TORONTO – Rogers Media has promoted Bart Yabsley to president of Sportsnet, effective immediately.
Yabsley joined Rogers Media in 2014 and was most recently SVP of sports and entertainment partnerships & content distribution. Prior to joining Rogers Media, he worked at Bell Media/CTV for more than 15 years in senior executive roles including EVP of content sales & distribution, EVP of business planning & distribution, and EVP of CTV Specialty Television Inc.
“Bart is a forward-thinking media executive with deep operational excellence, whose strategic vision, key relationships, and experience in all facets of the business will be a driving force in…
Continue Reading
THE 2006 POLICY DIRECTIVE to the CRTC (which came under then-PM Stephen Harper and then-Industry Minister Maxime Bernier) said the Commission must regulate based on market forces to the maximum extent feasible and reinforced that facilities-based competition (Canadian-owned, built, networks) was to be the backbone of the Canadian telecom marketplace.
It said a bunch of other things, too, but didn’t mention consumers at all. However, the Conservative government of the day insisted as long as the CRTC followed its directive, that should spur competition and lower retail prices.
Last week’s Liberal government proposed…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Accolades continue to pour in after the passing of Canadian television producer and philanthropist Sandra Faire, who died on February 27 in Toronto. No age or cause of death was provided.
Faire began her lengthy career at CBC where she produced a number of award-winning shows, including Rita and Friends and Anne Murray's Family Christmas, plus many variety specials celebrating Canadian artists and culture.
"Sandra stands out as a beacon of our industry, a formidable force in the creation of some of Canada's finest productions”, said CBC/Radio-Canada president and CEO Catherine Tait, in a statement. “She will be missed."
Faire was…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – A new voice took to the airwaves Thursday morning on Toronto’s Sportsnet 590 The FAN as former college athlete and sports reporter Ashley Docking joined Sportsnet’s Starting Lineup alongside hosts Greg Brady and Hugh Burrill.
Docking began her career as a community reporter, writer and producer with the Edmonton Oilers before taking on the role of sideline reporter for NBA TV Canada in 2015 and digital correspondent for the NBA Summer League in 2016. From there, she became the sports anchor for CHCH in Hamilton and went on to act as reporter, host and producer with the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – In something of a surprising move, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains announced Tuesday during Question Period he planned to issue a Policy direction to the CRTC requiring it to improve the affordability of Internet and cellphone services for Canadians.
If this is truly a shift away from market forces and facilities based competition (hard to tell for sure with the legalese), then this could be the most significant shift in the federal government's thinking on telecom in decades.
Even though the CRTC is independent, the government can, according to the Telecommunications Act “issue directions…
Continue Reading
MISSISSAUGA and CALGARY — Early bird registration is now available for both the Canadian CommTech East and CommTech West shows, scheduled to take place this spring in Mississauga, Ont., and Calgary, respectively.
CommTech East will take place April 16–17 at the Mississauga Convention Centre in Mississauga, Ont. The CommTech Awards Gala will return to CommTech East for its second year, and is scheduled for April 15. CommTech West will take place May 28–30 at the Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre in Calgary.
Early bird registration pricing is $225 for both days of the conference sessions (regular online…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – “Having considered the matter in depth, the CRTC finds that it is apparent that misleading or aggressive retail sales practices are present in the telecommunications service provider market in Canada.
“These practices exist in all types of sales channels, including in store, online, over the telephone, and door to door. They occur to an unacceptable degree; they are harming Canadian consumers, in particular vulnerable Canadians; and they are a serious concern for the CRTC.”
So begins the Commission’s report on the sales tactics of the Canadian telecommunications industry, released today. The Regulator hosted a contentious hearing back in…
Continue Reading
TORONTO — A new original two-hour documentary celebrating the unique and vibrant Canadian Black community and its role in Canada’s modern identity will premiere this Friday on Citytv.
Cool Black North is a special two-hour presentation that will feature the personal and professional success stories of 15 Black Canadians with a wide spectrum of life experiences in the arts, entertainment, law, business, science and social activism.
Among the interview subjects featured in the film are Bay Street power broker Wes Hall, Justice Donald McLeod, singer and radio host Jully Black, social scientist Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, scientist and entrepreneur Eugenia Duodu, and Cityline…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – One in four Canadians tuned-in to Saturday’s 12 ½ hour marathon broadcast of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on Sportsnet, Citytv and CBC.
The broadcast, live from Swift Current, SK, reached a total of 9.6 million Canadians, up 5% from last year’s broadcast, and marked the fourth consecutive year of audience growth for the annual event.
Quoting Numeris data, Sportsnet added that the average minute audience for the Celebrating the Game pre-show was up 32% year-over-year, and that the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens was the most-watched program in Canada on Saturday with an average minute…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Two guys who helped Wind Mobile get off the ground and then build its follower Freedom Mobile are the latest in a line of Canadian companies hoping to shake up the wireless market here.
Algis Akstinas (left, formerly the director of marketing and commercial strategy at Freedom) and Alex Bauman (right, formerly manager, customer base management) launched dot mobile Thursday with the goal of bringing a product and the company to market in 2020.
Dot stands for “Data On Tap” and the company aims to be just that for Canadians – a spigot of cheap,…
Continue Reading
