Search Results for: rogers

Radio / Television News

TMN Go adds new offline viewing feature

TORONTO – Just in time for summer vacation season, Bell Media’s video-streaming service TMN Go is allowing subscribers to download content on their mobile devices. The national launch of offline viewing includes thousands of movies and series titles from The Movie Network, HBO Canada, and The Movie Network Encore, available for download on iOS and Android tablets and smartphones, all for playback without an internet connection.  The offline viewing feature is available now to TMN subscribers with Bell Fibe TV, Bell Satellite TV, Bell Alliant, Bell MTS, Cogeco, Eastlink, and Rogers.  An ad campaign promoting the new feature is scheduled to… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

How Comcast is delivering IP video at scale

HAMILTON – When Comcast, the largest cable company in North America, needed to upgrade its network to handle the massive demands of delivering IP video at scale, there was no where to turn. No vendor could provide the complete solution Comcast needed. So the company developed one itself, Neill Kipp, a distinguished engineer and software architect for Comcast, told last week’s Clearcable Networks Technology Summit in Hamilton, Ont. “I think what is intriguing about the Comcast story is that they turned to open source to find a solution. A lot of small operators think open source is not viable,” said Rob… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Sportsnet to drop the puck on more than 150 national NHL games in 2017-18

TORONTO – Sportsnet will produce and televise more than 150 national hockey games throughout the 2017-18 NHL season across Hockey Night in Canada on Saturdays, Rogers Hometown Hockey on Sundays and Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey on Wednesdays. Sportsnet’s national broadcast schedule will also include two outdoor games featuring Canadian teams – the NHL 100 Classic between Montreal and Ottawa on December 16 and the 2018 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game between Toronto and Washington on March 3.  The schedule will also feature exclusive coverage of the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on January 1, the 18th annual Scotiabank Hockey… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Rogers executive shuffles continue under Natale

TORONTO – Rogers Communications is continuing to adjust its organizational structure under new CEO Joe Natale. This week, chief customer officer Deepak Khandelwal announced he was leaving the company to join CIBC in August as group head, client connectivity and innovation and Dale Hooper, chief brand officer, is known to be leaving at the end of June. While Khandelwal was hired away from Google by former CEO Guy Laurence in 2014, Hooper has been with Rogers for six years. Natale has said since he took over as CEO in April that he wants to improve the "end-to-end" Rogers customer experience… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Rogers overhauls morning, afternoon, drive shows on Vancouver’s Jack 96.9 FM

VANCOUVER – Vancouver area listeners will hear a fresh, new sound on the airwaves Monday when Rogers’ JACK 96.9 debuts all-new morning and afternoon drive shows. The Paul and Kuss Show will kick things off Monday through Friday from 5:30 AM to 9:00 AM PT, starring morning radio veteran and stand-up comedian Paul Brown and B.C.-born TV and radio personality Michael Kuss (pictured). Kenny Jones returns to the station after recently hosting the morning show on Country 101.1 in Ottawa where he will entertain Vancouverites weekday afternoons from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT on new show aptly titled Kenny… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Hollywood Suite signs on with Beanfield Metroconnect, Cipher TV, Frontline 360

TORONTO – Hollywood Suite will offer the red carpet treatment to new customers in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta after finalizing agreements with Cipher TV (AEBC Internet Corp), Beanfield Metroconnect and Frontline 360 Inc. for its four HDTV movie channels. “We are thrilled to satisfy more and more Canadians’ appetites for nostalgic, high-quality programming with our growing service partnerships,” said Hollywood Suite content distribution VP Julie Kumaria, in the news release. “With an illustrious, expansive film catalogue and monthly movie premieres to boot, Hollywood Suite is excited to deliver the customers of Cipher TV, Beanfield Metro Connect and Frontline 360 unparalleled… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

COMMENTARY: Blais complicates mess in Ottawa; who will be the next CRTC chair?

AS OF THIS WRITING, it appears the next CRTC chair will be an interim one – someone who will keep the lights on and the bills paid through the summer, at least. It could be vice-chair telecom Peter Menzies (although according to sources he’s made it known to associates and others he does not want the job), one of the other four remaining commissioners (Yves Dupras, Stephen Simpson, Chris MacDonald and Linda Vennard) or perhaps the recently departed interim vice-chair broadcasting Judith LaRocque will be asked to return for another six-month stint, except this time as interim chair. This was not… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Emptying the CTS notebook: Telecom execs argue services, laws – and the legacy of Jean-Pierre Blais

TORONTO—Although ISED Minister Navdeep Bains' call for lower wireless and broadband prices dominated the buzz at the Canadian Telecom Summit here last week, it was not the only hot subject on the agenda. Far from it, in fact.   During a panel discussion moderated by Cartt.ca editor and publisher Greg O'Brien, senior officials from Bell Canada, Rogers Communications, Telus, TekSavvy Solutions and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre scrimmaged over such other pressing subjects as software-based competition, low-income broadband subsidies, Wi-Fi-only services, unlimited broadband offerings, the future of the Broadcast and Telecom Acts and… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

BANFF 2017: Why Canadian broadcasters “need more control over the rights game”

THE ANNUAL CANADIAN MEDIA LEADERS panel at the 2017 Banff World Media Festival pivoted from the future of production, development, and broadcast screen-based content to the onslaught of streaming opportunities commanding the increased attention of domestic advertisers and viewers. Those leaders included: Rick Brace, president of Rogers Media; Randy Lennox, president, Bell Media; John Brunton, chair and CEO of Insight Productions; Sally Catto, general manager, programming, CBC; and Barbara Williams, EVP and COO, Corus Entertainment. Running throughout the discussion was a strong sentiment that non-Canadian OTT services should be paying their fair share of domestic taxes and other tithings for the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

UPDATED: Rogers buys Videotron’s AWS-1 Toronto spectrum licence in Toronto

MONTREAL and TORONTO – Videotron has sold its AWS-1 spectrum licence in the Greater Toronto region to Rogers Communications for approximately $184 million, pursuant to the transfer option held by Videotron since 2013. Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) approved the transfer on Friday, and Videotron parent Quebecor said the transaction is expected to close within the next few days. The proceeds of the deal will assist in funding Videotron's ongoing network investment plans in Quebec and Eastern Ontario, continued Quebecor, which include an “aggressive” 4G network expansion and densification, an anticipated 5G network deployment and upgrades to its IP wireline… Continue Reading