Search Results for: industry canada

Cable / Telecom News

Heard and seen the floor at the CCSA AGM

ROGERS BELIEVES Bell Canada is less than two months away from launching its IPTV service in Toronto, beginning in the Yonge-Bloor region, according to David Purdy, Rogers Cable’s VP and GM television. ********** WTBS will change its name to PeachtreeTV as of October 1st, said Turner’s Matt Tolleson. The programming will remain much the same, however. Also – with CNN HD having launched in the States on September 1st – Tolleson says he wants to see that feed in Canada soon. ********** And speaking of HD, Speed is readying its high definition version, which it will have ready to… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CCSA AGM: Wireless spectrum auction rules hoped within weeks, MTS wants to partner with small cable

MONT TREMBLANT – Dean Prevost wasn’t speaking in front of the Canadian Club or the Empire Club like Ted Rogers and Pierre Karl Peladeau did last week, but his message today at the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance AGM followed the squabbling script: Industry Canada’s advanced wireless spectrum auction rules have to favour newcomers somehow, so that Prevost’s company, MTS Allstream (like Peladeau’s Videotron), can become a national wireless provider. Prevost, the chief corporate officer of the company, talked about wireless in other parts of the world, adding: “What’s different about the Canadian experience is the price is really,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

UPDATE: Rogers wants to overbuild Cogeco, Aurora

TORONTO – If it can’t buy ’em, it looks like Rogers might overbuild ’em. Rogers Cable has applied to the CRTC to extend its cable territories in Ontario to include a chunk of Cogeco Cable’s Ontario wheelhouse: Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills, as well as into tiny Aurora Cable’s market in Aurora, just north of Toronto. A move like this may signal a stark departure from the historically collegial cable industry where each company kept to its own territory and expanded by purchasing other cable companies. (Aurora and Cogeco are both known not to be for sale, however.) In… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

New wireless entrants are “The all-time corporate welfare bums in Canadian history,” says Ted

OTTAWA – As Industry Canada ponders the rules that will surround next year’s advanced wireless spectrum auction, Rogers Communications CEO Ted Rogers was in Ottawa today to reiterate just where he and his company stand, while saying the company might be looking to spend between $500 million and $1 billion. While potential national newcomers like Quebecor and MTS Allstream are demanding spectrum set asides, or caps on how much the incumbents can buy and other favours like mandated tower sharing/roaming in order to get into the wireless business cheaper than they would in an open auction and open… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Brownlee replaces Powers at CTVgm

TORONTO – Bonnie Brownlee has been hired as senior vice-president, corporate communications at CTVglobemedia, the company announced today. Reporting to group senior vice-president Paul Sparkes, Brownlee is now responsible for leading the company’s corporate communications strategy. She replaces Mary Powers, who has decided to step down from the role to launch her own strategic communications and brand marketing company, Powers Communications, with CTVglobemedia as her lead client. Previously, Brownlee was vice-president, communications for Astral Television Networks, director of national media relations for Bloomingdale’s New York City and for 10 years with the Government of Canada as Executive Assistant to… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Major broadcasters oppose increases to CRTC budget; telecos more understanding: report

OTTAWA – Major broadcasters are opposing the budget increases being sought by the CRTC to deal with new regulatory challenges, according to the CRTC Budgetary Requirements and Fees Outcomes Report released Wednesday. More support came from the telecommunications community, although some telcos had concerns about the amount and duration of the proposed fee hikes. This fall, the CRTC will ask the Treasury Board of Canada to up its operating budget by $8.3 million in 2007-08, $9.94 million in 2008-09 and $9.07 on an ongoing basis thereafter. The CRTC contends its budget has been stable for over four years (with… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Rogers spending millions in Northern B.C.

VANCOUVER – GSM technology is coming to Northern British Columbia as Rogers Wireless said today it is making a $10 million investment in the region to build out the Global System for Mobile communications technology for its wireless voice and data network. The network expansion will be along the corridor stretching from Prince Rupert to Prince George, one of the fastest growing areas in British Columbia. The first phase of the network expansion will bring Rogers Wireless service to Prince Rupert and Terrace in November of this year, with the towns of Smithers, Kitimat and Hazelton to follow throughout… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Zaman replaces Sheridan atop WIFT-T

TORONTO – The board of directors of Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) announced today that Executive Director Sue Sheridan will be leaving the organization effective September 17, 2007 to join the Boys and Girls Club of Canada as the Director of Corporate Development. Award-winning journalist, host, producer and WIFT-T board member Sadia Zaman will assume the role of Executive Director October 1, 2007. “We are saddened by Sue’s departure, but wish her well in her new role,” said WIFT-T Board Chair Wendy MacKeigan, in a press release. "Sue has made a remarkable contribution to WIFT-T and… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Bell finally swings back at Videotron

MONTREAL – With many of its major markets now deregulated, Bell Canada today announced today announced Home Phone has been added to its bundle of offerings in Quebec. With the inclusion of Home Phone packages in the Bell Bundle, new and existing customers can save up to $25 every month on their communications services. Until deregulation, Bell had limitations on how it could make such an offer and Videotron, with a very low priced local phone offer, has been able to take over half a million phone customers. The release did not say when the offer might come to… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telecom Hall names another laureate

MONTREAL – Canada’s Telecommunications Hall of Fame announced today that it will confer its Career Service Award on Dr. Gilles Y. Delisle, P.Eng., a highly-respected telecommunications engineer and educator who has devoted more than three decades to sharing his expertise with students in Quebec and eastern Ontario and the developing world. Dr. Delisle, currently Vice-President Research at the Montreal-based International Institute of Telecommunications, will be honoured at the 2007 Telecom Laureate Awards gala dinner and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, October 16, 2007, at Windsor Station in Montreal. "We are delighted to recognize the tremendous role that Gilles Delisle… Continue Reading