TORONTO – Internet service providers of every size and shape (except one big one) have launched a new coalition to rally Ontarians to help them battle large proposed rate increases for utility pole attachments.
While some local hydro companies have been pushing rates far higher, the Ontario Energy Board wants to set a standard rate across the province of $52 per pole per year, far above the current rate of $22.35. The three largest utilities, Hydro One, Toronto Hydro and Hydro Ottawa, have already boosted their rates to $41, $42 and $53.
Such rate increases for pole attachments will only…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has approved the sale of GameTV from Anthem Sports and Entertainment to Remuda Media Inc. for $6.5 million.
Remuda Media is jointly owned and controlled by Dean Langille, John Philips, 2078677 Alberta Ltd. (William Sawchyn) and 2225926 Ontario Ltd. (Bryan Woodruff), with each holding 25% of the shares.
According a CRTC letter to Anthem subsidiary Game TV Corp earlier this month, the transaction is valued at $6,500,000 for the purchase price and $25,291 for the net working capital that will be transferred at closing. The tangible benefits package of 10% of the transaction will be payable to…
Continue Reading
THE SHALLOW BANALITY of the announcement is what’s initially most irksome.
Today’s press release touted the federal government’s involvement in helping fund leading-edge 5G technology development in Ontario and Quebec – something it says is brand new but was actually announced 17 months ago – and the best three levels of government and five leading tech companies can come up with as a lead is:
“Imagine a world where you start off the day right because your refrigerator has tracked how much food you have and ordered replacement items for you. Your commute…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Rogers Radio is adding the Zach Sang World Wide Countdown show to its KiSS radio stations through an agreement with Canadian distributor Momentum Media Networks.
Based in Hollywood, popular media personality Sang represents a new generation of radio, connecting younger listeners who are constantly tuned into social media, reads the announcement.
Beginning March 17, the weekly music countdown show will air each Saturday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (local time) on Rogers Radio’s KiSS stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, Kingston, and Victoria.
“Zach’s engaging personality combined with his A-list celebrity interviews, pop culture content and social media-driven listener…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – The Canadian Communications Foundation (CCF) has added to its Board of Directors after issuing a call for new members last month.
Effective immediately, the five new members are:
– Isme Bennie: former executive with CTV Specialty Services, CHUM, TV Ontario and Televentures;
– Owen Brierley: executive director of Edmonton Digital Arts College, former executive director of Guru Digital Arts College, and a managing partner of Gystworks; experienced in developing multimedia and online learning resources;
– Paul Cross: program coordinator of the Radio Broadcasting Graduate Certificate program at Humber College;
– Shawn Praskey: vice-president, head of content sales for Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and Television Group,…
Continue Reading
However, it's likely just temporary
OTTAWA – While Canada’s publicly traded television service providers lost almost 20% fewer TV subscribers in 2017 versus 2016, this is likely a temporary positive turn in a long road of permanent TV subscriber declines in the future, according to new research released Wednesday.
Ottawa-based research and consulting firm Boon Dog Professional Services found that BCE, Rogers, Shaw, Vidéotron, Cogeco, and Telus combined lost approximately 166,000 in their respective 2017 fiscal years, down from an estimated 205,000 lost in the previous year.
Boon Dog partner Mario Mota credited the improved cord-cutting numbers for 2017 to the…
Continue Reading
Part VIII in our series on rewriting the Telecom and Broadcasting Acts
IT’S BEEN PRETTY CLEAR throughout Cartt.ca’s investigation of the opportunities and challenges associated with modernizing Canada’s telecommunications and broadcasting legislative frameworks that the Broadcasting Act appears most in need of updating.
We won’t rehash it here (check the prior seven articles on our “Investigates” page), but think Netflix and their online TV provider brethren and the myriad challenges facing media. That said, the Telecommunications Act requires some tweaking, too, according to interviews and comments in industry fora.
It’s been nearly two years since broadband services were…
Continue Reading
8e partie dans notre série sur la révision des Lois sur la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications
IL APPARAÎT CLAIREMENT au fil de notre enquête sur les défis et opportunités associés à la modernisation du cadre législatif de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications que la Loi sur la radiodiffusion semble celle qui a le plus besoin d’une mise à jour.
Nous ne passerons pas en revue tous les arguments (consultez les sept articles précédents sous l’onglet «Investigate»), mais pensez à Netflix et leurs confrères fournisseurs de télévision en ligne et à la myriade de défis rencontrés par…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – As the fight for the NBA playoffs heats up, some 1.67 million Canadians tuned in to see at least part of the Toronto Raptors’ defeat of the Houston Rockets 108-105 last Friday, says Sportsnet.
The game, which aired on Sportsnet One and Sportsnet Ontario, averaged 552,000 viewers, making it the most-watched regular season Raptors game ever on Canadian television. Audiences peaked at 1.1 million viewers in the final few minutes of the game, and the matchup was also the most-watched program of the night in the adult 25-54 demographic.
“The excitement for the Raptors is clearly building right across the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) chair Sylvie Courtemanche has been named Woman of the Year by Women in Communications and Technology (WCT).
Prior to joining CBSC in January, Courtemanche (pictured) was a senior executive at Corus for both regulatory matters and government relations. She has also held roles as EVP policy and regulatory affairs for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, legal counsel at the CRTC, and had her own consulting practice related to broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
Cogeco Connexion was named company of the year, and WCT also named 9 other recipients of its annual awards, which recognize…
Continue Reading