TORONTO – Canada’s next national wireless carrier, Globalive Communications Corp., has purchased long-distance operator Telehop Communications Inc. for nearly $10.7 million.
Globalive, which wound up with 30 licenses on Monday at the end of Industry Canada’s wireless spectrum auction, will acquire all outstanding Telehop stock at 80 cents a share. The deal has the unanimous endorsement of Telehop’s board but is still subject to the completion of due diligence by Globalive.
Jaguar Financial Corp., had also shown interest in purchasing Telehop, but recently waived its commitment to purchasing the company for 50 cents per share.
"Telehop is a good company and we…
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THIS WAS THE FIRST North American version of the IPTV World conference which is put on in a number of places around the globe throughout the year by London-based Informa Telecoms and Media.
A bit surprising since North America will be leading IPTV development for the foreseeable future. Prior shows have taken place all around the globe.
“IPTV is no longer just a theoretical solution of what telcos might do in the future, but a real see it now reality,” said Ian Tapp, SVP business development for Tandberg Television, who gave the opening keynote speech on Tuesday morning.
There…
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WASHINGTON – A tentative deal has been struck by a majority of commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission to approve the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., according to the Wall Street Journal.
Citing unnamed sources, the Journal reported Wednesday afternoon that Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate was expected to vote in favour of the deal in exchange for a consent decree that resolves enforcement issues against the satellite companies that will cost them $20 million.
Tate is the only FCC member left to vote on the deal and she is expected to do…
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OTTAWA – Two years after the arrival of subscription satellite radio in Canada, the private commercial radio industry has shown no apparent ill effect as revenues continued to climb in 2007 according to numbers released by the CRTC today.
Total revenues for Canada’s AM and FM radio stations increased by 6.2% going from $1.4 billion in 2006 to $1.5 billion in 2007. When factoring in $1.16 billion in expenses, Canada’s radio stations enjoyed profits of $300.2 million, an increase of 5.5% or $15.7 million before interest and taxes.
The profit margin of 19. 99% is slightly below last year’s…
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A NUMBER OF PEOPLE have mentioned through 2008 that this has been an especially tumultuous year for the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance, and some have questioned its vitality.
Regulatory changes, economic challenges, member company departures thanks to acquisitions, more new technology. Aren’t all of these issues conspiring to damage the CCSA and its membership? In a word: No. In a few more words: These are the very challenges the CCSA has confronted head-on since its origination. 2008 doesn’t present anything new.
Members have always come and gone. Founding member Fundy Cable is long gone, for example. However, when 500,000-plus-customer…
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OTTAWA – Finally, after nearly two months of bidding, involving 331 rounds, Canada’s auction of wireless spectrum ended today, but is merely the first wave of change that will transform the nation’s telecommunications industry.
Canadian companies bid a total of $4.25 billion for 282 wireless-airwave licenses, the proceeds are more than twice the amount analysts had expected. The 15 successful bidders of the auction that began May 27 are eligible to receive licenses after making their final payments and showing compliance with Canadian ownership and control requirements.
Rogers Communications, Canada’s largest wireless carrier, bid $999.4 million for 59 licenses, reports…
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CHICAGO – With IPTV on course to become a credible Pay TV platform in North America, even though nobody expects AT&T or Verizon to crush the cable or satellite industry with their broadcast TV and VOD offers, IPTV is achieving good penetration in markets where it has deployed, says the organizers of the IPTV North America conference, to be held in Chicago July 22 and 23.
(Cartt.ca, as a media partner, will be providing coverage from the Windy City next week.)
In January, Verizon was claiming 21% video penetration for Keller, Texas, just four months after the service was…
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TORONTO – If everyone agrees the deployment of advanced advertising, finely targeted advertising, is a damn good idea that should yield a nice, new burst of revenue, why can’t the industry pull it off?
That was the question I had in my head prior to Tuesday morning’s CTAM Canada panel discussion on the topic held in Toronto at the Velma Rogers Graham Theatre. I’ve heard the players who spoke on this topic at other events and have chatted with most of them in person, too, on this topic.
Invidi Technologies, which led off the morning with a presentation on…
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TORONTO – John Hayes announced today he is stepping down as president of Corus Radio at the end of the company’s fiscal year, August 31, 2008.
Hayes joined Corus in 2001, “and during his tenure built and led a dedicated and successful team that created and maintained one of Canada’s top performing radio operations,” says the company’s official press release.
Hayes did not say where he is headed, nor did the company say who will replace him.
"With a focus on training and development, building deep customer relationships, and working to imbed each radio station into the local fabric…
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TORONTO – TV, online and print company Canwest today launched its new Internships for Students with Disabilities, an initiative that marks the company’s ongoing involvement in an industry-wide effort to address the under-representation of persons with disabilities in the media.
"Canwest values inclusiveness and is dedicated to reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve and represent," said David McCauley, senior vice-president of human resources, Canwest Broadcasting, in a press release. "By improving access to training and skills development opportunities for the disability community, the Canwest Internships for Students with Disabilities will encourage better participation of persons with disabilities…
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