TORONTO – Gord Cutler and Don Young have been named executive producers, features for the CTV-Rogers’ coverage of the 2010/2012 Olympic Games in Vancouver and London.
Reporting to Rick Chisholm, EVP broadcasting for the CTV/Rogers Olympic consortium, Cutler will handle planning and programming of the pre-Olympic and Olympic coverage, including live event, studio and taped production for both the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the London 2012 Olympic Summer Games on CTV and Rogers.
“I have had the opportunity to watch Gord’s development in sports television production from the very beginning. Over the years, he has developed into…
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TORONTO – Leave it to Ted Rogers to take a shot at his competition while complaining about regulation – in the same sentence.
During Friday’s conference call with financial analysts, the Rogers Communications founder bemoaned the new rules announced in November by Industry Minister Jim Prentice surrounding the wireless spectrum auction coming in May, but especially took shots at the conditions placed on him when it comes to mandated network roaming for newcomers.
While spectrum has been set aside for new wireless companies, the ministry also said that the incumbents must allow customers of these newbies to roam on…
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OTTAWA – The profit position for Canada’s film, television and video post-production industry improved slightly in 2006, according to Statistics Canada. Even though operating revenues edged down, the industry’s operating expenses fell at a faster pace.
The industry reported total operating revenues of $822 million, down 1.9% from 2005, says the report on the industry released Wednesday. However, firms managed to reduce their operating expenses by 2.6% to $769 million, largely because of a 10.6% decline in the cost of goods sold. The cost of goods sold and salaries, wages and benefits remained the industry’s principal expenses.
As a…
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MONTREAL – After analyzing the spectrum auction rules, meeting with several potential partners and talking business plans, Quebecor Media chief Pierre Karl Peladeau says his company will be a national wireless player.
Well, he didn’t say national for sure, but if he’s going to play the game outside of Quebec, which he did say for sure, it’s more than likely to be a nationwide play. He has already said he likes the advanced wireless spectrum auction rules set out late last year by Industry Canada and that he will bid on spectrum. Today was the first time he…
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OTTAWA and GATINEAU – Statistics Canada and the CRTC announced today they have signed a memorandum of understanding so that the two agencies will partner in order to streamline the annual collection of data from the telecommunications industry.
"This innovative collaboration will further reduce the regulatory burden on the industry and create efficiencies in the collection of statistics by the federal government," said Konrad von Finckenstein, chairman of the CRTC in a press release.
Currently, the CRTC and Statistics Canada survey over 900 companies to obtain a picture of the Canadian telecommunications industry and its many sectors, including local…
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MONTREAL – Four unnamed suitors have submitted bids for Quebec’s financially strapped TQS television network, but neither Rogers Communications nor RNC Média (Radio Nord Communications), who have been rumoured as suitors for the troubled French broadcaster, are among them.
TQS and the court-appointed controller, RSM Richter, said late Monday that four offers were received by the Monday deadline and they will be evaluated in the coming days. TQS entered bankruptcy protection in December and the courts gave the company until this week to find firm offers.
“The deposit of these four firm offers demonstrates the industry’s interest in TQS…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance announced a pair of bulk deals this week.
The organization and Turner Network Sales signed a Master Affiliate Agreement for the distribution of CNN, Headline News, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Peachtree TV (formerly TBS).
The CCSA is a buying group and lobbying organization for Canada’s independent cable companies. CCSA connects 85 independent cable operators (its members) and their subscribers with programming and equipment.
“We are pleased to provide CCSA’s member companies with some of our most popular networks, CNN, Headline News, Turner Classic Movies and Peachtree TV,” said Matt Tolleson,…
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OTTAWA – After being ordered by the Federal Court of Canada to re-examine its decision on increasing the rates radio stations pay for music, the Copyright Board of Canada decided today to maintain the rate increase it imposed in October 2005.
At the time of the original decision (which will see millions of dollars more in royalties going to the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada for Canadian broadcasters’ use of music in 2003 to 2007) the CAB called it “egregious and flawed.”
Radio broadcasters warned…
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TORONTO – The seventh annual Canadian Telecom Summit will be held at the Toronto Congress Center from June 16-18.
This year’s theme, “Maintaining Relevance for the Customer,” will likely generate debate as industry constituents expound on what users require now and in the future, what technology and marketing facilities are established and in-development to address their needs, and how vendors are positioned to meet customer demands.
Cartt.ca is a media sponsor of this event.
The Summit features keynote addresses by leading Canadian and international wireline and wireless service providers, information technology companies, global equipment suppliers, and government policy and regulatory decision makers.
A…
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OTTAWA – Minister of Industry Jim Prentice has been “about to” introduce new copyright legislation for about three months now at least, according to Ottawa sources.
Perhaps March will be the month it happens…
In the meantime, the Business Coalition for Balanced Copyright has submitted a position paper to the minister “urging the government to strike a balance in copyright reform that reflects the needs of users and creators,” says its letter.
Besides the members in the headline, the BCBC also includes smaller stakeholders like EastLink, Cogeco Cable, SaskTel, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association and the Retail Council of…
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