LAST WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENT of BCE’s divestiture of all but 20% of its ownership holding in Bell Globemedia left one enormous burning question.
What is the company going to do with the $1.3 billion in proceeds from its sale of control of one of Canada’s largest media companies? BCE CEO Michael Sabia told an analyst conference call last week that the company won’t be announcing what it plans to do with the money until February.
Here, in no particular order, is the www.cartt.ca Top 10 List of things BCE could do with its new pile of money, when it…
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BARRIE, Ont. – Christian radio is a bit of an immature niche in Canada.
Until 1993, such stations simply were not licensed in Canada so – while the market for Christian stations grew in the U.S. for years (and is apparently 600-stations strong there) – only recently are similar operations seeing growth here (about 30 so far).
One such station is Barrie’s Life 100.3. On the air for over six years now, the station has added repeaters in Owen Sound, Peterborough and Huntsville. Currently, the Barrie station operates at 1,800 watts, but wait for early 2006, when the signal…
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OTTAWA – Some more Quebec City radio hosts have landed in hot water over coarse language. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council today released its decision on a complaint against the hosts of the afternoon show on CJMF-FM, Le Trio de l’enfer.
During a broadcast on Dec. 17, 2004, the hosts were discussing the state of radio in Quebec City. They referred to competitors André Arthur and Jeff Fillion, the controversial CHOI-FM hosts whose crude comments eventually caused the CRTC to rescind the station’s licence, as “trous de cul,” or “assholes.” A listener complained to the CBSC.
The CBSC said…
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TORONTO – Rogers Cable is the first BDU in Canada to carry The Israeli Network, offering the service to digital cable customers in Ontario.
A free preview of the network, on channel 635, is available until Jan. 4, 2006. After that, it will cost $14.95 a month, not including the rental or purchase of the digital set-top box.
"We’re thrilled to launch The Israeli Network on Rogers Digital Cable," says Slava Levin, co-founder, CEO, and President of Ethnic Channels Group Limited, which operates the channel. "Our years of experience in the multicultural television and broadcast industry will allow us…
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TORONTO – Saying the viewing public just isn’t interested in music videos the way they used to, Corus Entertainment’s CMT has asked for a license amendment to reflect that.
It recently applied to the Commission to alter its license so that only 50% of its programming has to be drawn from the music video clips category, rather than the current 70%.
It intends to fill the space with programming from categories 2b (docs), 8c (music video programs), 9 (variety), 10 (game shows), 11 (general entertainment) and 12 (interstitials). and says that such alternate programming shall continue to conform…
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OTTAWA – On Thursday the CRTC told Telus that it can avoid using an SRDU for its Telus TV service and granted the telco some flexibility when it comes to the U.S. 4+1 signals it chooses.
However, the Commission denied the company’s request distribute the same Part 2 Eligible satellite services and Canadian distant signals on the same basis as the incumbent in the market without the need for a further regulatory process. It also said no to Telus’ desire to add the same audio programming services as the incumbent, without the need for a further regulatory process.
Telus…
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TORONTO – A new ownership structure has been announced for Bell Globemedia that would see BCE Inc. give up its position as major shareholder, as the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Torstar join as new shareholders.
BCE would decrease its share to 20% from 68.5%, while The Woodbridge Company, the Toronto-based holding company of the Thomson family, would increase its ownership from 31.5% to 40%. The two new shareholders—Teachers’ and Torstar—would each acquire a 20% stake in the Canadian media giant.
“The continuing support of BCE and Woodbridge and the addition of Teachers’ and Torstar represents a strong vote of…
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OTTAWA – The four major party leaders will take to the airwaves four times during the federal election campaign, Canada’s broadcasters announced Wednesday.
This will no doubt mean the Green Party will once again pursue action at the CRTC level (It complained as loudly as it could during the last election campaign when it was refused inclusion in the debates. As long as it remains seatless in the House of Commons, said the broadcasters during the last campaign, it stays on the outside looking in).
The new debate format will feature an increase in the number of Leaders debates…
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OTTAWA – Late last week the CRTC called for comments on adding five more international third-language services to the list of eligible satellite services. Today, the Commission asked for comments on two more.
The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association has sponsored six new channels. They are:
Polsat 2: A 24-hour general interest programming service originating from Poland and offered in the Polish language. The service is targeted primarily to Polish-speaking communities outside Poland and provides a wide variety of genres of programming including reality shows, soap operas, crime series, mini-series, talk shows, documentaries, news, sports, and music programs
ET-Global: A…
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OTTAWA – Late Friday, the government adopted amendments to the Telecommunications Act which gives the CRTC the ability to establish a national Do Not Call List, aimed towards reducing the volume of telemarketing calls Canadians receive at home.
The amendments also give the CRTC the power to levy substantial penalties against telemarketers who do not follow the rules, and to contract with a private sector third party to operate and maintain the list.
"By passing these amendments, the government has ensured that Canadians will have an easy and effective way to better protect their privacy and reduce intrusive telemarketing…
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