TORONTO – Production exec Carol Commisso is the new vice-president of development at Halfire Entertainment.
An industry veteran, Commisso (pictured) was the production executive for original scripted programming at Rogers Media and prior to that, executive in charge of production for CBC TV Comedy.
In her new role, based out of Halfire’s Toronto offices, Commisso is responsible for overseeing all development and the growing slate of scripted series, as well as continuing to foster relationships with the international creative community.
“Carol has been in the industry for more than 30 years and has worked as both a writer and network executive, so she…
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Shaw says it’s a must if the government truly wants competition
OTTAWA – The large incumbent wireless operators and their smaller rivals continue to spar over proposed 600 MHz spectrum licensing rules in reply comments to Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s (ISED) consultation. There are several sticking points over ISED’s pro-competitive ideas but the most contentious revolve around the provision to set aside spectrum for companies which aren’t Bell, Rogers or Telus.
Rogers and Telus remain convinced that setting aside spectrum for the regional wireless players isn’t the right approach. (Bell Canada’s reply comments weren’t made available at the time…
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MONTREAL and TORONTO – BCE Inc. announced late Monday it will acquire Canadian security company AlarmForce Industries in a transaction valued at approximately $166 million.
The move will bring Bell alongside Rogers in Ontario as a five-product company (broadband, home phone, TV, wireless and home security). Rogers has offered a home security service for a number of years and the service has morphed into more of a connected-home offering for its customers. Bell already has security/smart home divisions in the east and in Manitoba, which it acquired with MTS.
"Bell is excited to welcome the AlarmForce team as we pursue…
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TORONTO – Bell Canada isn’t content to let Telus and Rogers and Freedom dominate the discount segment of the wireless market.
During a conference call with financial analysts today discussing its third quarter results, BCE CEO George Cope said to watch for something from Bell to compete along side of Rogers’ chatr and Telus’ Public Mobile – what are sometimes called “value brands” in the industry as they tend to serve those in the low income segment of the population.
Bell, whose Virgin Mobile brand competes with Rogers’ Fido and Telus’ Koodo, doesn’t have such a third brand since it killed…
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Rogers agrees to expand distribution of tiny community station
GATINEAU – CRTC hearings feature a lot of what we call “woulda, shoulda, coulda” talk.
Loads of words about what companies would be doing, if only this or that were changed, what they should (or shouldn’t) be doing under existing rules and what they could be doing, regardless. It isn’t often where these issues are solved without the CRTC forcing the matter.
Well, during October’s phase II BDU license renewal hearing, commissioners heard from one small community TV outfit on what Rogers Cable could and should be doing for them in southern New…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC has pushed back its deadline for comments pertaining to TV channels wishing to renew their places in the basic programming package.
After recently announcing that it would kick off its 9(1)(h) hearing on April 30, the Commission said Wednesday that the deadline to submit interventions, comments and answers is now December 8, 2017, and not November 16 as first announced. The deadline for the applicants to submit their replies is December 18.
The new deadlines comes as a result of a joint procedural request from BCE, the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance, Cogeco, Quebecor, Rogers, Shaw and…
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TORONTO – Newcomers to Canada use their mobile phone more than the general Canadian population, stream more content, and enjoy watching basketball, according to a new report released Tuesday.
Solution Research Group’s Newcomers to Canada research study explores consumer behaviours, social attitudes and demographics of newcomers in the last 10 years. The study polled 1,149 newcomers from China, South Asia, The Philippines, North Africa and the Middle East, as well as Latin and Central America.
According to the report, the newcomer market is increasing in importance socially and economically because of their record numbers (2.6 million since 2007) and habits that…
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TORONTO — While Canada may still lag a little behind other countries in rolling out more advanced advertising such as addressable ads, Canadian media companies are seeing some success with using data-enhanced TV capabilities to provide value and better targeted audiences to advertisers.
At last week’s CTAM Canada Broadcaster Forum, two separate panel discussions provided an overview of the advanced advertising landscape in Canada and other markets, including the U.S. and the U.K.
Kristie Painting, vice-president of digital platforms and revenue management for Bell Media, said her company uses both addressable TV and data-enhanced TV to provide advanced advertising options to…
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TORONTO — Canada’s major media companies are presenting a united front as they prepare to combat piracy of their TV content.
A special panel discussion at last week's CTAM Canada Broadcaster Forum provided a comprehensive overview of the impact of piracy on the broadcasting industry as legal experts from Bell, Rogers and Quebecor talk about their biggest concerns as they all believe illegal streaming of pirated TV content is on the rise in Canada. The panel participants also spoke about potential future strategies and recent victories in their fight against the companies who sell internet-connected set-top boxes which make pirated content so…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications' founder and visionary business leader Ted Rogers is among this year’s inductees that will receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
The late Rogers (pictured) will be honoured in the category of Business and Entrepreneurship. He joins fellow 2017 inductees civil rights icon Viola Desmond, athlete Donovan Bailey, singer Stompin’ Tom Connors, Academy Award-winning actress Anna Paquin, and environmentalist David Suzuki.
All of the inductees will be honoured at an event on November 15 at the Liberty Grand in Toronto. The evening will also feature the unveiling of a special star for Canada in commemoration of…
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