Regulator leaves open possible regulation on credit card fees more broadly in the future
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The CRTC said today that it will not allow Telus to charge credit card fees to customers in areas where its services are regulated, arguing that it would negatively impact service affordability for Canadians and said such fees could be examined more broadly under a new proposed policy direction from Innovation Canada.
In August, Telus asked the CRTC if it could charge a 1.5% fee to customers paying by credit card in areas of British Columbia and Alberta where services…
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By Connie Thiessen
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters blasted today’s CRTC review of commercial radio, saying it doesn’t do enough during a time when broadcasters are losing money and are having to compete against “unregulated options.”
The first commercial radio policy update since 2014, one of the review’s key changes offers greater flexibility to Common Ownership Policy. For markets with eight commercial radio stations or more operating in a given language, an individual may now be permitted to own or control as many as four stations, with a maximum of three stations within one frequency band (FM or AM) in…
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OTTAWA — The Broadcasting Accessibility Fund (the Fund) announced last week it will award $398,016 to three new projects, approved by its board of directors, that will advance the accessibility of Canadian broadcasting content.
“These three innovative projects represent the completion of the Fund’s eighth round of grants, with a total commitment of approximately $4.4M to date, to address gaps in broadcasting accessibility,” a press release explains.
The CBC is receiving $107,467 for a project designed to optimize closed captioning for children with disabilities. “This project aims to advance the current state of accessibility to…
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Report recommends a national digital infrastructure strategy
VANCOUVER — 5G and 5G-enabled technologies could deliver an estimated 16%, or $120 billion, of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by 2036, but Canada lags behind other leading countries in the rollout of 5G, according to a new report from Vancouver-based management consulting company Deetken Insight.
“Despite its market-leading performance in 4G and the transformational benefits of 5G, Canada is lagging its peers in the deployment of 5G. Compared to the U.S., Germany, Japan, Italy, Australia, and South Korea, Canada’s 5G spectrum allocations for mid- and high-band frequencies are…
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By Connie Thiessen
CBC News Explore has launched, the public broadcaster’s new free ad-supported streaming (FAST) news channel, available on digital and connected TV platforms.
The channel, announced today, will feature a curated selection of CBC journalism from across the country in addition to original programs, led by new Andrew Chang vehicle About That – a look at the day’s most compelling stories in a blend of conversation and feature interviews.
Other original programming includes This Week in Canada, a weekly show featuring original CBC News stories chosen for their ability to resonate with audiences across the…
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Wireless issues top the list with largest share of complaints
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – A watchdog that fields telecommunications complaints said in a report released today that Canadian complaints about their services have dropped 25% compared to the same period last year, with wireless taking the top spot for issues and with some trending issues that one advocate said are “disturbing.”
All telecommunications services recorded by the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services reported declines in complaints for the 2021-2022 year compared to the previous 2020-2021 period. The CCTS said it resolved 88% of complaints, often within 30 days.
Wireless topped issues…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications today released its financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year that ended August 31, 2022, reporting a 1.5% year-over-year (y-o-y) decline in quarterly revenue to $1.36 billion and a 1.1% y-o-y decrease in full-year revenue to $5.45 billion.
Shaw’s adjusted EBITDA increased by 1.6% to $624 million in Q4 2022 and by 1.4% to $2.53 billion in fiscal 2022, when compared to the same periods of fiscal 2021.
Funds flow from operations declined 5.3% to $487 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and fell 11.4% to $1.99 billion…
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By Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv Media Global Inc. (OMG) (pictured above); Monika Ille, CEO APTN; and Luc Perreault, strategic advisor of Stingray Group
The Senate Transport Committee is starting its clause-by-clause review of Bill C-11, an Act to amend the Broadcasting Act. Hours of Committee time have been spent on the scope of the Bill and how it would apply to digital first creators and social media platforms. This is understandable and appropriate.
Far less time has been spent on a weakness in the Bill that will have a much more profound impact on the Canadian broadcasting system and the content Canadians can access….
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MONTREAL — Bell Canada announced today a three-year strategic relationship with École de technologie supérieure’s (ÉTS) innovation centre Centech in Montreal.
“As Centech’s exclusive telecommunications provider, Bell will leverage its advanced network capabilities, 5G and AI management expertise to help emerging Canadian businesses drive innovation, growth and adoption of advanced technological solutions,” reads a press release announcing the partnership.
Founded by ÉTS in 1996, Centech is a non-profit business incubator that supports entrepreneurs and helps to propel their technological innovation projects, the release explains. The solutions developed at Centech have been concentrated in the health, logistics, energy, environment and…
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VANCOUVER – Vancouver-headquartered Thunderbird Entertainment Group continues to clap back at assertions by its largest shareholder that it’s avoiding accountability to its investors.
Texas-based hedge fund Voss Capital, which owns 13.3% of outstanding shares in the production, distribution and rights management company that’s behind shows like Kim’s Convenience and Highway Thru Hell, is making a play to reconstitute Thunderbird’s existing board of directors with a competing slate of nominees at the company’s upcoming annual general meeting.
The hedge fund, which has held shares in Thunderbird for the last two years, stated in a release last week…
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