MONTREAL – The Quebec language group Impératif français has complained to the federal government about the manner in which Rogers Cable handles French-language TV channels in Ontario, saying the carrier is demonstrating “contempt” for the province’s French speakers.
In a letter to federal Public Works Minister Michael Fortier, the group calls on the federal government to respond, by not renewing its cellular service contracts with Rogers Wireless.
It says Rogers no longer offers the Radio-Canada arts channel ARTV as part of its basic service, even though it says the station is made available at no cost to distributors in…
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OTTAWA – Industry Minister Maxime Bernier’s efforts to hasten deregulation of local telephone service have come under fire from Canadian consumer groups.
At a press conference Monday, the organizations charged that the minister’s proposals and policy direction to the CRTC ignore the Commission’s roadmap to competition that took into account the largely dominant position of the established local phone companies and was aimed at permitting the creation of viable competition. Some in rural communities say the directive will stifle competition in smaller markets.
The Canadian Consumer Initiative, a coalition of six consumer organizations, accused the minister of trying…
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OTTAWA – The annual Prime Time conference of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association will zoom in on the key issues facing the industry when delegates gather in Ottawa next month.
With the focus on the rapidly changing broadcast environment, the conference (Feb. 21 to 23 at the Westin Hotel) will feature discussions on the future of conventional broadcasting, new programming platforms, children’s programming, and financing.
Setting the tone on the opening day (Thursday) will be the CRTC’s interim Chair, Michel Arpin and the federal Heritage Minister Bev Oda.
They’ll be followed by sessions on the place of…
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TORONTO – A deal that had to happen from a CanWest point of view came together quickly over the holidays, say the principals.
After market closing Wednesday, CanWest Global Communications and GS Capital Partners, a private equity affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co., announced they have entered into an agreement to buy Alliance Atlantis Communications for $53 per share in cash for an aggregate price of approximately $2.3 billion.
The deal fixes a long-term gap in CanWest’s portfolio which has been light on specialty services. CanWest has a single analog service: TVtropolis (formerly Prime) and digi-nets Men TV, Mystery,…
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CALGARY – The Canadian Television Fund will lose a huge chunk of its funding this year since Shaw Communications has apparently told the CTF it will no longer contribute, says an Ottawa Citizen report.
According to the report, CEO Jim Shaw says he will no longer send the cable and satellite company’s contribution of $56 million to Ottawa this year.
Shaw says that until the fund is restructured, he will withhold the five per cent of his company’s revenues that legislation stipulates be used to support the production of Canadian TV shows.
Shaw has often said it would rather…
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EXPECT CRTC COMMISSIONERS to take the finest of fine-tooth combs to the sale of Alliance Atlantis, because this is far from a straightforward buy. Control, as always, is key and the demise of Craig Media is still somewhat fresh.
However, this creative deal was something CanWest had to do. Two opposing forces faced the company as 2006 turned into 2007.
The first is that ever since the summer announcement by Bell Globemedia to purchase CHUM Ltd., CanWest CEO Leonard Asper knew – and told Cartt.ca – that he must make the next merger move or forever remain a distant, weakening,…
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OTTAWA – A Supreme Court ruling on liquor license fees in new Brunswick will be used as fresh fodder as the Canadian Association of Broadcasters announced today it has asked the Federal Court of Appeal to order recovery of over $790 million of so-called Part II fees paid to the CRTC by Canadian broadcasters.
In December, Honourable Justice Michel J. Shore of the Federal Court of Canada Trial Division ruled that Part II Licence Fees paid by broadcasters and broadcast distributors were an unlawful tax in the form of a licence fee collected on behalf of the government…
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GATINEAU – Until the federal government makes up its mind on who it wants to lead the CRTC, vice-chair broadcasting Michel Arpin has been appointed acting chairperson, secretary general Diane Rhéaume announced today in an e-mail to staff.
"Pursuant to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act, the Commission may authorize one of the vice-chairs to assume the duties of chairperson in the event of a vacancy in that office. Mr. Arpin will therefore serve as acting chairperson until such time as the Government of Canada names a successor for Charles Dalfen," said a release.
Dalfen’s term expired at…
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MONTREAL – TQS, the self-proclaimed “mouton noir” of Quebec television, has decided there are limits that even the black sheep of the airwaves must impose.
The network fired Stéphane Gendron, co-host of its one-hour morning TV talk show, “L’Avocat et le Diable” (The devil and his advocate), late Monday, citing his inability to tame his tongue despite numerous warnings.
The network said it gave Gendron ample opportunity to modify his behaviour in recent months. However, “Gendron’s decision to persevere down his chosen path is no longer acceptable for TQS, which has obligations and responsibilities to respect under terms of…
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FINAL SUBMISSIONS TO THE CRTC on its conventional television policy review were due in yesterday.
Cartt.ca managed to get our hands on eight submissions (unfortunately, none of the companies serving the Francophone market responded to our e-mails), which were filed by parties Wednesday in response to what they were asked – or what others were asked – during the seven-day oral presentations that began on November 27th.
(Ed note: Thank goodness broadcasting vice-chair Michel Arpin – who looks as though he’ll be the Commission’s Interim Chair for the time being as the PMO explores more candidates to replace departing…
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