Search Results for: industry canada

Radio / Television News

Corus puts radio guarantee in writing

TORONTO – Corus Radio has decided to make itself more accountable to its clients – in certificate form. The company recently announced the development of a new "Pro-Radio" performance guarantee and sales professional code of ethics where, basically, if any of Corus’ 50 radio stations mess up, they promise to make immediate restitution to their clients. If a paid spot does not air as contracted, Corus will deliver two spots for every one that aired incorrectly or twice what the advertiser paid for the spot in credit. The guarantee applies to the purchase of all radio spots on any… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

VOIP’s window of opportunity

MONTREAL – A new report authored for Videotron released today says that voice over Internet protocol telephony offers a unique window of opportunity for real competition in the Canadian voice marketplace. Videotron, not surprisingly, calls the CRTC’s May 12th decision on the regulation of VOIP-delivered telephony the right one. “In its decision, the CRTC recognized the potential of VoIP technology to finally bring meaningful entry into the local telephone market, eight years after this market was formally opened to competition. At the same time, the CRTC purposefully refrained from a premature deregulation of VoIP services offered by the former… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

VOIP a key topic at Telecom Summit

TORONTO – Look for some day two fireworks at the 2005 Canadian Telecom Summit. The 11 a.m. session on May 31st, day two of what looks to be a great three days, is entitled “The Regulatory Blockbuster”, which most will identify as last week’s VOIP ruling from the CRTC. The session’s panelists are scheduled to be Lawson Hunter, executive vice-president, BCE Inc.; Janet Yale, EVP corporate affairs, Telus; Jean Brazeau, senior v-p regulatory, Sprint Canada; Ken Englehart, v-p regulatory, Rogers Communications; Chris Peirce, senior v-p regulatory, MTS-Allstream; and Michael Hennessy, president, Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association. Given the hundreds of… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

An enormous hot spot

TORONTO – Canada’s wireless industry will announce North America’s broadest WiFi hotspot on Wednesday. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), in conjunction with national wireless service providers Bell Mobility, Fido, Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility, has announced the launch of inter-carrier WiFi service along with the commitment to develop more than 500 new hotspot locations this year. This new hotspot network, the broadest inter-carrier undertaking of its kind in North America, allows for cross-Canada roaming between carrier-run hotspots under a common brand. “It’s the first of its kind in Canada, certainly, and it’s also the first of its kind… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

“Self-serving” cable complaints now moot, says Bell

OTTAWA – The CRTC’s recent decision on voice over Internet protocol telephony has rendered complaints from the Canadian cable industry pointless, said Bell Canada in a letter to the Commission on Thursday. Cogeco Cable, Quebecor Media (owners of Videotron) and the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association had all complained in April that Bell Canada had launched a VOIP service in violation of the CRTC’s telecom regs, since Bell did not apply for rate tariffs prior to its launch in Quebec City, Trois Rivieres and Sherbrooke. Knowing full well that the CRTC had already said in a preliminary viewpoint that it… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CanWest hires Shalev, Shipton

TORONTO – CanWest Mediaworks made a pair of new hires last week, bringing Zev Shalev and Christine Shipton on board to boost Global Television’s content offerings. Shalev is CanWest’s new senior executive producer in charge of entertainment and information program development. In his new role, Shalev will be responsible for building the company’s entertainment franchise. This will include the development and launch of a new daily entertainment program for the fall schedule. Shalev has over a decade of experience in the media industry, and was most recently executive producer for Toronto 1. There, he was responsible for the company’s… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CCTA asks for six more channels

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The Canadian cable industry wants to add six more channels to the eligible satellite list. The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association has asked that the Commission add Radio Television Portugal International (RTPi), New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), Phoenix North American Chinese Channel (Phoenix), TV Globo and PTV-Prime USA to the eligible satellite list for digital distribution. The CRTC put out a call for comments on the request to add those channels today. RTPi is the international television network of Radiotelevisao Portuguesa, SA, Portugal’s public broadcasting company. The RTPi service consists of diverse, general interest, Portuguese-language programming, including news and… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Signal theft still significant

YOUR ARTICLE TODAY ON THEFT IS INTERESTING… on two levels. One because it underscores sadly the difficulty our industry has with people who see nothing wrong with “stealing” intellectual property (in our case television programming). The second interesting aspect is that even an industry critic and a knowledgeable observer like you does not believe the extent of use of hacked DTH equipment on a national scale. We very carefully surveyed our licensed area at Mountain Cablevision in 2002. We hired a third party to “count” dishes. What we assumed from an anecdotal drive-around was verified by that count…. Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Music industry likes court ruling

TORONTO – While technically, they lost, the Canadian Recording Industry Association says it welcomes Thursday’s decision by the Federal Court of Appeal. The appeal was denied, but the ruling clarified the steps necessary to obtain disclosure of the identities of alleged large-scale uploaders from Internet service providers and rejected the findings of the motions court with respect to copyright law. "We welcome the court’s confirmation that Canada isn’t a piracy haven," says CRIA President Graham Henderson. "This was the key issue on which we appealed, and we’re delighted that the court agreed with us." The court decision hinged on… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

COMMENTARY: Whatever the numbers, keep the pressure on

WHILE THE SATELLITE SIGNAL theft issue seems to have receded into the background recently, the Canadian TV industry must keep the pressure on government in order to force change. A number of things have happened of late to limit the damage caused by illegal U.S. dishes, such as DirecTV’s as-yet-unhacked new access card – and the fact that Bell ExpressVu is nearly done with its card-swap, moving to a far more secure algorithm. The quick Quebec Superior Court decision in April to strike down a lower court ruling which said the Radiocommunication Act was contrary to our Charter of… Continue Reading