled Rogers Communications, its founder Ted Rogers, and TV vice-president David Purdy as Islamophobic hate-mongers – claims that are wholly absurd – they’re also playing fast and loose with the facts.
Following up on a screed released October 18th, several Canadian Muslim groups said that a…
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OTTAWA – Just like Proctor and Gamble pays Loblaws for a front-and-centre placement in the laundry detergent aisle for Bounce dryer sheets, so should companies like Google or Apple or Amazon have to pay ISPs like Videotron for transmitting their goods to consumers along the Internet backbone.
In a speech Tuesday at the Fourth Annual Telecommunications Forum in Ottawa, Dépatie’s speech just might rip the lid off the so-called "net neutrality" debate in Canada. On one side we have sectors of consumers fearing their unfettered access to the Internet will be disrupted (or unduly influenced by who pays the…
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OTTAWA – Telling customers "we miss you" or somesuch, doesn’t violate the CRTC’s prohibition on telecom win-back promotions, the Commission said today.
Earlier this year, Quebecor Media (owners of Videotron) complained to the Regulator, saying that Bell Canada’s practice of sending customer appreciation cards to recently lost customers violates the telecom regs, which restrict win-back promotions until 90 days after disconnect from the incumbent local telco.
The Bell cards in question had the following caption on their cover: "it just won’t be the same without you."
And inside: "I’m writing to say that we are sorry to see you…
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TORONTO – It’s all in trustee John McKellar’s hands now.
CHUM Limited announced today that at a special meeting of shareholders held Monday morning, the amalgamation of CHUM with Bell Globemedia Inc. (specifically, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BGM) was approved. The amalgamation was completed shortly after the meeting.
BGM bid $1.7 billion of CHUM Ltd. in July.
BGM has completed a compulsory acquisition of all of the common shares of CHUM that were not tendered to BGM’s offer to purchase all of the outstanding common shares and any and all of the outstanding non-voting class B shares.
Pursuant…
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WHILE THE SENIOR REGULATORY EXECUTIVES of all the nation’s telcos, cablecos and other parties met with federal MPs Thursday in Ottawa to plead their cases on telecom regulation, across the river in Gatineau, the CRTC was receiving its newest application for local forbearance – in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Saying it has already passed the threshold of local line customer losses (25%) in the Alberta oil-boom-town about 450 kms north of Edmonton – thanks to rigorous competition from Shaw Cable – Telus wants the CRTC to deregulate the market, as outlined in its April 2006 local forbearance decision.
Shaw…
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VANCOVUER – The 80th edition of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters annual convention will feature an impressive roster of keynote speakers, including B.C. premier Gordon Campbell, CRTC chair Charles Dalfen, Rick Hansen Foundation, president and CEO Rick Hansen; Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, and many others.
The line-up of musicians performing at various times during the three days includes Colin James, Melissa McClelland, Delhi2Dublin, Alpha YaYa Diallo, Daniel Lavoie and Sarah McLachlan.
This year’s convention is booking up quickly, says the CAB, so if you haven’t already registered, it is encouraging members and others…
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TORONTO and MONTREAL – Wireless video and data company Look Communications said today it has hired U.S. investment banking firm Greenhill & Company "to assist in the strategic repositioning of Look and to assist the company in maximizing shareholder value."
Such a release containing such euphemisms are usually the kick-off to the sale of a company. Greenhill’s web site says it is "focused on mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring and merchant banking." Look, now owned by Unique Broadband Systems, has finished restructuring.
"Look is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the exploding wireless communications market in Canada with…
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