By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – When the Competition Bureau filed in November its intervention to the CRTC’s wireless policy review, it was expected that the reactions would be spirited, and they are.
First, some objected because the Bureau (and its specially commissioned Matrix Report) reached conclusions based on confidential information and asked that some information be shared. In that regard, Bell and Rogers got what they wanted while CNOC and Telus are still waiting for word from the Commission when it comes to that data. Telus has warned the Bureau’s intervention should be deleted from the record for…
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By Steve Faguy
MONTREAL — Quebecor is demanding the CRTC order CBC/Radio-Canada’s Tou.tv Extra paid streaming service to “cease its activities” because it goes outside the mandate of the public broadcaster and is an unfair competitor against Videotron and other regulated television service providers.
The CRTC isn’t about to go that far, but it has decided to look into whether there is an undue preference case to be made, in particular with a deal Radio-Canada has with Telus that provides Telus’s Quebec customers “exclusive” free access to the service.
Tou.tv Extra is the $7/month paid version of Tou.tv, which offers premium video…
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By Steve Faguy
MONTREAL — Cogeco is closer than ever to launching a wireless service, but it still requires regulatory change before it can do so properly, company CEO Philippe Jetté told journalists on Wednesday as the company held its annual shareholders meeting in Montreal.
It’s one of several dossiers where Cogeco is seeking to either change the rules or fight to maintain them depending on their business interests.
Jetté (pictured, standing), who took over from controlling shareholder Louis Audet (seated) as CEO in 2018, said he is looking forward to presenting his company’s proposal for a “hybrid mobile…
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TORONTO — Rogers said Wednesday it is starting to roll out its 5G network in downtown Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, the same day it was announced as the exclusive Canadian member of a newly formed global 5G Future Forum, created to accelerate the delivery of 5G and mobile-edge computing solutions around the world.
Rogers said in its news release it has started its 5G network rollout in anticipation of 5G devices becoming available this year, and it plans to expand the network to more than 20 additional markets by the end of the year.
The Rogers 5G network initially…
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OTTAWA — The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has revealed some of its lineup of speakers scheduled to participant in panel sessions at Prime Time in Ottawa later this month.
With panels focused on production, packaging, partnering and financing, Prime Time 2020 will provide the intel needed to bring projects — and careers — to the next level, organizers say.
Some of the featured panel sessions and their participants include:
Produce Your Career, Not Just Your Content
Jennifer Twiner-McCarron, CEO, Thunderbird Entertainment and Atomic Cartoons
Christina Jennings, founder, chairman and CEO, Shaftesbury
Sophie Ferron, president, founder and executive producer, Media Ranch
Amy…
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All is not so dire, says Deloitte’s annual predictions
TORONTO – Deloitte is predicting the prevailing sentiment of doom for traditional TV will actually be muted in the immediate future, as high over-the-air television viewership (it’s free!) is expected to hold steady in the wake of cord-cutting.
This year at least 1.6 billion people globally, representing 450 million households, will “get at least some of their TV from an antenna,” said Deloitte’s annual Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Predictions report, officially released Tuesday at an event in Toronto. That data is taken from 83 countries with a combined population of 6.6 billion…
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MONTREAL — Connected vehicle device manufacturer Siyata Mobile has hired Jamie Kitson as its new vice-president of sales for Canada, the company announced Tuesday.
Kitson most recently was vice-president of sales for Bell business dealer Preston Mobility, according to Siyata Mobile’s news release.
Kitson’s 15 years of previous sales experience includes positions at Telus Client Solutions, Bell Mobility as Push-to-Talk and IoT Solutions team lead, Rogers Communications as a sales manager and an IoT Solutions sales executive, and Shaw Communications as an enterprise account executive.
Siyata Mobile is a global developer and provider of cellular communications systems for enterprise customers, specializing…
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OTTAWA — The CRTC has agreed to direct the Competition Bureau to disclose certain confidential information that was redacted in the economic report submitted by the Commissioner of Competition in November to the CRTC’s wireless policy review proceeding. That is, the CRTC is agreeing to disclosure requests from Bell and Rogers; but it’s still considering similar requests from Telus and CNOC.
In a letter posted to the CRTC website on January 10, the CRTC says it is of the view that, generally speaking, the public disclosure of the redacted information, as requested by Bell and Rogers, would pose minimal…
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Wants independent experts to examine Competition Bureau’s confidential information
By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – Telus has asked the CRTC to again delay the public hearing portion of its wireless policy review hearing because it says the Competition Bureau’s handling of confidential information filed with to the Commission in November is unfair to other participants.
In its November 22nd submission to the CRTC’s wireless policy review proceeding, the Competition Bureau, “makes a number of findings that directly contradict Telus’s own submissions,” reads a document sent to the CRTC on December 23. “These findings are based on data that certain providers were directed…
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HAMILTON — Cable 14 announced Monday it will provide both live broadcast and online streaming coverage of the first two meetings to be held in the Red Hill Valley Parkway Inquiry (RHVPI), which is investigating the circumstances surrounding the failed disclosure of a six-year-old safety report regarding the roadway.
The RHVPI will hold a public meeting in Hamilton on January 9, 2020, where the inquiry’s commissioner, Justice Herman Wilton-Siegel, will speak about the status and process of the inquiry, and the public will have a chance to ask questions about the timetable and procedures, including the participation of the public….
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