Cartt.ca spoke to some smaller players about their plans
By Ahmad Hathout
After late October, Innovation Canada is expected to begin licensing portions of the 3.5 GHz spectrum it auctioned off earlier this year, so Cartt.ca asked some smaller providers what they plan to do with it.
The auction, completed in July, involved 23 applicants gunning for 1,504 licenses. The government sold the licenses for a total of $8.9 billion.
As tensions mount among larger providers over whether Quebecor’s Videotron should be allowed to build out west – Bell and Telus alleged the company cannot because it does not have adequate base facilities…
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TORONTO – WildBrain Television announced today its fall lineup for Family Channel and Family Jr., which include several exclusive Canadian broadcast premieres.
“This October, WildBrain Television is handing out treats for the whole family to enjoy,” a press release says.
New programming includes Game of Talents (pictured above), which will premiere exclusively on Family Channel on Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Hosted by Wayne Brady (Let’s Make A Deal, Whose Line Is It Anyway?), the show “infuses the spectacle of a large-scale variety show with a clue-centered, high-intensity investigative game, pitting two teams of contestants against each other as they attempt to…
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By Ken Kelley
WHAT DOES THE future of television advertising look like in Canada? It was this rather weighty topic, along with several others, that were explored in depth during a virtual Mediatel event held on Wednesday.
It should go without saying that without the right content, companies like Corus, Bell and Rogers would be singing a very different song. However, the future of television advertising is complex and companies need more than great content.
Corus executive vice-president and chief revenue officer Greg McLelland believes it is critical for companies to meet customers on the platforms of their choice. With more options…
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Panelists talk C-10, competition and of course, the Rogers/Shaw deal
By Lynn Greiner
TORONTO – Every ISP Summit, a highlight session is the regulatory panel. The CRTC always seems to generate enough controversy to make the panel entertaining as well as interesting.
This year was no different.
Moderated by Monica Auer, executive director of the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications, the panel featured two CRTC alumni who are less than impressed with the way the organization has operated recently.
Konrad von Finckenstein, a consultant and arbitrator, was CRTC chair from 2007 to 2012, and Timothy Denton, now chairman of the Internet…
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TORONTO – On Wednesday evening, Rogers Communications announced Tony Staffieri (above), the company’s chief financial officer, is leaving the company, effective immediately.
Paulina Molnar (below) has been appointed interim CFO. No explanation was given for Staffieri’s departure.
“On behalf of the Rogers team, I thank Tony for the many contributions he made to our company including ensuring the integrity of our financial reporting over the nearly ten years he served as our CFO,” said Joe Natale, president and CEO, in a press release. “We wish him well in his future endeavours and look forward to building on the strong foundation he…
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New content replaces traditional radio lineup in Toronto
TORONTO — Rogers Sports and Media’s Sportsnet announced today it is launching new multiplatform audio content on Monday, Oct. 4 that will feature both new and familiar names and voices.
Sportsnet’s new audio strategy is designed to provide a “flexible slate of programming that caters to fans’ personal interests,” says a press release.
“Whether on live radio or on-demand podcasts, Sportsnet’s new audio content plans replace the traditional radio lineup in Toronto in favour of seasonal, sport-specific and spontaneous programming so that fans can consume the content that matters most to them on…
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Says new pricing meets government’s 25% price reduction target
MONTREAL — Bell Canada today announced it is lowering the monthly pricing for mobile data plans from its flanker brand Virgin Plus, as of Oct. 5.
Bell says these lower prices will achieve the federal government’s target of having the cost of wireless plans reduced by 25% from the beginning of 2020 to early 2022, a target set by the government in March 2020.
As of Oct. 5, 2021, Virgin Plus’s monthly prices for its wireless plans will be $37.50 for 2 GB of data, $41.25 for 4 GB, and $45 for…
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BARRIE and LONDON Ont. — Rogers Communications announced today it has expanded its personalized mobile retail experience, Rogers Pro On-the-Go, to Barrie and London, Ont., starting today.
“The innovative Pro On-the-Go service offers personalized one-to-one support and phone delivery to Rogers wireless subscribers as soon as the same day, at no extra cost,” reads a Rogers press release announcing the service expansion to Barrie.
“From the shores of Lake Simcoe to the Lover’s Creek Ravine, customers within the Greater Barrie Area can have a Rogers Pro bring them the device they need at a scheduled time, date, and place that…
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GATINEAU — The Competition Bureau on Tuesday issued a request for information (RFI) from market participants and Canadians in general to assist its investigation into Rogers Communications’ proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications.
“The Bureau is investigating whether the proposed merger is likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition for mobile wireless, wireline internet and broadcasting services — which are provided by both companies,” reads the Bureau’s press release.
Specifically, the Bureau wants input to help it assess potential impacts on competition in the following areas:
Mobile wireless services to consumers
Consumer and small business internet services
…
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PIAC supports it and Cogeco remains silent
By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – On May 4, 2021, Data on Tap (dotmobile) filed an appeal to Cabinet of the CRTC’s review of mobile wireless services, which dealt with access by Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) to facilities of the three large wireless operators.
In a nutshell, the CRTC gave access only to players that already had facilities.
To that extent Québecor directly benefited from the policy and subsequently acquired more facilities at the last 3500 MHz auction, as did 11 other regional competitors.
And in their Sept. 22 comments on dotmobile’s petition, written in…
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