TORONTO – Rogers Communications’ Fido brand this week launched the Fido Payment Program, which allows customers to spread the cost of a new phone or tablet over 24 equal monthly payments at 0% interest.
Rogers launched similar payment programs for devices last year, but only on its primary brand. This is the next step to phasing out device subsidies for its city brand. While most devices will not require a down-payment, some higher end devices may require one.
The monthly service fee and the cost of the device are shown separately on the bill, and at the end of the payment…
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TORONTO – Two long-term senior Rogers Communications executives have announced they are moving on from the company this year.
Senior vice-president, communications Terrie Tweddle announced this week she will be leaving at the end of the month, and senior vice-president regulatory David Watt will be retiring from the company in May.
Tweddle (left) has been with Rogers for more than a decade, having been hired under former CEO Nadir Mohamed, and Watt (right) has been for Rogers for 25 years, coming to the company when it purchased control of Canada’s first long distance provider Unitel. He has spent more than 35…
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TORONTO — Multicultural broadcaster Ethnic Channels Group (ECG) has signed a multi-year distribution agreement with TV Asia that will see the channel launch simultaneously on five of Canada’s largest platforms.
Headquartered in Edison, New Jersey, TV Asia is the first coast-to-coast American 24/7 information and entertainment cable TV channel specially produced and distributed for the South Asian community, says Wednesday’s news release. TV Asia has 38 bureaus in North America and provides a wide range of programming in the Hindi language. Content consists of dramas, music, movies, educational and original live programs.
“We are delighted with our Ethnical Channels Group…
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OTTAWA — The Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC) released Tuesday a comprehensive study looking at the history of public funding granted to the CBC. According to its research, parliamentary funding for CBC’s operations has decreased by 36% since 1985.
The FRPC decided in mid-2019 to undertake the research project in preparation for the public broadcaster’s licence renewal proceeding this year. The 248-page study, titled An analysis of CBC’s financial history from 1937 to 2019: We tried to follow the money. Frodo had it easier, is based on financial and other data collected from 80 of the…
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TORONTO — As we head into the CRTC’s wireless policy review hearing beginning February 18, where Canada’s Big Three wireless players will be probed, prodded and panned, Rogers Communications issued a press release today reminding Canadians the company deserves praise, too.
In the Tuesday announcement, the company Ted founded says it contributed $14.1 billion directly to the Canadian economy in 2019 alone through investments in Canadian jobs, content, communities and networks.
“As a proud Canadian company, Rogers has a deep history and legacy of investing in Canada,” said Joe Natale, Rogers president and CEO, in the release. “Over the past…
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GATINEAU – On Friday, the CRTC’s Internet Code of conduct officially came into force, which is aimed at giving Canadians additional safeguards when dealing with their internet service providers.
The code sets out that ISPs must provide:
easier-to-understand contracts, documentation and policies surrounding service calls, outages, security deposits and disconnections
clearer information about prices, including for bundles, promotions and time-limited discounts
bill shock protection, through notifications when customers approach and reach their data-usage limits
information on the new rules permitting customers to cancel a contract within 45 days, without paying early cancellation fees, if the contract differs from the…
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TORONTO – Longtime broadcaster Erin Davis (pictured) will be honoured during Canadian Music Week at its annual broadcast industry awards gala at Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
“We are proud to welcome Erin Davis to the Canadian Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame,” said Canadian Music Week president Neill Dixon in a press release. “Throughout her career, Erin has commanded a loyal fanbase who have followed her from the airwaves, to screen, stage and online. From tragedy to triumph, she has welcomed us into her life and put her heart on her sleeve, which makes her…
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TORONTO – Rogers Sportsnet and Ryerson University’s Faculty of Communications and Design announced today the Sportsnet Diversity and Gender Equity Initiative, set to launch for the fall 2020 semester.
This new initiative “empowers students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in sport media, says the press release.
Sportsnet has committed $100,000 to FCAD’s Sport Media program to provide scholarships to four students, plus year-round diversity workshops at the university’s Global Experience Sport Lab (GXS). The scholarships will be awarded to two high-performing third-year students and two students entering the program who identify as a woman, Indigenous, and/or a member of an…
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OTTAWA — Somebody owes Telus some money. Maybe it’s Rogers and Bell. Or it could be the consumer groups l’Union des consommateurs and (to a lesser extent) the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). Either way, Telus should be getting back about $1,700 as a result of a decision rendered Wednesday by the CRTC.
Back in May 2019, after the Commission denied PIAC’s request for clarification on the device unlocking rules set out in the Wireless Code, the CRTC did approve an application by l’Union and a separate application by PIAC for the awarding of costs related…
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TORONTO — The Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review (BTLR) Panel report released today contains a number of recommendations which Canadian content producers will consider good news — namely that all media content undertakings, including international digital giants not currently covered by legislation, should have obligations to support Canadian content.
As part of its review, the BTLR panel looked at the possibility of creating new financing models and other initiatives to support the creation, production and discoverability of Canadian content. Among its recommendations related to Canadian content are that the functions of the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada be…
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