GATINEAU – With bill shock, data overages and problematic trial periods still issues, consumer groups told the CRTC, as it kicked off its review of the Wireless Code of Conduct on Monday, that the code needs tightening.
Speaking on behalf of a number of organizations, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) reminded commissioners the Canadian wireless market is concentrated among a few providers and even with the provisions of the wireless code, it’s still too difficult for consumers to switch providers if they wish.
“Because we have three providers with well over 90% in almost all markets, a few with four…
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GATINEAU – Canada’s cable companies say now is the time to wrest control of the 911 emergency system away from the incumbent telcos and hand it over to a new consortium charged with implementing next-generation emergency services.
Just as the telecom market has evolved from a monopoly environment to one based on competitive dynamics, so too should NG911.
While the cable operators believe the telcos have done a good job of running the existing 911 system over the last four decades, the CRTC shouldn’t simply renew their mandate to oversee a new NG911 system. As Shaw Communications noted in its…
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TORONTO and MONTREAL – TSN has inked a new, multi-year media rights extension with Major League Soccer to become Canada’s exclusive English-language broadcaster of MLS.
Beginning with the 2017 season, TSN will air exclusive coverage of every game featuring Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a slate of Montreal Impact matchups, plus the MLS All-Star Game, MLS Decision Day, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and MLS Cup.
MLS on TSN will announce its broadcast schedule for the 2017 season in the coming weeks, and live streaming and on-demand viewing will continue to be available to TSN subscribers through the TSN Go app…
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MONTREAL – Quebecor Content got a little help from Corus Entertainment while renewing its content agreement with Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN).
Quebecor Content said that the deal will allow it to add more children’s and youth content to TVA Group's specialty service Yoopa and Videotron’s Club illico, complementing existing VIMN content such as Fresh Beat Band of Spies on Yoopa, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora The Explorer, Go Diego Go, Kung Fu Panda, Penguins of Madagascar, Avatar: The Last Airbender and SpongeBob SquarePants.
"We are delighted to partner with Corus for the VIMN content they distribute”, said acquisitions &…
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MONTREAL – Seven Canadian production companies will receive almost $2 million in funding under the Quebecor Fund's Main Television Production Assistance Program (MPAP) October 3, 2016 submissions.
In this round, Quebecor Fund will disburse a total of $1,959,051 to production companies PVP Animation III inc., La Voix Télévision Inc. (Productions Déferlantes inc.), Production Cheval-Serpent inc. (Aetios Productions inc.), Cineflix Media Inc., TVA Productions II inc., Kondololé Films inc. and Télévision Illimitée inc. (Productions Déferlantes inc.).
The seven selected productions will air on Canadian broadcasters ICI Radio-Canada, BBC Kids (BBC Canada), Knowledge Network, TVA, CASA (TVA Group), Télé-Québec, TVO and TFO.
Since its…
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MONTREAL – Quebecor Media’s TVA Group was quick to poke holes in CBC/Radio-Canada's proposal for guaranteed funding, calling for a review of the public broadcaster’s mandate.
Julie Tremblay, president and CEO of TVA Group, added that CBC/Radio-Canada's mandate should be based on “distinctive programming” that is complementary to, rather than competitive with, Canada’s private broadcasters.
"The idea of removing advertising from CBC/Radio-Canada in exchange for increased, guaranteed public funding, without first reviewing the public broadcaster's mandate, is a bewildering suggestion which hopefully won't fool anyone”, Tremblay said in a statement. “CBC/Radio-Canada wants to have its cake and eat it too:…
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LAVAL – CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais stressed the idea of “citizenship obligations” as he concluded a hearing Thursday into licence renewals for major French-language private television broadcasters.
Questioning Corus Entertainment, Bell Media, Groupe V Média and Quebecor Media as they presented replies to interveners, he asked each of them about how they could better serve indigenous and minority-language producers and viewers, and their commitments to closed captioning. The latter led to an awkward moment as Blais admonished V’s representatives.
“I was preoccupied Tuesday when I asked questions about subtitles to TVA and I heard laughs from your group in the audience,”…
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LAVAL – “There’s so much discussion of flexibility that you’d think we were at a yoga club,” cracked CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais during day one of the license renewal hearing for Canada’s French-language TV broadcasters.
The broadcasters, as is their wont, called for more flexibility and reduced quotas for Canadian programming – and both Quebecor Media and Groupe V Média took shots at the national public broadcaster, even though it’s not part of the hearing.
“We’re worried about the fact that Radio-Canada continues to stray from its mandate to adopt a resolutely commercial approach,” said TVA president Julie Tremblay (pictured), in…
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GATINEAU – After four and a half days of a hearing on differential pricing practices, Quebecor Media Inc. took the stand on Friday to defend its Vidéotron Unlimited Music offering. In a nutshell, the company said it’s not acting as a gatekeeper and therefore not contravening the Telecommunications Act, but rather using innovation to offer its customers more services.
Unlimited Music is nothing more than a marketing instrument at aimed at growing its subscribers and targeting a younger demographic, QMI said in its opening remarks. It added the service doesn’t contravene the Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMP) framework just…
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MONTREAL – Despite an uptick in revenues, Quebecor saw third quarter profits fall by $93.4 million due in part to restructuring of its operations.
For the period ended September 30, 2016, the company posted a net loss attributable to shareholders of $8.3 million, compared with net income attributable to shareholders of $85.1 million last year, including the $119.6 million unfavourable impact of losses and gains on embedded derivatives related to convertible debentures.
Revenues increased 2.4% to $998.3 million from $974.5 million last year, though adjusted operating income dipped 0.4% to $389.8 million, which included a $10.7 million unfavourable variance in the…
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