TORONTO, MONTREAL and WOODSTOCK – Industry stakeholders wasted little time before commenting on Industry Minister James Moore’s spectrum announcement, with the majority expressing optimism, albeit cautiously.
Rural broadband provider Xplornet Communications said that it was “pleased and relieved” that Industry Canada and Minister Moore revised the previously proposed 3500 MHz spectrum policy, saying that the approach proves that the Minister understands the importance of 3500 MHz spectrum in providing fast and affordable high-speed Internet to rural Canadians.
“The Minister has taken a balanced approached that does no harm to the tremendous gains that have been made in the past few…
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MONTREAL – Former Quebecor CEO Robert Dépatie is trading cable for chicken, after being named as the new head of the St-Hubert restaurant and food chain.
According to a report in the Montreal Gazette, Dépatie (pictured) will take over St-Hubert in February. Founded in 1951, St-Hubert has more than 10,000 employees and 100 chicken rotisserie restaurants mainly in Quebec, but also in Ontario and New Brunswick. Its retail division makes sauces, soups, ribs and meat pies for sale in supermarkets.
The move marks a return to the food industry for the 56 year old executive who previously worked at Heinz Canada…
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MONTREAL – Quebecor Media’s TVA Group is dismissing allegations made by a group of minority shareholders questioning some of the company’s recent business transactions.
The shareholders, led by investment management firm Jarislowsky, Fraser Ltd., have asked the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) to investigate “numerous material related-party transactions, potential conflicts of interest, and the proposed acquisition of the assets of A.R. Global Vision Ltd. (Global Vision) and related financing” at the French-language television network, reads the shareholders’ press release.
At issue, according to the shareholders, is the recent acquisition of TVA by QMI without the consent of or without any compensation…
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TORONTO – It appears Moses Znaimer wants to add Sun News to his stable of media properties aimed at the 45-and-up demographic, his so-called “Zoomer” audience.
Two sources with knowledge of the negotiations but who asked to remain anonymous have told Cartt.ca that ZoomerMedia is currently in talks to buy the channel. The company currently has the rights to an exclusive negotiating window to come to an agreement to buy money-losing Sun News from its owner Quebecor Media, according to the sources.
ZoomerMedia, led by president and CEO Znaimer, owns TV brands VisionTV, One: Body, Mind & Spirit, JoyTV and HopeTV;…
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MONTREAL – Videotron president and CEO Manon Brouillette has been recognized by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Awards in the Corporate Executives category.
The award celebrates the professional achievements of of women with strong leadership skills in the private, public and non-profit sectors across the country.
Brouillette, pictured, joined Videotron in 2004 at the age of 36 as VP of marketing and product development, the youngest member of Videotron senior management at the time. She quickly distinguished herself by virtue of her natural leadership skills, business acumen, and ability to pursue a far-sighted strategic…
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QUEBEC CITY – Quebecor’s new arena now has an anchor tenant after the company bought the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Quebecor confirmed that the Remparts will be moving into the new Quebecor Arena in September 2015.
"The Remparts organization has passion, hard work and success in its DNA”, said Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Dion, in the news release. “We are honoured to become its owners, and we want to continue this 'sacred' tradition by keeping the Remparts at the same level of excellence while providing the best possible experience for Quebec City hockey fans."
Jacques Tanguay,…
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MONTREAL – Quebecor Media’s TVA Group has an agreement to buy the assets of film and television-related services provider Vision Globale for $118 million.
Those assets include Mel's Cite du cinema in Montreal and Studios Melrose in Saint-Hubert, facilities used for both local and foreign film and television production, according to Thursday’s announcement. Once the deal is approved by the Competition Bureau, the operations will join TVA Group within the Media Group segment of Quebecor Media.
“The purpose of this asset acquisition is to invest in growth sectors that are a good fit with TVA Group's current activities, with the effect…
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TORONTO – Quebecor Media chief financial officer Jean-Francois Pruneau said Wednesday morning his company would love to be part of a national wireless play, has talked to investors and others about it, but is still awaiting the right conditions.
The big attraction at this point, he told Scotiabank’s telecom and cable investors conference in Toronto, is that the initial network builds have been done. “We don’t have to invest from the ground up, like the new entrants had to do,” he said, meaning any new national wireless company Videotron may be part of, would be “buying this at…
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MONTREAL – Led by gains at Videotron, Quebecor’s third quarter profits rebounded back to the black year-over-year.
For the period ended September 30, 2014, net income attributable to shareholders was $45.1 million, compared with a $188.8 million net loss attributable to shareholders in the same period of 2013, a favourable variance of $233.9 million including the total $181.0 million favourable non-cash impact of fluctuations in the value of goodwill, intangible assets and derivative financial instruments.
Quebecor's consolidated revenues dipped 0.2% year-over-year to $1.02 billion, and adjusted operating income fell 0.3% to $380.2 million. On an adjusted basis, income from continuing operations…
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I FINALLY HAVE A RESPONSE to something CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais asked we reporters – in absentia, mind you – during day eight of September’s Talk TV hearing, the day set aside for accessibility issues.
“I asked others beforehand – now they may be listening elsewhere – but the media table, which was chock-a-block last week, seems to be completely empty now,” chairman Blais said on September 17th. “And I'm struck, because members of the community you serve presumably buy goods and services – goods and services that are made by people that advertise in newspapers and other electronic media.
“Why…
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