WINNIPEG – Pierre Blouin has been appointed CEO of MTS Allstream, which includes Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. and MTS Allstream Inc.
Blouin replaces Bill Fraser, who announced his intention to retire in September. Blouin spent more than 20 years at BCE Inc., most recently as Group President, Consumer Markets for Bell Canada, where he was responsible for all of Bell’s consumer products, nearly $10 billion in business annually, including wireless, Internet, television, residential telephony, and retail operations. He was also CEO of BCE Emergis Inc., and CEO of Bell Mobility.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the outstanding…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – The outlook for Canada’s traditional fixed-line telecom industry in 2006 is poor, while things are looking better for wireless services and the cable industry, according to the latest credit ratings report by Standard and Poors.
Competition for wireline business will hurt incumbent telcos (Aliant, Bell Canada, Manitoba Telecom Services, and Telus) as the cable operators and other players enter the telephony market, the report says. Likewise, though, the cablecos (Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw, and Videotron) will face more competition from telephone operators providing video services via DSL. “The blurring of boundaries between wireline, wireless, and cable will continue,”…
Continue Reading
BARRIE, Ont. – Christian radio is a bit of an immature niche in Canada.
Until 1993, such stations simply were not licensed in Canada so – while the market for Christian stations grew in the U.S. for years (and is apparently 600-stations strong there) – only recently are similar operations seeing growth here (about 30 so far).
One such station is Barrie’s Life 100.3. On the air for over six years now, the station has added repeaters in Owen Sound, Peterborough and Huntsville. Currently, the Barrie station operates at 1,800 watts, but wait for early 2006, when the signal…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Rogers Cable is the first BDU in Canada to carry The Israeli Network, offering the service to digital cable customers in Ontario.
A free preview of the network, on channel 635, is available until Jan. 4, 2006. After that, it will cost $14.95 a month, not including the rental or purchase of the digital set-top box.
"We’re thrilled to launch The Israeli Network on Rogers Digital Cable," says Slava Levin, co-founder, CEO, and President of Ethnic Channels Group Limited, which operates the channel. "Our years of experience in the multicultural television and broadcast industry will allow us…
Continue Reading
KELOWNA. B.C. – May 17th and 18th, 2006 will see the launch of the Canadian Communications & Technology Trade Show & Seminars.
The show will build on the success of the Technology and Outside Plant show that Telonix initiated and hosted in B.C. this past spring – which sold-out to vendors in a matter of days.
This much anticipated new, two-day event will take place at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna, B.C.. “The full hotel and its facilities have been reserved due to the anticipation of this trade show being a sell-out,” says the press release.
It is…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – CHUM Limited and the Waters family today announced the death of company founder and Canadian broadcasting pioneer Allan Waters. He was 84.
As chairman and president until 2002, Waters (right) laid the foundation for CHUM Limited’s growth to its current place as one of Canada’s premier media companies, with radio and television stations across the country. “His vision for CHUM was rooted in fostering strong connections with the communities it serves, while staying true to his own guiding principles of respect, honesty and fair dealing,” said the company’s press release.
“Allan Waters’ contribution to…
Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American cable industry Thursday told the Federal Communications Commission that it would commit to a path where digital cable set top boxes could disappear.
The National Cable Telecommunications Association submitted a package of voluntary commitments and proposed regulations that would enable consumer electronics manufacturers to bring digital TVs and other devices to market that would deliver interactive digital cable services without the need for a set-top box.
Instead of using a set-top box, the new Interactive Digital Cable Ready (IDCR) devices would utilize a CableCARD – which is inserted into a slot in the TV…
Continue Reading
HALIFAX – On Wednesday, Aliant announced the provincial winners of its Garage Band contest, which is aimed at young Atlantic Canadians who are active in making music with their friends, family and hopefully not annoying their neighbours too much.
The regional winners are Kristina Trites, Nova Scotia; Tyler Lombard, New Brunswick; The Chucky Danger Band, Prince Edward Island; and Rayfield, Newfoundland.
Each of the winners will play the opening set in their province for the popular reggae/rock band Bedouin Soundclash’s concert, which will perform in Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown, and St. John’s from November 30 to December 3.
"We had…
Continue Reading
SASKATOON – The JUNOs have played in a lot of regions, but never Saskatchewan. That will change in 2007.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), along with broadcast partner CTV, today announced that the ’07 JUNO Awards will be in Saskatchewan for the first time ever. Saskatoon will be the primary site for many of the events taking place over the course of the three-day music industry celebration weekend, March 30 – April 1, 2007.
"We’re thrilled to bring Canada’s largest annual celebration of music to the heartland of the country,” Melanie Berry, president of CARAS…
Continue Reading
HAMILTON – Janice Lee, who is well-known to many broadcast distributors and programmers in Canada thanks to her many years in the industry, launched her new company this month, JLL & Associates.
Staying within the industry she has worked hard in and enjoyed for over two decades, Lee has over 30 years experience in marketing, strategic sales, public relations and product training.
The company has a full time digital designer on staff plus a talented project manager. They draw on other associates to meet all opportunities, from web site design to research.
“I will continue to consult several days…
Continue Reading
