CALGARY – ACTRA, Friends of Canadian Broadcasting and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union say most Canadians want broadcast companies to continue to be Canadian owned.
The three groups released a survey this morning which said 66% of Canadians “believe broadcasting and communications are too important to our national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control,” reads the press release.
"Powerful lobbyists for the cable industry are at work right now, quietly trying to persuade the federal government to allow Americans to buy them out. If they succeed, there’s nothing to stop foreign companies from taking control of…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and the Cable Public Affairs Channel finalized a new master affiliate agreement, the two organizations announced.
“This unique, established television service is widely carried by CCSA’s independent cable operators,” says Alyson Townsend, CCSA president and CEO. “We are pleased to have concluded this agreement and to continue our solid relationship with the team at CPAC.”
“CPAC is delighted to have formalized its long standing distribution partnership with the CCSA. We look forward to working with CCSA members and encourage them to contact us anytime to discuss cooperative communications activities or any…
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NEW YORK – As the only GSM wireless operator in Canada, Rogers Wireless will face a dilemma – and opportunity – when new wireless companies launch in this country – likely in 2009.
While Bell Canada and Telus and a few other large North American wireless companies use CDMA-driven networks and handsets, GSM has become the de facto worldwide wireless standard technology, so it is highly probable that any new wireless company that comes to market here will choose to be a GSM player, too.
That means such newbies will use the new mandated roaming rules we reported on…
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DESPITE THE CLOSING OF Canadian Digital Television (CDTV) at the end of August 2006, both the Canadian television industry and government still saw a need for further collaboration on technical and operational issues surrounding the roll-out of digital television in Canada.
To that end, a new group called the Digital Television Technology Group (DTV-TG) was formed about one year ago.
The Technology Group (whose web site can be found here) carries out collaborative investigative projects and research “to provide decision makers in industry and government with the technical information they need to plan for, and advance, the roll-out…
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ST. JOHN’S – Persona Communications (now EastLink) and MTS Allstream have completed an undersea fibre leg to Newfoundland.
“This expansion was the final leg of a coast-to-coast national fibre-optic network designed to provide MTS Allstream customers with cost effective, advanced IP-based products and services,” says the MTS Allstream press release.
MTS Allstream participated in the consortium led by Persona Communications, now owned by EastLink, in this major redundant fibre optic build stretching from Halifax, Nova Scotia to St. John’s, Newfoundland, as did the N&L provincial government (of course, making it an official hot potato earlier in 2007). “The…
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TORONTO – While consumers continue to buy high definition television sets in growing numbers, they still need an education on the final piece of the puzzle required before they can take in all the HD channels on offer: an HDTV decoder from their cable or satellite company.
The Cable Telecommunications Association for Marketing of Canada (CTAM Canada) funded another round of research into the usage and adoption of HDTV in Canada and as expected, HDTV ownership has increased, though awareness of the need for a HD-enabled set-top is still very low.
In a study conducted by Charlton Strategic Research…
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TORONTO – At 9 a.m. EST this morning, Playhouse Disney began broadcasting its neat-o educational and entertaining programming for young children.
Owned and launched by Family Channel in Canada, the company flew Mickey Mouse in for the official launch as they flipped the switch on the channel this morning, first on Bell ExpressVu and then next on Mountain Cable. According to Family execs, Cogeco Cable is next.
Family and Playhouse Disney held an industry event last night and a public event this morning in Toronto with Mickey and some pals to celebrate the launch.
Playhouse Disney is a commercial-free,…
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Dear Editor,
Well, I’m gobsmacked!
The Globe and Mail recently (29 November/07) reported that BitTorrent users were facing an engineered traffic jam by intervening ISPs. Geez, I thought that the Internet couldn’t be regulated?
But apparently it can be.
And by ISP technicians "in Canada and the United States (that) restrict the flow of certain traffic on their networks".
Oh, and I guess by rogue regimes, political cabals and thug dictators in Burma, Syria, Pakistan – and yup, China.
Moreover, ask Canadians to keyboard in "google.com" just to see what happens. Looks like somebody there is also "traffic shaping"…
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OTTAWA – Several talented students were recognized for their hard work and dedication on November 6 with the presentation of industry-sponsored scholarships at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) 81st Annual Convention.
The CAB Jim Allard Broadcast Journalism Scholarship was awarded to Mr. Kenyon Wallace, who is enrolled in the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University in Ottawa. Established in 1983 by the CAB in memory of T.J. Allard, this $2,500 scholarship recognizes students who “best combine academic achievement with natural talent.” Jim Allard was CAB Executive Vice-President from 1953 to 1973.
The BBM Canada Scholarship was awarded…
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VANCOUVER – Telus and Emergis announced today that they have entered into a support agreement pursuant where Telus has agreed to make an offer to acquire all the outstanding common shares of Emergis for $8.25 cash per common share.
The offer represents a premium of 17% over Emergis’ average closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange over the past 30 days, 19% over yesterday’s close and values Emergis’ equity at approximately $763 million on a fully diluted basis, according to the joint press release issued by the companies.
Emergis has a strong presence in both health claims processing and…
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