TWO THOUSAND AND NINE. Geez, when you spell it out like that, the year sure seems like a long way away, doesn’t it?
It isn’t. With the U.S. Congress and the National Association of Broadcasters now seeing eye-to-eye on a hard deadline of 2009 for the transition to digital broadcasting and the complete cessation of analog, it’s time for Canadian broadcasters to stomp on the digital/HD accelerator.
Broadcasters here have been awfully slow in getting digital TV broadcasting off the ground. While that’s angered HD’s early consumer adopters who long to fill their plasma, DLP or LCD screens with…
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CHAPLEAU – The small lumber community of Chapleau, Ont., which lies about 300 kms northeast of Sault Ste. Marie, is about to get connected.
Bell Canada, Nortel and the Town of Chapleau today launched Project Chapleau, a joint initiative to research the impact of advanced technology on rural and dispersed communities.
“Project Chapleau will evaluate the positive effect of technology and how it stimulates economic, healthcare, education and social activity in the community,” reads the press release. Bell and Nortel will contribute technology and other resources to enable broadband access service in Chapleau, as well the applications necessary to…
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TORONTO – Every year the CTAM Canada pre-Summit gathering is a top-notch, fun, networking event – and this year promises to be no different.
But, time is running out to sign up. Visit www.ctam.ca to register for this one-of-a-kind event. Click on Events.
For the past four years Canadian CTAM (Cable Telecommunications Association for Marketing) members have gathered on the Sunday prior to the main CTAM Summit to mingle, chat and network. Last year’s was a dinner boat cruise on the Boston Harbour.
This year’s get-together in Philadelphia at the brand new National Constitutional Center (www.constitutioncenter.org) promises to be…
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TORONTO – Pity the poor public relations people who had to type with blinding speed to get today’s tit-for-tat press releases on satellite radio out the door as fast as possible.
First the appeal announcement, then the denouncement, then another one, then the denial of a purchase attempt, and finally, sticking by what was said.
And kudos to whomever at Canadian Satellite Radio came up with MUCHmonopoly. Made us laugh. By the end, they must have been getting tired, though. The last release is but one sentence. Here are all the statements from Tuesday, complete with their release times,…
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WASHINGTON – If Canadian broadcasters are still wondering about an absolute deadline for digital/high definition conversion, National Association of Broadcasters CEO Edward Fritts set one yesterday.
In a presentation before the Senate Commerce Committee, Fritts said that his members have come to grips with the fact Congress will set a deadline for digital television conversion of some time in 2009 when government will then reclaim the analog spectrum from the broadcasters.
“Broadcasters accept that Congress will implement a 2009 hard date for the end of analog broadcasts,” Fritts told the committee.
“And we’re ready. We’ve done our part, investing…
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TORONTO – In less than two years, Musicrypt’s DMDS has become the de facto standard in the radio business when it comes to music distribution.
There just isn’t anything else out there as good as the Canadian company’s patented Digital Media Distribution System. Mailed or couriered CDs are joining relics of the past like 8-track tape as most Canadian radio stations have adopted Musicrypt’s free system. The freight is paid by the record labels themselves – all of whom have signed on to the ultra-secure, biometrically-protected system.
It’s fast, flexible and secure and is now in use by…
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TORONTO – Seems like every radio company not involved in a satellite radio investment has now jumped into an appeal of the CRTC’s licensing decision to federal cabinet.
Led by CHUM Ltd. and Astral Media (who were granted a terrestrial subscription radio license), the rest of the appellants are: CHIN Radio, CJRT-FM Inc., Fairchild Radio Group Ltd., O.K. Radio Group Ltd., Newcap Inc., Larche Communications Inc., Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc., Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd., Evanov Radio Group Inc. and Radio-Nord Communications Inc.
Officially the group of companies filed “a notice to appeal to the Governor in Council to set…
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OTTAWA – Given the timelines involved in relation to other proceedings already under way, one wonders why the CRTC is even bothering with its latest telecom public notice.
On Thursday, the Commission called for comments on Bell Canada’s application on introducing Bell Digital Voice (PN #2005-9). Thing is, it’s already been approved and there are much bigger fish to fry – some of which are already frying.
Bell Digital Voice is the VOIP (voice over IP) service the company launched in Quebec months prior to the CRTC’s May 12 decision on the matter which said, in part, that…
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CALGARY – The Government of Alberta today announced new agreements with Bell Canada and Axia SuperNet Ltd. that will target rural Albertans.
The new agreements provide appropriate focus on service delivery, create cost savings for government and assure rural Albertans and service providers of quality, reliable SuperNet operation, says the press release.
"With SuperNet nearly complete, this was the logical time to review and restructure the operating agreement and make certain government’s investment is fully leveraged to ensure the success and development of the rural network. Our new agreements provide strong incentive for Bell and Axia to maximize use…
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TORONTO – "This appears to be an act of desperation by an association scared of progress," said Gregg Terrence, president of Indie Pool, about the recent jabs the Canadian Independent Record Producers Association has taken at his company.
"CIRPA’s comments are possibly libelous and are disrespectful to thousands of Canadian artists that signed a petition supporting satellite radio. Let’s be clear here, CIRPA represents record companies, lawyers and accountants, not unsigned artists."
Indie Pool, which says it represents 20,000-plus Canadian independent recording artists, reinforced its support for all three satellite and subscription radio applications in its release today.
CIRPA…
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