Search Results for: industry canada

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

OBITUARY: Nor-Del Cablevision founder Glenn Baxter

NORWICH, ON – Glenn Baxter, a founding member of the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) and the founder of Nor-Del Cablevision, was laid to rest Wednesday in Norwich, ON.  He died in hospital on February 28 in his 80th year. Baxter graduated from the Ryerson Institute of Technology as an engineering technologist in 1956 and carried his love of electronics and system design with him his entire life.  His early career included positions at Group Northern Electric, (eventually part of Nortel), where he designed and installed television studios and master control video/audio switching systems for television stations. At Delta Electronics, he… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Newcap profits jump 148% in 2013; CEO Steele predicts “transformational year”

DARTMOUTH, NS – Newfoundland Capital Corporation recorded a 148% increase in profits for 2013, while revenues rose by 3%. The radio broadcaster said there were several factors impacting profit year-over-year which at $27.0 million was $16.1 million higher than 2012.  The company recognized a gain on disposal of its operation is Fort McMurray, AB station, benefited from lower mark-to-market unrealized losses in addition to a $5.3 million reduction of the income tax provision.  In contrast during 2012, the company recorded a net impairment charge of $6.6 million, and $2.2 million of mark-to-market unrealized losses which negatively impacted profit. Revenue for the… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC CEO tells Senate that the public broadcaster will not retreat (corrected)

OTTAWA – CBC/Radio-Canada chief executive Hubert Lacroix shot back at those who think the public broadcaster should only be to Canadians what the privates are not. “I do not believe that the answer is to become some kind of niche broadcaster limited to only doing what private broadcasters will not do or have no business incentive to do. No other public broadcaster in the world is put in that kind of a box,” he said during an appearance before the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications this week. Lacroix was responding to statements made by both the Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus Health buys Med Access; now largest electronic medical record provider in Canada

VANCOUVER – Telus Health has bought British Columbia-based electronic medical record provider Med Access Inc., the company said Monday.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Kelowna-based company provides electronic medical record (EMR) services to 2,000 specialty and general practice physicians in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. The acquisition brings the total Telus Health EMR reach to more than 12,500 Canadian physicians, supporting more than 45 million patient interactions each year. Telus Health said it plans to integrate Med Access's industry-leading eReferral platform across all its EMR offerings, while continuing to support the Med Access EMR platform as… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus hangs up on CWTA

OTTAWA and VANCOUVER – Incumbent telco Telus has withdrawn its membership from the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA). CWTA, which describes itself as “the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in Canada”, represents cellular, PCS, messaging, mobile radio, fixed wireless and mobile satellite carriers as well as companies that develop and produce products and services for the industry. In an emailed statement to Cartt.ca, a Telus spokesperson said that the company’s decision to withdraw from the organization “reflects our desire to continue progressing our highly differentiated strategy and our unique Customers First approach”. “We are grateful for (CWTA president and CEO)… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Industry Canada says Rogers/Bell consortium can have no more spectrum

OTTAWA – Industry Canada has blocked a request by NextWave to transfer 83 spectrum licences to Rogers and Bell-owned Inukshuk, citing competitive concerns. Industry Minister James Moore issued the decision Thursday, saying that after considering this request under the new spectrum licence transfer framework, Industry Canada determined that this licence transfer would “lead to unacceptable levels of concentration of spectrum in the hands of incumbent carriers that negatively affects competition in our wireless sector”. “We will not approve any spectrum transfer request that results in excessive spectrum concentration for Canada's largest wireless companies, which negatively affects competition in the telecommunications sector”,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

OBITUARY: Life Network founder Juris Silkans remembered as “delightful, enthusiastic, zany”

LOS ALTOS, Calif. – Life Network founder and Canadian cable television executive Juris Silkans died on February 23 at his home in Los Altos, California. He was 70. Born in 1943 in Ludza, Latvia, Silkans moved to Canada as a child with his parents who settled in Hamilton, Ont. After graduating from McMaster University, he got his start in the broadcasting industry in 1975 when he was appointed director of cable and new service policy for the Department of Communications in Ottawa. He moved to the private sector in 1977, joining Toronto-based CUC Broadcasting Limited, which at that time was one… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CMPA applauds new Canada-India co-production agreement

OTTAWA – The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) has thrown its support behind the new audiovisual co-production agreement finalized Monday between Canada and the Republic of India. Once ratified by the two countries, the agreement will allow producers from both Canada and India to combine their creative, technical and financial resources to develop productions.  In the past decade, Canada has developed nearly 720 audiovisual co-productions, with combined production budgets worth more than $4.9 billion. The CMPA described the agreement as “the cornerstone for triggering co-production and other partnership opportunities between Canadian and Indian screen-based producers”. “This signals tremendous new business opportunities for producers in both… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Prime Time in Ottawa: Successful branded content must be clever, restrained – and can engage viewers

OTTAWA – “Subtle” and “organic” were words used to describe the manner in which a brand should be presented when it comes to branded video content, during a during a Friday session at the CMPA’s annual Prime Time event in Ottawa. Sean Buckley, executive producer with Buck Productions, spoke about his experience making the McMorris and McMorris reality-based program with Red Bull which aired on MTV. Burton Boards and Oakley got on board as well. The show is about Mark and Craig McMorris, two snowboarding brothers from Regina, Saskatchewan. Mark McMorris won a bronze medal in the snowboard slopestyle at… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Prime Time in Ottawa: Cancon creators can succeed in new consumption environment

OTTAWA – Canadian film and television content creators can succeed in the new consumption environment where consumers are in charge. They can get content when and where they want it and in their preferred format. This was not only a major theme throughout the Canadian Media Production Association’s annual Prime Time event in Ottawa this week, but also the main thrust of Entertainment One Ltd. president and CEO Darren Throop’s closing keynote. “What the consumer wants, they get. They get it in the format they want and at the moment they want it. We’re now measuring success in tweets and followers…. Continue Reading