Search Results for: crtc

Radio / Television News

COMMENTARY: Local TV news gets no love from Parliamentarians considering C-11

By Howard Law IF JOURNALISTS IN politics are the friends of news media, perhaps it needs new friends. At the Commons Heritage Committee, former CTV reporter and Conservative MP Kevin Waugh continues to thunder that major TV networks Bell CTV, Rogers City-TV and CBC should be excluded from the “FaceGoogle” Bill C-18. This Monday at the Senate committee studying the Online Streaming Act Bill C-11, former Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simons and former CBC TV correspondent Julie Miville-Dechêne suggested Unifor’s recommendation for better cable and streamer funding of local news was unnecessary because TV companies are set to cash in under… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

C-11: TRCM’s last witnesses make more of the same arguments

By Denis Carmel OTTAWA – It now appears senators on the transport and communications committee (TRCM) are suffering from witness fatigue. On Wednesday evening, five associations of artists involved in the creation of content in various forms came in front of committee to offer their comments on the Online Streaming Act, but they generally repeated the same arguments the committee had heard before. This prompted Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne (above) to quip that they all had heard these arguments, which were presented, in writing, by the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) and supported by them and others before. So,… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CRTC grants The News Forum 9(1)(h) status

OTTAWA – The CRTC today approved an application for 9(1)(h) status made by The News Forum Inc. for its national news service.
“That order does not require broadcasting distribution undertakings to distribute national news services as part of the basic service. Rather, Broadcasting Order 2013-735 requires national news services to be offered to subscribers and establishes requirements relating to packaging and the negotiation of affiliation agreements,” the CRTC’s decision explains.
Back in May, the Commission approved The News Forum’s application for a broadcasting licence to operate its national news discretionary service, which was launched in 2020 and was previously… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CRTC hosts five-nation meeting to combat scam communications

OTTAWA and GATINEAU — The CRTC announced today regulators from Canada, Australia, Ireland, Hong Kong and the United States, for the first time, have met in person to try to find better ways to combat scam communications. “Hosted by the CRTC, the Combating Scam Communications meeting was an opportunity to share their strategic insights on current initiatives and cross-border enforcement challenges. The participants also explored opportunities for greater international collaboration to disrupt scam communications,” reads a press release. The meeting preceded the International Regulators Forum and International Institute of Communications’ annual conference being held in Ottawa from Nov. 1-4, the release… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CRTC clarifies definition of “manufacturer’s suggested retail price”

OTTAWA – The CRTC last week sided with Quebecor in a dispute with Bell, Rogers and Telus over what the term “manufacturer’s suggested retail price” (MSRP) means as it pertains to the Wireless Code. Section G of the Wireless Code deals with early cancellation fees and factors in the MSRP of devices when the device was subsidized as part of the contract. In April, the CRTC launched a show cause proceeding on the use of the term after Quebecor, on behalf of its subsidiary Videotron submitted a letter claiming it observed Bell, Rogers and Telus inflating the retail price of… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Facebook appears in front of heritage committee – and nothing was accomplished

By Denis Carmel OTTAWA – On Oct. 29, the heritage committee of the House of Commons (CHPC) held a meeting to study Bill C-18, the Online News Act. Before this, on Oct. 21, Facebook (owned by Meta) published a blog post about not having been invited to speak in front of the committee. The committee “appears to have concluded calling witnesses for its study of the Online News Act (Bill C-18),” the post reads. “But faced with adverse legislation that is based on false assumptions that defy the logic of how Facebook works, we feel it is important to be transparent about the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco revenue up 14% in Q4 2022; Radio ad market impacted by supply chain disruptions

CEO calls CRTC decision restricting those qualifying under MVNO framework “unfortunate” MONTREAL – Cogeco announced its fourth quarter 2022 financial results last night, showing revenue was up 14% year-over-year, while earlier today, on an investor’s call, its president and CEO Philippe Jetté outlined the company’s next steps towards launching wireless. Financial results In terms of its Q4 2022 financial results, Cogeco reported revenue of $746.9 million. The company also reported adjusted EBITDA increased 18.7% to $348.5 million. Cogeco’s Canadian telecommunications revenue alone increased 1.1% and adjusted EBITDA increased 6.4% year-over-year, “mainly resulting from lower marketing expenses and certain year-end adjustments,” a press… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

TVA’s Q3 2022 results show ad revenue continues to decrease

Acting president and CEO calls for C-18 to be quickly passed MONTREAL – TVA Group recorded $130.5 million in revenue for the third quarter of 2022, which represents a year-over-year decrease of $20.2 million. The Quebecor subsidiary, which reported its Q3 2022 financial results yesterday, reported adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $18.2 million – a $17.3 million unfavourable variance compared to Q3 2021. The broadcasting segment specifically recorded $104.6 million in revenue in Q3 2022, compared to $111.1 millionin the same quarter the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA in the segment was $14.1 million. This is a $7.6 million unfavourable variance,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Broadband Communications North bringing high-speed Internet to Manto Sipi Cree Nation

WINNIPEG – Broadband Communications North (BCN), a Manitoba-based Indigenous network, today announced a pilot project bringing high-speed Internet to the Manto Sipi Cree Nation. The project is being completed in partnership with wireless, broadband and satellite solutions provider ROCK Networks and OneWeb and is “the first step in connecting 24 First Nations communities in Northern Manitoba in the next five years,” a press release says. “The network will be powered by OneWeb’s constellation of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites,” the release explains. “ROCK Networks will integrate the system into BCN’s existing network. Additionally, ROCK Networks will monitor the connection and provide ongoing support… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Rogers/Shaw: Second attempt at mediation fails (updated)

MONTREAL, TORONTO and CALGARY – A second mediation attempt between Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications and Quebecor and the Competition Bureau has failed, according to a press release issued by the three companies today. Rogers and Shaw are currently seeking approvals for their proposed merger. In an attempt to quell concerns about the potential impact of the deal on wireless competition in Canada, the companies agreed to sell Shaw’s Freedom Mobile to Quebecor subsidiary Videotron. The first attempt at mediation between Rogers, Shaw and the Competition Bureau happened in July. The second mediation attempt took place earlier today. “We are disappointed with… Continue Reading