Some bright spots remain
CANADIAN SPECIALTY CHANNEL revenues took a hard hit in 2020, thanks to Covid-19, with independents taking bigger shots than vertically integrated (VI) companies.
The recently published CRTC 2020 Individual Discretionary and On-Demand Statistical and Financial Summaries for the year ended August 31, 2020 shows Canada’s VI companies, taken together, reported a 6.9% year-over-year decrease in total revenues to $2.9 billion in 2020. The CRTC considers VI companies to include Bell Media, Rogers Media, Quebecor Media, and Corus Entertainment.
These companies spent 36.2% of their total revenues on Canadian programming, but total expenditures on Canadian programming was down 8.1%…
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VANCOUVER — Media technology company BBTV Holdings announced today it has expanded its content management business and signed a deal with a top three major U.S. news network and cable channel, without naming which one.
BBTV provides distribution and monetization solutions to help content creators become more successful.
“Digital has really leveled the playing field when it comes to reaching and engaging digital audiences, as well as monetizing content,” said Lewis Ball, vice-president of strategy for Vancouver-based BBTV, in a press release.
“This latest major signing showcases the strength of our content management offering and demonstrates the value that we bring to creators…
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Conservatives release 83-page electoral platform
By Denis Carmel
The recently announced federal election officially signals the death of Bill C-10.
In dissolving the House of Commons, any “incomplete business is terminated, including government and private members’ bills,” reads the House of Commons website.
This includes Bill C-10, the legislation intended to modernize the Broadcasting Act.
So much work for nothing is distressing but it also illustrates the difficulty of legislating in today’s world, especially with a minority government.
Assuming a new government reintroduces the same bill or a new one, they will have to start from scratch. So those 159 witnesses, 55 briefs tabled, 28 meetings…
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – In a letter sent to François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (IC), on August 13, Videotron CEO, Pierre-Karl Péladeau responded to claims made by Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) CEO Mirko Bibic in an interview on BNN Bloomberg (owned by BCE) that Videotron should not have been eligible to bid on set-aside wireless spectrum in the 3500 MHz auction, the results of which were announced on July 29.
IC set aside portions of spectrum in the last few auctions that the larger wireless players (Bell, Telus and Rogers) could not bid on, to try…
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – In a ruling issued this week, Federal Court Justice Fuhrer awarded $29.7 million to a group of Canadian media (Bell Media, Rogers Media and TVA) and distribution companies (Bell Canada and Bell ExpressVu, Rogers Cable and Vidéotron) as compensation for lost revenues, punitive damages and legal costs.
The defendants (INL3D, Morcor and Ottawa Tek) have advertised, offered for sale and sold preloaded set-top boxes (STB) and IPTV services, therefore distributing content illegally without authorization from rights holders, depriving them of significant revenues.
These companies did not offer a defence, but the Court ruled against them, satisfied with…
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OTTAWA — Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne and Minister of Seniors Deb Schulte today announced the second phase of the Connecting Families program, which they say will help hundreds of thousands of low-income seniors and families access affordable high-speed home Internet in 2022.
The so-called Connecting Families 2.0 program marks the first time low-income seniors will be included in the program. It also introduces faster speeds and increases the data usage amount available in Internet plans being offered by participating Internet service providers, which include Access Communications, Bell Canada, Cogeco, CSUR, Hay Communications, Mornington, Novus, Rogers, SaskTel,…
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Launches three consultations and publishes decision to streamline framework to auction unsold spectrum
OTTAWA — Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) today launched three separate consultations as the federal government looks to improve access to spectrum for broadband services in rural and remote areas through proposed changes to Canada’s spectrum policies.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne announced the consultations on the government’s plans, which include:
A new regime for licensing unused spectrum and simplifying access to the secondary market and to more shared white space spectrum. The consultation document can be found here. The deadline for…
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MCLEAN, Va. — U.S.-based satellite communications company Iridium Communications announced today the Canadian Coast Guard has adopted Iridium Certus broadband connectivity with support from partner MetOcean Telematics.
The Coast Guard has deployed dozens of Iridium Certus-powered Thales VesseLINK 700 terminals (see above) on its vessels, including icebreakers, “to contribute to reliable Internet connectivity as crew members deliver programs and services to ensure the safety of mariners in Canadian waters and protect Canada’s marine environment,” says an Iridium press release. “Unique in the satellite industry, Iridium Certus delivers the fastest L-band speeds in the world — even at the poles — and…
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OTTAWA – The Government of Canada announced last week the prices for the majority of 2GB and 6GB data plans decreased by 9%-25% compared to benchmark prices.
These numbers were announced by François-Philippe Champagne, the minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and came from the publication of the latest quarter wireless pricing data.
The benchmarks used are “based on prices advertised on company websites in early 2020 for postpaid, bring your own device (BYOD), unlimited talk and text 4G/LTE plans in the 2 GB to 6 GB range,” according to a press release.
The government expects that, over course of two years,…
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OTTAWA – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada announced today the provisional results of the 3500 MHz auction, which earned a total of $8.91 billion.
The auction began in June and concluded July 23. Winning bidders have until August 13 to submit 20% of their final payment and until October 4 to submit the remaining 80%. The money will be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund administered by the Receiver General of Canada, according to an ISED press release.
In total, 15 Canadian companies were awarded 1,495 licences, 757 of which went to small and regional players.
“Results of the…
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