BY THE MIDDLE OF this year, Canada’s largest satellite operator, Telesat, will be a much bigger company.
When Loral Space Communications and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board said in December it would pay about $3.4 billion for Bell Canada Enterprises-owned Telesat, it moved the Ottawa-based company into a larger playing field. Its seven satellites plus four from Loral and the four the companies currently have in the pipeline under construction or awaiting launch, will more than double Telesat’s size by the end of 2009, when the last bird on the drawing board right now is built.
However,…
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OTTAWA – The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union has asked the new CRTC chairman, Konrad von Finckentstein, to launch hearings into the Canadian media landscape.
CEP says it represents approximately 25,000 members in the media, and that ownership concentration has reached exceptionally high levels requiring a public analysis.
"Thirty years ago the Commission was going to look into the issue, but that hearing was cancelled. Nothing has been done since," said Peter Murdoch, vice-president media, in the press release. "As a result, today we have significantly higher concentration of ownership. And given approximately $4 billion worth of transactions waiting…
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GATINEAU – Quebecor Media’s Sun TV has asked the Commission for permission to build transmitters in both London and Ottawa.
The move would dramatically expand the channel’s coverage area, making it a basic cable must carry across most of the province- and Sun TV would then be far more competitive in the lucrative Southern Ontario TV market.
Expect the existing broadcasters in the region, from CTV to Global to the CBC to Rogers to CTS to whomever ends up owning the A-Channels (London, Wingham, Barrie and Ottawa) after the CTV-CHUM purchase, to vehemently oppose any further market additions, just…
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NEW YORK – News Corporation said yesterday it will launch FOX Business Channel in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO, FOX News and Chairman, FOX Television Stations will develop and oversee the new venture.
In order to gain carriage in Canada, the new channel will have to be sponsored by a Canadian broadcast distribution undertaking in an application to the CRTC for addition to the eligible satellite list. (A bigger question would be that with ROBTv, CNBC and Bloomberg already serving the business news market here, how many will want to pay for it?)
Stateside,…
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GATINEAU – As long as it’s a point-to-point transmission and the wireless carriers first have permission from TV companies to carry their signal(s), mobile TV will not be regulated like cable television.
A new exemption order issued Wednesday by the CRTC, which was kicked off by a public notice in April of 2006, allows services like MobiTV continue (even if those types of services, carried by Bell Mobility, Telus and Rogers Wireless, haven’t seen much traction yet).
Click here for the full Commission order.
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SIMCOE, Ont. – Cable pioneer and community TV stalwart William "Barry" Grainger died January 29 after a short battle with cancer. He was 63.
Grainger had a 40-year history in the industry, beginning as a cable technician at Grand River Cable. He worked for a number of cable companies in southwestern Ontario and also spent some 15 years at the CRTC.
But, he really made a mark at independent cable and telephone company Amtelecom, where he was community program co-ordinator at Amtelecom Cable 5 from 1992 until his death.
Grainger (pictured) was known for his can-do spirit. He and his team…
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TORONTO – Canadian Women in Communications have announced the winners of its CWC Annual Awards for 2006.
Four Canadian women and one communications-industry employer are recognized annually for their contributions to the Canadian communications industry.
“Celebrating the achievements of women is one of CWC’s most important and rewarding tasks,” said Stephanie MacKendrick, CWC president, in the press release. CWC holds an Annual Awards Gala in Ottawa that celebrates the achievements of women, and those who support their advancement in the Canadian communications industry.
Participants in the awards presentation program will include: Minister of Industry, the Hon. Maxime Bernier, Minister…
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CALGARY – In case anyone was wondering whether or not Shaw Communications was prepared to soften its stance on paying into the Canadian Television Fund, a press release this afternoon put any such thoughts to rest.
"Shaw Communications today announced its conclusion that the Canadian Television Fund ("CTF") is simply the wrong way to support the production and exhibition of high quality Canadian programming," says the release.
"The CTF is broken and cannot be fixed" said Jim Shaw, CEO. "Our customers pay for the CTF through their taxes and subscription fees. We would prefer to return the money to…
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TORONTO – All high-definition content provider, High Fidelity HDTV, now has seven more channels to launch.
The CRTC granted High Fidelity seven new HD licence approvals, which will enable the company to offer the rapidly growing number of Canadian HD viewers additional smart, refreshing, and beautiful HD programming choices. The company already offers such channels as Rush HD, Oasis HD, Treasure HD and Equator HD.
“We are very pleased that the CRTC has granted these seven new licence approvals”, said David Patterson, senior vice-president, High Fidelity HDTV.
High Fidelity, an independent broadcaster, brings innovative and all-original HD programming to…
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IT’S STARTING TO LOOK like this year could be the final one for the Canadian Television Fund in its current form.
With two of its four largest contributors (#1 Shaw Communications and #4 Videotron) adamant that they will forward $0 to the CTF – and with a Heritage Minister in Bev Oda who may be sympathetic towards their complaints – at the very least, upheaval is a certainty.
Oda, who on Monday renewed her government’s $100 million annual commitment to the fund, met with representatives of the four primary private sector contributors: Rogers Communications’ vice-chair Phil Lind, Bell…
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