LIVING IN THE BIG CITIES, it’s easy to forget – or to never think about – what it’s like in smaller, more remote communities.
A few months ago, I mentioned to a small operator how a far larger MSO still had some substantial 330 MHz and 450 MHz cable systems remaining to rebuild (with just a little mocking disdain in my voice). His response was a little bit sarcastic, wondering what’s wrong with systems like that, since much of his programming and data was still being delivered over such plant to presumably happy customers.
It cleared my head and…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC Thursday asked the industry how it should – or if it should – regulate TV on the mobile phone handset.
As reported last month by www.cartt.ca, this issue has been emerging from behind the scenes throughout 2005 as both Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless and Look Communications announced plans to offer television channels to its mobile customers.
When those announcements happened earlier this year, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters sent a letter to the Commission asking it to make a determination as to how TV to the handset should be regulated under the Broadcast Act.
“In…
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GATINEAU and DARTMOUTH – The CRTC announced today it approved the sale of CIZZ-FM and CKGY-FM in Red Deer, Alberta by Corus Entertainment to Newcap Inc.
The $8.4 million transaction is expected to close within 60 days.
"The completion of this purchase is very significant to Newfoundland Capital," said Rob Steele, president and CEO of NCC, in a release. "It represents an opportunity to provide our customers with even greater coverage in the province".
Newcap has a strong presence in Alberta, already serving 22 communities there. Red Deer is the third largest city in Alberta and is an important…
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PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Vista Broadcast Group, a single-station operation until recently, is ramping up its operations with several purchases, the most recent of which is its agreement to purchase Cariboo Central Interior Radio Inc., which was announced this week.
The joint announcement was made by Terry Shepherd – president and managing director of CCIR Inc. and Margot Micallef, chair and CEO of Vista Broadcast Group. Terms of the sale, which is subject to CRTC approval, were not disclosed.
Vista Broadcast Group is the owner of CJSU-FM (SUN FM)in Duncan, British Columbia (on Vancouver Island) and recently announced that…
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GATINEAU – Using SAP for CPAC is not good enough for the federal government.
Earlier this year, the feds directed the CRTC to change its exemption policy when it came to the Cable Public Affairs Channel so that most systems will now be forced to carry both the English and French channels.
Friday, the Commission issued a Public Notice, calling for comments on the revised distribution order for CPAC (which carries House of Commons and Senate proceedings as well as other public affairs programming), reflecting the government’s order.
Currently, most cable systems carry one video feed of CPAC, with…
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GATINEAU – Thanks to the NHL lockout, both TSN and Rogers Sportsnet couldn’t make their required Canadian content spending obligations and were granted license exemptions today by the CRTC to reflect that.
Normally, in any broadcast year, Sportsnet and TSN are allowed to spend up to 5% less than the minimum required expenditure for that year. If that happens, the channels must then spend in the next broadcast year of the licence term, “in addition to the minimum required expenditure for that year, the full amount of the previous year’s under-expenditure,” says their licenses.
However, with no hockey to broadcast,…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC today added Sony Entertainment Television Asia to the list of eligible foreign satellite services and deleted the Scandinavian Channel.
The Scandinavian Channel has been out of business since 2001.
According to today’s release, SET Asia is "a satellite-delivered, advertiser-supported, general entertainment television service which features Hindi language programs including feature films made for television, game shows, sports programs and drama serials.”
South Asian Television Canada Limited (SATV) filed its request to add the channel in December of 2002 but the decision was long-delayed as the Commission searched for a new policy on the addition of…
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WITH LIMITED NETWORK RESOURCES and many competing demands by subscribers, applications, and content providers, satisfying the demands of one stakeholder means taking resources away from another.
This problem, along with the greedy nature of applications and the over-subscription model of the Internet challenges network operators and the regulatory environment as they strive to maintain Internet freedoms that subscribers expect from the industry.
What follows is a technical White Paper from Sandvine Inc. Broadband service providers are thus in a position to ensure network neutrality with the fair allocation of network resources between potentially competing uses of the network.
To…
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GATINEAU – TV Ontario has applied to the CRTC to reduce its required Canadian content from 65% to 60%.
Its current condition of license says that it must broadcast no less than 65% Canadian content every day.
“The 5% reduction will provide the flexibility needed to invest more in new, high quality Canadian programs throughout the broadcast day,” says the application.
“It also points out that a minimum of 60% Canadian content over the broadcast day will bring its obligation in line with most other broadcasters in Canada, including all other educational broadcasters.”
The deadline for intervention is…
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VANCOUVER – A strong performance by the company’s wireless division helped lead Telus Corporation to strong revenue and income growth in the second quarter of 2005, ended June 30th.
Consolidated operating revenues in the quarter came in at $2 billion, up 8% from a year ago while operating income was up 24%. Earnings per share for the second quarter were 53 cents, up 10% compared from Q2 2004 and net income was $189.5 million, a 10% increase.
While praising the company’s results Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle also addressed the current strike by its employees in British Columbia…
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