Cogeco announced Wednesday a new organizational structure combining the commercial, operational and technical functions of its Canadian telecommunications business Cogeco Connexion and its U.S. telecom business Breezeline into a single North American organization.
Cogeco said in a press release the streamlined structure “will enable the creation of strong cross-border centers of expertise in key strategic areas such as digital, advanced analytics, and technology.” In addition, it “will also accelerate the deployment of top talent and best practices across the organization and will facilitate the harmonization of systems and platforms,” Cogeco said.
“We identified…
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By Connie Thiessen
Independent ethnic community television producers have launched the “This Show is Made with Zero Support from the Government” campaign, saying third-language programming is in jeopardy without more funding.
A number of shows broadcast on Rogers Sports & Media multicultural broadcaster OMNI TV began airing the public service announcements last week, which warn viewers that without support, multicultural voices could start disappearing from the airwaves, urging their audiences to contact their local Member of Parliament.
The producers say advertising revenues are insufficient to maintain quality programming and the campaign has been launched out of frustration with government inaction.
“Politicians and government…
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By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA — The federal NDP has asked Matthew Boswell, the commissioner of competition, to review an agreement between The Mobile Shop, a division of Loblaws Inc. and Glentel, which is jointly owned by Rogers and Bell, following a letter the head of Quebecor sent to the federal industry minister calling the deal “anti-competitive.”
“If this agreement is not opposed, it will result in reduced competition and choice for consumers,” wrote federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Brian Masse, the party’s critic for innovation, science and industry in their May 22 letter to Boswell.
“Canadians need more competition, not less,”…
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Rogers is the leading fixed broadband provider in Canada for overall experience, according to a new report from U.K.-based mobile analytics firm Opensignal.
“Rogers, which now includes Shaw customers, is recognized for the best overall experience more frequently than any other provider in our report,” Opensignal says.
When compared to other national fixed broadband providers including Bell, Telus and Starlink, Rogers secured three outright national wins for consistent quality, download speed and video experience, according to the report. In addition, it achieved 21 wins (11 outright wins and 10 joint wins) across various…
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The percentage of telecom and TV service providers who are compliant with the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) rules for providing information about the CCTS on their websites has increased over the last few years, according to the organization’s 2023 Compliance Report Cards, published early Thursday morning.
Internet, phone and licensed TV service providers in Canada are required by the CRTC to participate in the CCTS and its ombudsman complaint-resolution program.
In 2023, 35 per cent of 51 audited participating service providers (PSPs) were fully compliant with the requirements to…
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Rogers announced Wednesday applications are now open for Ted Rogers Entrance Scholarships, one-time $2,000 scholarships available to 500 eligible youth across Canada starting their first year of university, college or trade school this fall.
To be eligible, students must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident age 25 or younger, be starting their first degree or diploma program in September 2024, and have a minimum cumulative average of 70 per cent or equivalent over the last three terms of available marks. The student’s program must be a minimum of two years in duration for…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Rogers is asking the CRTC to allow it the flexibility to serve certain communities in western Canada with broader, but still locally relevant programming so that it doesn’t rely on repeat programming to meet its Canadian content obligations in the face of a tough financial environment.
The cable giant, which now has on its hands Shaw’s broadcasting assets, filed a Part 1 application made public this week asking for a modification to its condition of licence to be able to show what it calls Spotlight Channels based, not on a standalone basis but in four larger zones housing…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The city of Ottawa is arguing before the CRTC that Videotron is relying on the wrong agreement in its request for the regulator to force the city to reimburse the carrier for having to move its transmission lines for the construction of city projects.
Videotron filed a Part 1 application last month alleging the city has refused to compensate it $300,000 for the move to make way for projects at Montreal Road and Woodroffe Avenue because it was made at the request of its subsidiary Hydro Ottawa, which the telecom argued doesn’t make sense because…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TVA Group will be able to broadcast fewer newscasts and hours of local programming to allow it to be nimbler in a rough financial environment, the CRTC ruled Monday.
TVA parent company Quebecor a year ago filed to the CRTC the request to ease the regulatory obligations on CFCM-DT in Quebec City, saying it would need some relief from the need to broadcast two newscasts every weekend and reduce by two hours the requirement to maintain 18 hours of local programming per week. The alternative to that, it warned, is that it would have to make “difficult…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC has on Monday finally decided to ease Corus’s financial obligations and delay the payback period to certain Canadian content funds, more than six months after it requested said relief.
That means Corus will see its obligations to programs of national interest (PNI) reduced from 8.5 per cent of previous year’s revenues to 5 per cent and extend beyond the current licence term the repayment period of certain amounts owed to its Canadian programming expenditure (CPE) that were deferred from the pandemic.
“The evidence on the record of this proceeding demonstrates that Corus is under considerable financial strain,”…
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