By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The CRTC met its obligations under the 2006 cabinet directive, was never beholden to requirements for detailed explanation, and the wholesale rate review itself proved the Regulator has been aware of and followed-through on its cabinet and statutory obligations, lawyers for the third party internet access providers said Friday.
The final day of the two-day Federal Court of Appeal virtual hearing about whether the CRTC erred in law when it decided in August to slash the wholesale internet rate for resellers and force retroactive payments to them from the incumbents, featured lawyers for the independent ISPs…
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By Greg O’Brien
WHILE SOME PRO SPORTS have returned to play, like the English Premier League, the PGA, NASCAR and others, new and growing outbreaks of the Covid-19 virus in the U.S. threatens the return of the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball, each currently planning for a July start or re-start.
If marquee North American pro sports don’t come back to TV soon, as planned, there may be permanent effects on the pay-TV bundle and the overall value of the TV rights, says a recent report from Scotiabank’s media and telecom analyst Jeff Fan.
There are between 8 million and 9…
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TORONTO — With the school year officially over and many summer camps cancelled across the country due to Covid-19, Rogers Communications announced this week its national Ted Rogers Community Grant partners are transitioning all youth programming online this summer to offer Canadian families free, self-directed educational experiences.
Some of the programs being offered include coding, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs from organizations such as Canada Learning Code, Junior Achievement and Actua (pictured).
“School may officially be out, but learning in fun and interesting ways can continue over the summer months,” said Sevaun Palvetzian, chief communications…
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GATINEAU — While it determined the radio market in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough cannot support an additional commercial English or ethnic service, the CRTC announced today it will consider an application already submitted for a specialty Christian music station in a future non-appearing public hearing.
In January 2019, the Commission announced it had received an application from International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Christian music FM station in Scarborough.
The Commission received a number of interventions, some opposing the introduction of a new commercial service in the Scarborough market, and one opposing…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Some of the country’s largest carriers tried to persuade a panel of Federal Court of Appeal judges Thursday that the CRTC – in its reasoning that led to a decision to slash the wholesale internet rate – did not adequately balance the impact of the decision with a 2006 cabinet directive setting out a market-based approach to regulatory decisions.
The 2006 cabinet directive outlines that the CRTC “should rely on market forces to the maximum extent feasible and regulate, where there is still a need to do so, in a manner that interferes with market…
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TORONTO — Rogers flanker brand chatr today launched two new credit cards — the chatr Secured Mastercard and chatr Mastercard — which are designed to help Canadian residents participate in a Covid-19 and post-pandemic digital economy, says the company.
“Now more than ever, Canadians are moving to digital to make their purchases,” said Shailendra Gujarati, vice-president of chatr, in the news release. “In a world where contactless payments and ecommerce are growing, it’s vital that everyone living in Canada has access to the digital economy whether they have credit history or not. The new chatr credit cards ensure that…
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EDMONTON and CALGARY — Rogers has expanded its personalized mobile retail experience, Rogers Pro On-the-Go, once again, with today’s announcement the service will begin rolling out in Edmonton and Calgary starting tomorrow.
As Covid-19-related restrictions in Alberta continue to ease, Rogers says it has accelerated the expansion of Pro On-the-Go to give customers in Edmonton and Calgary another way to get a new phone as soon as the same day of order and expert support to set it up, at no extra cost.
The service will launch in select Edmonton and Calgary neighbourhoods tomorrow and will expand throughout both cities in…
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TORONTO — Sportsnet and Team Canada today launched a new six-part digital series, Athlete2Athlete, featuring one-on-one conversations between some of the country’s top athletes who go beyond the sports headlines to have in-depth discussions designed to motivate and unite Canadians.
The series will touch on the impact of Covid-19 on sport and tackle important social issues such as racism, mental health and LGBTQ2S+ inclusivity to reveal just how powerfully sport connects us all, says the news release.
Airing every Thursday, the eight-minute Athlete2Athlete episodes will be available online at sportsnet.ca and Sportsnet’s YouTube channel. Episodes will also be…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – During one of the CRTC’s most anticipated hearings earlier this year, Telus CEO Darren Entwistle appeared before the Commission reviewing impending changes to the wireless industry and warned mandating new entrants without facilities to ride on the networks of the incumbents would mean many jobs lost, philanthropic spending slashed and reductions in investments.
It was a defining moment during the hearing. Drawing the attention of national media and critics on social media, it encompassed for some the realities of the competitive delicacy of the industry; for others, it was viewed as a baseless threat…
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By Etan Vlessing
TORONTO – Millions of Canadians have apparently made a fort out of their throw blankets and sofa pillows as they binge-view New Amsterdam and Prodigal Son until the Covid-19 crisis blows over, judging by Corus Entertainment’s virtual Upfront presentation to advertisers on Tuesday, with the tagline “Corus From the Couch.”
“Our collective experience with this pandemic has certainly been existential… But now, more than ever, it’s important to invest in building your brand,” Corus CEO Doug Murphy said from his own couch (pictured) while touting Pottery Barn pillows costing $24.99 each.
The message from Murphy to sheltering brand marketers…
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