By Ahmad Hathout
Quebecor is asking the CRTC to align the access rates to large last mile fibre networks for both disaggregated and aggregated regimes.
Last month, the regulator approved on an interim basis and within six months competitor access to the fibre of Bell and Telus that goes directly to buildings in Ontario and Quebec under the aggregated regime, which allows competitors to bundle from the large telco the traffic transport mile with the last mile. The decision is being appealed to the Federal Court by Bell, which is disproportionately affected by it.
In a Part 1 published…
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MONTREAL – Telus announced Wednesday it will begin offering its Optik TV customers the option to subscribe to Videotron’s SVOD service Club illico for $10 a month — $5 less than a standalone subscription — beginning Dec. 7.
Optik TV customers who subscribe will have access to more than 6,500 French-language titles from Club illico that they can watch anywhere and anytime on the device of their choice, including via the Telus TV+ mobile app, a press release says.
“From original Quebec productions like Détective Surprenant, Lac-Noir and Continue Reading
MONTREAL – The Quebecor Fund board of directors announced Tuesday the Canadian production companies that will receive financial assistance in the 47th round of the fund’s Television Production Assistance Program, totalling more than $1.9 million.
Under the program’s Support for the Creation of Intellectual Property component, $200,000 is being granted to a project from Carpediem Film & TV inc., according to a press release, which didn’t provide project details other than to say Société Radio-Canada is the broadcaster investing in the development of the project.
Under the Support for the Production of Intellectual Property…
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GATINEAU – The Competition Bureau announced Monday it has obtained a court order from the Federal Court requiring Rogers to produce records and information relevant to the bureau’s investigation into the wireless provider’s alleged marketing practices, specifically related to its “unlimited” wireless plans.
“The Bureau’s investigation involves claims made by Rogers when promoting its Infinite wireless phone plans. In particular, the Bureau is examining claims that the plans have unlimited data, when there are allegedly significant reductions in data speed, known as throttling, after a subscriber reaches a certain data…
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Telecoms note spectrum cap kept prices reasonable
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Innovation Canada released the results of the 3.8 GHz spectrum auction Thursday, with Cogeco getting a piece as it prepares mobile wireless market entry and Quebecor capturing a slice for its western Canada push.
Telus took home the largest number of licences with 1430 for a price of $620 million to cover 33 million Canadians. Bell was next with a spend of $518 million for 939 licences with expected population coverage of 34.6 million Canadians. Rogers spent $475 million for 860 licences with expected population coverage of 35 million. Videotron…
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Rogers and Cogeco urge lowering regulatory burden and need to sustain local news
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Representatives from Rogers argued Tuesday that if online streamers are not required to commit a base financial contribution to the enhancement of Canadian content, traditional Canadian broadcasters must not be required to do the same.
Broadcasting distribution undertakings are required to commit a certain percentage of their previous year’s revenues toward Canadian content funds – for example, a chunk of the base 5 per cent goes toward the Canada Media Fund every year. The CRTC is now asking whether it should similarly require a…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Bell said Tuesday it wants foreign streamers to partner with the domestic broadcasters to co-produce and distribute Canadian content at home and abroad.
Representatives from the broadcaster said on the second day of the CRTC’s examination of the implementation of contributions to Canadian content funds that it is challenging to monetize CanCon because it’s distributed over a small population.
While Bell said a growth in production funds will help make more content, there’s also the opportunity to nudge for cooperation with the digital platforms.
“We’ve tried on several occasions to co-produce, to look for opportunities to make true…
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TORONTO – Quebecor’s Freedom Mobile announced Tuesday a global roaming plan called Roam Beyond, offering 60 GB of data for $65 per month after digital discount, that allows customers to stay connected in 73 destinations around the world.
In addition to Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, the Roam Beyond plan covers many popular locations in Europe, the Caribbean, Asia and the Middle East.
The plan includes the data allotment, unlimited global texting in the 73 destinations, unlimited local calling and unlimited incoming calls while in Canada and the other included…
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Correction: A previous version of this story erroneously said the CMPA does not believe there should be a mandatory base contribution. In reality, it is asking for a mandatory base of no less than five per cent.
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau said Monday that the stonewalling of the federal government by foreign platforms on legislation that would require them to pay to host news links will likely mean that they will also scoff at any requirement for them to pay a base contribution to Canadian content.
The CRTC is proposing a mandatory base…
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Quebecor announced Monday that Videotron has officially launched its wireless discount brand Fizz in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton as a beta launch.
Canadians in the western provinces can find more details at fizz.ca by selecting Alberta or BC from the website’s top menu.
Fizz is offering deeply discounted plans during the beta including a 40 GB data plan for $4 per month for six months, and a 50 GB plan for $5 per month for six months. Customers need a compatible phone that is VoLTE-certified with Fizz to activate a mobile plan.
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