SO MANY WORDS, so few facts. So much fear. Is OTT the new “Death Star”?
I simply must stop learning to be so hopeful when it comes to these CRTC proceedings. Almost eight weeks ago, the Commission launched a look into over-the-top video, asking the TV industry, and anyone else who wanted to contribute, for cold, hard, facts on how consumers getting more video content online is affecting their business.
In their submissions to the CRTC on OTT, I was hoping some of the vertically integrated distributors would have some early numbers culled from their customers’ set-top box data showing how…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Governor General David Johnston, the late Ed Jarmain, the late Dr. George Sinclair and Dr. Michael Binder will be inducted into the Telecommunications Hall of Fame this fall as part of the class of 2011.
"This year’s Class of Telecom Laureates, including our Governor General, have all had remarkable careers in Canadian telecommunications and they bridge the conventional categories of our Hall of Fame by shining brightly as inventors, academics, businessmen and, in some cases, all three”, said Hall of Fame founder and director, Lorne Abugov.
In addition, this year’s special recognition award will go to the Canadian Business Telecommunications…
Continue Reading
REGINA – SaskTel and the Communications, Energy and Paperworker’s Union of Canada (CEP) have formally agreed on a new agreement.
CEP union members voted late last week to ratify the new deal. The current collective agreement between the two expired on March 20, and the new agreement will run for a three-year term through March 16, 2013.
“We’ve very pleased with the ratification of this agreement, which provides SaskTel and its employees with unparalleled stability and security in a dynamic and competitive industry,” said SaskTel president and CEO Ron Styles, in a statement. “We will continue to work together in order to…
Continue Reading
PLAY A GAME WITH THE average English-language Canadian: “Name a Canadian television show”. Exclude Hockey Night in Canada and news. Watch them furrow their brow.
“Uh, Flashpoint?” says one friend, with whom I had an animated discussion about how Canadian TV can be as polished as American TV, and referenced Flashpoint.
Corner Gas will likely come up and another friend mentions Being Erica. Depending on your age, Degrassi (the original) may come to mind, too, or Street Legal. Perhaps Dragon’s Den.
Aside from these, and maybe Rookie Blue and Combat Hospital because they’ve been getting so much press, in the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canada’s 654 commercial radio stations saw 2010 revenues increase by only 2.9%, according to data released Wednesday by the CRTC.
For the broadcast year ending August 31, 2010, FM stations reported higher revenues and profits on the strength of improved local and national advertising sales, but there was little change in the results for AM stations. Total revenues for AM and FM stations increased to $1.55 billion, while expenses rose by 1.5% to $1.21 billion. As a result, profits before interest and taxes (PBIT) climbed from $271.6 million in 2009 to $298.4 million in 2010, and the PBIT margin went…
Continue Reading
EVEN THE VERTICALLY integrated companies know they need a code of conduct to help guide how – as the 800-pound Canadian gorillas – they do business in a country where they own most of the content and distribution channels.
CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said repeatedly during last month’s vertical integration hearing that he wants to see some sort of code of business practices for vertically integrated media companies set out in writing in order to try and avoid new regulatory and legal battles when the new BDU regulations come into force this September. So final replies, which were due…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Advantech Wireless has promoted Pierre Cardinal to vice-president of global sales, effective immediately.
Cardinal initially joined the satellite, RF equipment and microwave systems manufacturer as VP of sales for North America after holding various senior positions at Sprint Canada, Cisco, Colubris (currently HP ProCurve), and SR Telecom. In his new role, Cardinal will continue to lead the sales team and expand the company’s sales and distribution channels worldwide.
“I am extremely pleased with the structured and disciplined approach Pierre brings to Advantech Wireless”, said CEO David Gelerman, in the announcement. “He has proven himself time and time again…
Continue Reading
CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION OpenMedia.ca said that it will boycott the CRTC’s “controversial hearing” on over-the-top (OTT) content. That is, if the matter ever progresses to a hearing.
As Cartt.ca reported in May, the Commission kicked off a month-long fact-finding exercise on over-the-top programming services in the Canada. The deadline for comments was Tuesday, July 5.
In a statement on Wednesday, the pro-Internet group accused the CRTC of becoming “overly entangled with the interests of powerful stakeholders", and said that the proceeding has been structured "to yield results that favour industry interests over Canadian interests”.
"The CRTC is supposed to work for the Canadian public,…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Canadian digital media distribution company Yangaroo said that it has reached a “major milestone” after delivering over 2000 music videos on its proprietary digital media distribution system since launching the service a year ago.
The system, known as DMDS, is now used by all four major record label groups and the growing independent community to deliver SD and HD quality music videos digitally to broadcast destinations such as MTV, VH1, BET, CMT, MuchMusic, MusiquePlus, MTV Canada, Aux TV and CMT Canada, plus over 150 additional regional and on-line destinations.
"Hitting the milestone of over 2000 music videos is a significant…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Broadcast executive Tony Burman is returning to Canada to teach at Ryerson University where he has been named as the Velma Rogers Graham Research Chair. The former editor-in-chief of CBC and head of Al Jazeera’s international English-language news channel will also write a weekly column on international affairs for the Saturday edition of The Toronto Star.
“We are honoured to have one of Canada’s most acclaimed and experienced news executives join Ryerson’s School of Journalism,” said Alan Shepard, provost and vice-president academic, in the announcement. “Tony Burman has been involved in every major news event of our time, understanding,…
Continue Reading
