Search Results for: industry canada

Radio / Television News

Crystals to be presented next month

TORONTO – The 2006 Crystal Awards gala luncheon next month will be hosted by Dina Pugliese, co-host of CHUM Television’s daily morning show in Toronto, while Pamela Wallin, broadcaster and former Consul-General of Canada in New York, will be the event’s Honorary Alumni Chair, Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) has announced. The awards, to be presented December 4 in Toronto, celebrate the role of women in the Canadian film and television industry. The participation of Pugliese and Wallin “further enhances what is already an exciting salute to Canada’s formidable talent in screen-based media,” said Sue Sheridan,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Info all over

TORONTO – Rogers Wireless customers now have direct access to CanWest MediaWorks’ news and business information service, FPinfomart.ca. The agreement announced today will see Rogers Wireless offer FPinfomart Mobile, the wireless extension of FPinformart.ca, as part of its wireless business applications, giving customers on the go with access to the information site wherever they go. The service provides news and business information from over 275 Canadian and international news sources, as well as a database of research on over 4,000 Canadian public companies. The new service Rogers is deploying was developed for Blackberry wireless handheld devices. Today’s agreement allows… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CAB Inducts nine into Broadcast Hall of Fame

VANCOUVER – The Canadian Association of Broadcasters inducted nine distinguished Canadians into the CAB’s Broadcast Hall of Fame at a special luncheon ceremony Monday at the CAB’s 80th Annual Convention in Vancouver. The Hall of Fame recognizes Canadians in private broadcasting or related industries who have achieved outstanding success in helping raise industry standards from a material or humanitarian standpoint. The inductees who were honoured at the luncheon are: Doug Allen, Broadcast engineer, Winnipeg Vicki Gabereau, Radio and Television talk show host, Vancouver Alain Gourd, Broadcast executive, Gatineau Frank Lewis, Broadcast executive, Charlottetown Gary Miles, Broadcast executive, Toronto Pierre… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

High definition TV: Industry must work together

TORONTO – Brand new research from CTAM Canada says that while Canadian consumers are buying high definition television sets by the thousands, they need more and better information on how to maximize what should be an incredible new picture. A survey conducted this summer says Canadians are not fully aware of what they need – beyond their new TV – to truly see television in high definition. According to the research, conducted exclusively for CTAM Canada members, while 22% and 21% of Canadian digital cable and satellite customers (respectively) own an HD set, only 14% have the requisite set… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

ACTRA calls for drama spending minimums

VANCOUVER – Canadian stars told Canada’s private broadcasters today it is time they invest in more Canadian TV drama. Instead of producing more “reality” TV shows, said Gabrielle Miller, star of Corner Gas and Robson Arms, “what we need is new rules to protect our Canadian cultural sovereignty and to get more home-grown dramas on our televisions.” Miller was speaking near the annual Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) convention where the theme is “New Realities, New Rules”. He was joined by other stars, including Joy Coghill (Da Vinci’s Inquest, Stargate), Jackson Davies (X-Files, Beachcombers), Donnelly Rhodes (Da Vinci’s Inquest,… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

New rules mandatory to maintain mass media muscle: O’Farrell

VANCOUVER – The last time the CAB convention was in Vancouver was 2002 – just four years ago. Video streaming over the web was a pain in the rear, Apple had just begun its huge gamble on this new-fangled music device, the iPod, and when broadcasters complained about audience fragmentation, the audience was really escaping mostly to their own specialty services. In 2006, things have changed, "big-time" Canadian Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Glenn O’Farrell told the Vancouver Board of Trade on Thursday. It’s a confusing time in the media space these days. Multi-billion dollar companies are experimenting… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Producers want a strike, say actors. Actors want a strike, say producers

TORONTO – For two groups that said earlier this month they don’t want to negotiate through the media, they sure are putting out a lot of press releases. Friday’s missive from Canadian actors’ union ACTRA says they believe that the producers’ association wants to see them out on strike. “Based on their huge demands for concessions, their delay in coming to bargaining, their attempts to block the appointment of a conciliator and their filing of inaccurate and time wasting applications with the Labour Board it would appear they really are not interested in getting an agreement with us before… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Wireless, data, push Telus

VANCOUVER – While still reeling from this week’s income trust announcement from the Federal government that would seem to put the kibosh on Telus’ previously announced conversion plans, the company reported solid third quarter results on Friday. The company reported a 7% increase in revenue compared to a year ago to $2.2 billion "due to continued strong wireless and data growth," says the quarterly release. EBITDA increased 13% to $952.4 million for the quarter ended September 30th. Operating income came in at $569.1 million, a jump of 32.2% while net income rose 68.1% to $319.6 million. Free cash flow,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

OPINION: Bridges TV supporters continue bully tactics with bogus claims

PUBLICLY CALLING OUT SOMEONE as a bigot is generally considered a poor way to build a business relationship with them. However, the folks at English language Muslim channel Bridges TV, for whatever reason, believe this is their best chance at gaining carriage in Canada. And, not only have supporters of the channel labeled Rogers Communications, its founder Ted Rogers, and TV vice-president David Purdy as Islamophobic hate-mongers – claims that are wholly absurd – they’re also playing fast and loose with the facts. Following up on a screed released October 18th, several Canadian Muslim groups said that a… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

NET NEUTRALITY: Videotron CEO calls for Internet transmission tariff

OTTAWA – Just like Proctor and Gamble pays Loblaws for a front-and-centre placement in the laundry detergent aisle for Bounce dryer sheets, so should companies like Google or Apple or Amazon have to pay ISPs like Videotron for transmitting their goods to consumers along the Internet backbone. In a speech Tuesday at the Fourth Annual Telecommunications Forum in Ottawa, Dépatie’s speech just might rip the lid off the so-called "net neutrality" debate in Canada. On one side we have sectors of consumers fearing their unfettered access to the Internet will be disrupted (or unduly influenced by who pays the… Continue Reading