Search Results for: industry canada

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Telus, Zú launch 5G lab aimed at media and entertainment

MONTREAL – Telus and Zú announced Wednesday the two companies have entered into a long-term partnership to launch an experimental 5G laboratory Zú, a Montreal-based non-profit whose mission is to develop leading-edge innovative projects in the entertainment sector will, with help from Telus, “empower creators to explore cutting-edge technologies, from augmented reality and 3D holograms to mobile gaming, interactive storytelling, live volumetric performance, and 4K live streaming,” reads the press release. According to the two companies, this is the first-ever space for technological exploration in Canada entirely dedicated to the creative and entertainment industry. “The 5G Telus Lab will be a space… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CMPA names Liz Shorten COO

TORONTO – The Canadian Media Producers Association announced it has promoted Liz Shorten to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she will lead staff and oversee organizational operations across the association’s offices in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, and work to implement the CMPA’s corporate strategic plan, says the association. She was most recently SVP operations and member services at the CMPA’s B.C. producers branch. “For many years, Liz has been an extremely effective leader for the CMPA in B.C., and has gone above and beyond to execute the mandate of the CMPA’s B.C. producers branch,”… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Apple TV+ streaming service to launch Nov. 1 at C$5.99 per month

New iPhone 11 models and Apple Watch Series 5 also revealed CUPERTINO, CA — The Apple TV+ video subscription service is set to launch November 1 at an industry low price of C$5.99 per month, the company announced Tuesday at its fall product launch event where it also revealed its new iPhone 11 models, Apple Watch Series 5 and its newest iPad with a 10.2-inch display. At a monthly subscription price of C$5.99 (US$4.99), Apple TV+ will compete directly against higher-priced streaming services in Canada such as Netflix (C$9.99 per month for its basic subscription) and Crave (C$9.99 per month for… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Like Minded Entertainment acquires Montreal tech company Vantrix

TORONTO — Like Minded Entertainment founder, filmmaker and actor Mark Kassen announced Monday during the Toronto International Film Festival that his Hollywood-based production company has completed the acquisition and integration of Montreal-based media distribution technology company Vantrix Technology into its Like Minded portfolio. The result is the formation of two new entities — Like Minded Media Ventures and Like Minded Labs. Vantrix is a pioneer and global leader in next-generation media processing and 360-degree camera systems. Since 2004, Vantrix technology has been embedded in most major wireless service providers and media distribution systems. It processes, optimizes and distributes pictures, video… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Canadian Film Centre awarded $350,000 grant from Ontario government

TORONTO — Ontario’s minister of tourism, culture and sport, Lisa MacLeod, was at the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) on Sunday to announce the provincial government is providing a $350,000 grant to the nationally recognized film school and training centre for creators and entrepreneurs working in the film, television and new media industries. “Ontario’s talented content producers and other industry professionals showcase all that our province has to offer,” said Minister MacLeod in a news release. “We’re ready to share it with the world by investing in the Canadian Film Centre’s television and film training activities to grow this important… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Report says $1.68B in network investment will be cut if CRTC decision stands

TORONTO – Expect network investment to plummet, the growth of the digital economy in Canada to stall and an invasion of well-heeled foreign broadband resellers if the recent CRTC decision on third party internet access wholesale rates is not overturned, says a report published this week by TD Securities. While saying he expects the decision to be challenged and overturned or at least revised, TD telecom and media analyst Vince Valentini pulls no punches in his analysis, saying the Commission-set wholesale rates and retroactive rebates are bad for the incumbent carriers, their customers and Canada as… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

BNN Bloomberg turns 20

TORONTO – Bell Media’s all-business news channel BNN Bloomberg celebrated its 20th anniversary of serving Canadian investors and business decision makers with a special edition of Market Call which aired Wednesday at noon. The special looked back on BNN Bloomberg’s evolution over two decades from its initial launch in 1999 as Report on Business Television (old logo at right) in partnership with the Globe and Mail newspaper, to its collaboration with Bloomberg LP in 2018 and subsequent re-launch as BNN Bloomberg. Today’s Market Call featured several of the program’s top guests over the years… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

TeraGo hires Rogers exec to push 5G fixed wireless

TORONTO – TeraGo announced Wednesday morning that it has hired a new VP whose goal will be to accelerate the company’s efforts to commercialize 5G fixed wireless commercial services in Canada utilizing 5G mmWave spectrum. Irv Witte, who has over 20 years of experience in wireless communications, most recently with Rogers, has been hired as vice-president of 5G at TeraGo. Witte was most recently involved in Rogers’ 600 MHz auction and in network product management. He also oversaw the initial launch of the chatr wireless brand, and has B2B experience when he was  VP of Rogers Wireless business marketing. “As… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

COMMENTARY: The CRTC should revisit part of its wholesale ISP decision

REGULATING AN INDUSTRY involves a careful balance. Telecommunications is a perfect example. It is regulated so that consumers can expect fair prices, quality of service and universal access. On the other hand, the regulated telecom carriers require a predictable environment that allows them to make a reasonable profit in order to satisfy their shareholders and make forward-looking investments to expand their business and keep up with technological innovations. It has been the mantra of CRTC that regulation should be fair, transparent, predictable and timely. Telecom in Canada has been regulated since its inception. After all, it is a networked industry, meaning… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

COMMENTARY: Big telecom must be made to work for the underserved

OF ALL OF THE REACTIONS from last week’s final wholesale rates for broadband internet announced by the CRTC, Bell’s cancellation of plans to improve Wireless Home Internet for 200,000 households stood out. It’s probably the most revealing statement about how the established big telecoms think, why they won’t stray from the same old way of doing business, and why they continue to ignore the needs of underserved Canadians. What warranted dropping so many Canadians from Bell’s initial plan to improve connectivity for rural Canadians? Did the broadband business case for rural Canadians look similar to those on the wireless side of… Continue Reading