Telus’s CEO Darren Entwistle confirmed Wednesday that the telco is “evaluating a potential plan” to sell a minority stake in its wireless towers to pay down debt.
The Globe and Mail, citing anonymous sources and documents, reported that the company has hired TD Securities to roadshow a 49.9-per-cent stake in its portfolio of 3,000 towers.
“We have engaged with advisors to explore the monetization of our tower infrastructure,” Entwistle said in a press release. “If we are able to do this within the parameters of our desired economics, it would enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our network…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Industry Canada’s new fee structure for spectrum below the 10 GHz band is contrary to the challenges facing the Canadian economy, the trajectory of mobile wireless prices, and out of touch in relation to peer countries, the largest wireless service providers are arguing.
Earlier this month, the department changed how it would charge for those spectrum fees in certain low and mid bands. Instead of the existing annual base rate with a multiplier based on MHz held and population served, the department has opted instead for a three-rate fee system that applies discounts to an annual base rate…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TekSavvy is warning this month that a telco requirement to buy a minimum percentage of what it says is unnecessary capacity to get access to higher gigabit services on aggregated fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) networks will result in higher costs and lower sales.
The independent telecom is responding to an application by Bell, filed last month, that requests approval of the CRTC to remove the 10 Mbps, 50 Mbps, and 300 Mbps speed tiers for competitors’ residential customers in its Aliant operating territory in Atlantic Canada. Bell explains that it has no customers on the tiers proposed to be removed…
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Starting Wednesday, veteran broadcaster Kevin Frankish will host 640 Toronto’s weekday morning show, Toronto Today, while current host Greg Brady steps away from the microphone to run for office in the upcoming federal election.
“I’ve made a big decision to seek the House of Commons seat in the riding of Ajax as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada,” Brady said in a Corus Radio press release. “As such, ethically, and practically, the right thing is to take a leave of absence from the 640 Toronto airwaves. My colleagues and the listeners mean the world to…
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Rogers says the complaint is ‘completely without merit’
By Ahmad Hathout
A national news channel is alleging Rogers is unjustly keeping it from distribution to a broader cable audience, but the cable giant is calling the complaint meritless.
The News Forum, which was granted mandatory distribution on cable in 2022, alleges that, unlike its competitors, it has been denied equal access by being excluded from Rogers’s legacy or grandfathered cable packages.
Before it received mandatory distribution under the Broadcasting Act’s 9.1(1)(h) rule, the independent news service negotiated its current distribution agreement with Rogers as an exempt undertaking the year before. But while it…
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Evanov Communications announced Monday seasoned radio personality Ryan Gosse is joining its Hot Country 88.5 Toronto/Newmarket and Hot Country 93.9 Brantford stations as afternoon drive host, starting Tuesday, March 18.
Gosse joins Evanov after working more than eight years at Rogers Sports and Media’s Country 106.7 (CIKZ-FM) in Kitchener, Ont.
“Ryan is well known for his engaging on-air presence and deep connections within the country music industry,” said an Evanov press release announcing his hiring. “His extensive background includes interviews with top country artists and a strong social media presence that resonates with both listeners and musicians alike.”
“Ryan’s…
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By Connie Thiessen
Dina Pugliese has made her return to Citytv’s Breakfast Television (BT) after a two-year break from morning TV.
Pugliese, who previously ended a 16-year run with the show in February 2023, has been named co-host and co-executive producer. She returns following the network’s release of Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw last month.
Pugliese will be joined by co-host Tim Bolen, who has been a host and anchor on the morning show on Hamilton’s CHCH-TV for the past 13 years, in addition to Devo Brown, Melanie Ng, Frank Ferragine (aka Frankie Flowers), Caryn Ceolin and Tammie Sutherland.
When she walked away…
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The CRTC on Friday rejected a WildBrain application alleging Bell is disadvantaging its children’s programming to the benefit of Corus in the English-language markets.
Both Bell and Corus rejected the notion that there was any preferential treatment that disadvantaged WildBrain, as it sought to negotiate carriage with the large broadcaster.
That’s despite the commission finding that WildBrain and Corus have similar services, an important component to establish in an undue preference complaint. As a result of this determination, the commission said it found no need to get into whether there was any undue preference or disadvantage.
The commission urged…
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Rogers charges OUTtv using regulatory system to stop it from making commercial decisions
By Ahmad Hathout
LGBTQ+ TV broadcaster and streamer OUTtv is alleging Rogers is violating Wholesale Code rules by shuffling the network into a less popular cable TV package.
The subscription-based service is alleging in a Part 1 application dated March 5 that the cable company is violating section 9 of the code by not putting the network in the “best available” package, negatively impacting its wholesale fee revenue. The complaint alleges that Rogers shuffled the service it must carry out of a “Premier” package and “into a different and…
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By Connie Thiessen
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and 25 of its radio members – including Rogers Sports & Media, Bell Media, Cogeco, Stingray, Pattison Media and Corus Entertainment – have written to the CRTC asking the commission to tear up its recent notice of consultation on updated rules for the radio and audio sector and start over.
Released on Feb. 20, the consultation will inform work to update the definition of what constitutes Canadian content on radio and audio streaming services. It also outlines a financial contribution framework for broadcasters that the CAB says suggests that…
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