TORONTO – Calling ongoing discussions on net neutrality a “distraction”, John Lawford, executive director and general counsel for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) said the bigger issues needing to be examined currently are vertical integration and competition law in Canada. Lawford spoke during a panel discussion Monday on “Competition in Telecom: Net Neutrality and Innovation” at the Canadian Telecom Summit being held this week in Toronto.
“Net neutrality is done,” Lawford said, with the CRTC’s acceptance in 2009 that the Telecom Act’s non-discrimination provision (Section 27(2)) applies to Internet services in Canada.
“The real work is at the…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Despite the prevalence of online shopping, the in-store experience and sales representative interaction are still the key drivers of an outstanding wireless purchase experience, according to a new J.D. Power report.
The 2015 Canadian Wireless Purchase Experience Study examined wireless carriers’ performance across sales-related activities in-store, over the phone and online. Satisfaction is measured in six factors: store representative; online purchase; phone purchase; facility; offerings and promotions; and cost of service. Overall wireless purchase experience satisfaction is 752 on a 1,000-point scale.
An outstanding in-store experience is one in which sales representatives display knowledge, professionalism and genuine concern for…
Continue Reading
TORONTO -Last year, while still president of Cisco Canada, “I spoke here about the opportunity to drive innovation through collaboration and improved productivity,” said Nitin Kawale, now president of Rogers Enterprise Business division, to delegates at the first day of the Canadian Telecom Summit.
“In one year, not much has changed.”
He pointed to a Conference Board of Canada study that showed Canada ranking 13th in a list of 16 peer countries when it comes to innovation. Clearly, that’s lousy.
When it comes to the consumer side of the information, communications and technology revolution, Canadians are in step with the rest of…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – To stretch its programming dollars, the CBC has acquired a raft of UK and Australian dramas and comedies and aims to profit from upcoming Toronto Pan-Am games coverage during the rest of 2015. Despite huge, well-documented challenges, the creative minds at the CBC aren't ready to wave the broadcast white flag just yet.
The CBC, previewing its fall 2015 season at its Toronto headquarters Thursday, unveiled 11 new original and acquired series and renewed another 14. That output comes in the face of the public broadcaster, already beset by budget cuts, this past season losing due…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The iconic American talk show Late Show with David Letterman may have wrapped up last week, but it’s still top of mind with some angry Canadian viewers, and the CRTC.
The Commission has fired off letters to Rogers Media, Rogers Communications, and Shaw Communications over alleged simultaneous substitution errors made by the companies during the show’s much-hyped finale on May 20. According to the letters, dated May 27, the Commission has received “several complaints regarding improperly executed simultaneous substitutions” that took place near the end of the show.
Referencing Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-25, where the CRTC…
Continue Reading
THIS MONTH’S CRTC DECISION TO regulate wholesale wireless roaming rates is just the latest in a long line of seminal processes and decisions which have come under the tenure of chairman Jean-Pierre Blais.
Just about 60% the way through his five-year term, Blais has had to digest major developments in the industry, technology, and political environment—which is pushing for more competition and consumer rights – while dealing with an often-cranky TV and telecom executives trying to steer their ships through the same choppy waters.
Here are many of the key CRTC developments since Blais, a lawyer and lifelong bureaucrat, was named the…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Heads up binge watchers, here comes shomi. The streaming service said Wednesday that it will be made available to all Canadian Internet users this summer, whether or not they have a paid subscription to a TV service provider.
For $8.99 per month, shomi can be streamed on tablet, mobile, online, and to TV screens via Xbox 360, Apple TV and Chromecast. It's also available on the set-top boxes of Rogers' and Shaw's TV subscribers. New users get one month free when they subscribe, the announcement said.
In addition to Canadian content like Vikings, Rookie Blue, and Mr. D, shomi’s Canadian exclusives…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Everyone, and I mean everyone, agrees that if the Canadian TV industry is ever going to both boost revenues and build greater efficiency in the television advertising business, the companies here must work together.
More specifically, the four large vertically integrated companies must work in harmony for the greater good. It has not yet happened. This was an important focus of the discussions that happened at last week’s very informative Future TV Advertising conference in Toronto.
In theory, it should be easy. There are just four seats at the main table (Bell, Rogers, Telus and Quebecor), so the quartet…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – After a quarter-century with Rogers Communications, Ken Engelhart has hung out his own shingle.
Engelhart had been the leader of Rogers’ regulatory team for many years under vice-chairman Phil Lind but given all of the changes the company is undergoing (including the re-jigging of the regulatory leadership direction under new chief corporate officer Jacob Glick who is now overseeing regulatory, public affairs, policy, government relations and communications), Engelhart (pictured at last year’s Canadian Telecom Summit) decided now is the time to try something new. He left Rogers last month.
“I’ve set up my own law practice,” he…
Continue Reading
TORONTO and THUNDER BAY – Movie service Hollywood Suite today announced Tbaytel has launched Hollywood Suite GO (HSGO) to their Digital TV subscribers on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
HSGO is available for free to all Tbaytel Digital TV customers who subscribe to Hollywood Suite. Customers can download the Hollywood Suite GO app and take the company’s catalogue of films wherever they want. HSGO includes a customizable watchlist with optional push notifications and social features allowing users to share their watchlists and experiences with friends. The notification options keep users informed about new movies and collections, while the…
Continue Reading
