MONTREAL — Cogeco says its customer service problems are finally over.
After a customer management system upgrade went awry in 2018, causing frustration for its Canadian cable and broadband clients, the company says the problems have been resolved, and up to 600 additional short-term staff have completed their work and left the company, at a cost of about $11 million. Its 22 customer management systems have been successfully replaced by one.
"It's behind us," president and CEO Philippe Jetté told journalists on Friday before Cogeco's annual shareholders' meeting in Montreal, his first since taking over from longtime CEO Louis Audet (at…
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TWO YEARS AGO, on December 21, 2016, the CRTC acknowledged the increasing importance of Internet services to Canadians in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2016-496, in which the Commission defined fixed and mobile wireless broadband Internet access services as basic telecommunications services.
The Commission also established several new expectations for ISPs to address consumer complaints related to bill shock and contract clarity.
As a result, all ISPs that provide retail fixed broadband Internet services to individual and small business customers now must ensure their contracts and related documents clearly explain, in plain language (i) the services included in the contract (ii) any limits…
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Quebecor adds to C-suite
MONTREAL – Videotron has elevated Jean-François Pruneau to president and CEO of Videotron, succeeding Manon Brouillette who said in October that she was stepping down from the role at the end of 2018.
Pruneau (pictured) has been senior vice-president and Chief Financial Officer of Quebecor since November 2010. He first joined the company in 2001, and has also held the roles of treasurer and vice-president, finance of Quebecor, Quebecor Media, Videotron and Sun Media Corporation.
"Since joining Quebecor in 2001, Jean-François has made a major contribution to creating value for the Corporation and its shareholders," said Quebecor…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadians’ increasing use of Internet and mobile services helped to drive up telecommunications revenues 3.2% to $50.3 billion in 2017, slightly faster than the five-year average annual growth rate of 2.9%, the CRTC said Thursday.
In the telecom portion of its 2018 Communications Monitoring Report (CMR), the Commission said that over half (58.2%) of the total revenue share was earned by the country’s large incumbent TSPs, while 34.0% was generated by cable-based carriers, which it defines as the former cable monopolies that currently also provide telecommunications services. Resellers earned 3.6%, other service providers generated 3.2%, and small…
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MONTREAL – Quebecor's Music Division has acquired Quebec record label MP3 Disques.
Founded in 2004 by Mario Pelchat, the label joins Musicor and Ste-4 Musique in a move that Quebecor says strengthens its music creation and concert production business.
“Over the years, Mario Pelchat has distinguished himself as an outstanding artist, entrepreneur and producer," said Quebecor’s music development EVP Anne Vivien, in the news release. "He has established close relationships with his artists, who trust his sure instincts and unique talents as an artistic director. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that my team and I embark on this collaboration…
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QUÉBEC CITY – Quebecor has acquired a minority interest in Quebec-based comedy producer ComediHa! Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
With over 20 managed artists and creators, ComediHa! produces comedy content that is distributed through multiple broadcast platforms, including live and televised.
"Quebecor is proud to team up with ComediHa!, an organization that is growing at a remarkable pace and has become one of the most influential players in the booming comedy industry," said Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau, in the news release. "Together, we will be able to strengthen our positioning in the entertainment industry…
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MONTREAL – Groupe V Média is consolidating its sales force within a newly created business development unit.
The new unit, headed by Emmanuelle Giasson in Montreal and Randy Mauskopf in Toronto, will increase awareness of the company’s brands among advertisers and develop a new clientele with the goal of generating new revenue in the short, medium and long term, reads the news release.
Giasson (pictured right) has nearly 25 years of experience in business development through roles at media and marketing firms including Cossette, Bell Media (Astral Radio) and Québécor Média (TVA). She joined Groupe V Média on Tuesday.
Mauskpf (pictured below) has been with…
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MONTREAL – Led by wireless gains at Videotron, Quebecor saw third quarter profits jump by almost 5%, the company reported Thursday.
Net income attributable to shareholders for the period reached $186.7 million, up from $178.4 million in the same period last year, a favourable variance of $8.3 million.
Revenues of $1.06 billion grew 1.7% from the third quarter of 2017. Revenues increased in Telecommunications ($30.2 million or 3.6%), but fell in Media ($15.9 million or ‑8.5%) and in Sports and Entertainment ($2.2 million or ‑3.9%).
Adjusted income from continuing operating activities increased 36.9% to $142 million, which the company said reflected the…
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MONTREAL — Bell Media and Quebecor have had a "disagreement" that could end up in court over Bell's recent merger of Crave and The Movie Network.
In the meantime, Videotron has been left off the list of 39 TV providers that give TMN (now Crave) TV subscribers access to Crave online. Videotron is telling its subscribers that Bell is refusing to grant access to crave.ca, but Videotron is maintaining access to the TV channels' video-on-demand content on its platforms.
Bell, meanwhile, blames Videotron, and is suing the provider for damages including statutory damages of "not less than $100 million."
"In advance of…
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PETERBOROUGH, ON – Lindsay Broadband has named former ATX Networks exec Ruth Lee as vice-president of marketing.
According to the announcement, Lee has over 30 years of marketing, communications, sales, and product/market management experience, most recently as marketing VP for ATX Networks. She was also director of investor relations and marketing at Cygnal Technologies/Comlink as well as held roles at Hubbell Canada and Ronalds Printing/Quebecor World.
“Ruth is a strategic hire for Lindsay,” said Lindsay Broadband president David Atman, in the announcement. “Her drive to succeed and can-do attitude are assets that will complement and enhance Lindsay’s ability to meet the information needs…
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