TORONTO – Christa Dickenson has been tapped to lead Interactive Ontario as its new executive director, effective June 2nd.
Dickenson (pictured) brings almost two decades of experience leveraging partnerships and optimizing sponsorship opportunities. Her career has spanned broadcast television, technology and telecommunications through positions at CTV, Rogers and CPAC, and the not-for-profit sector.
“Ms. Dickenson’s strong business acumen will serve Interactive Ontario well at this important time for both the organization and the industry as a whole”, said Interactive Ontario chair Peter Miller, in the announcement. “We are thrilled to have her bring her wealth of experience and leadership skills to the…
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LOS GATOS, CA – Bell took first place and Rogers finished last in Netflix’s first Canadian ISP Speed Index that compared connection speeds amongst 14 providers.
The fibre services from Bell and Bell Aliant topped the chart at 3.19 and 3.10 Mbps, respectively, closely followed by Shaw at 3.00 Mbps and Videotron at 2.82 Mbps. Rogers ranked 14th with 1.67 Mbps.
The average speed for Canada was 2.52 Mbps, which Netflix said beats that of the United States, but ranks below most European nations.
The Netflix ISP Speed Index is based on data from the more than 48 million Netflix members…
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By John Lawford and Geoffrey White
JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH WROTE: “Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.” Case in point: even though the 700 MHz auction is over, and most of the AWS new entrants have been swallowed up by the Big Three, or are about to be, business appears to still be thriving for some economists intent on knocking the Government’s attempts to instill more competition in Canada’s wireless sector.
For the most part these type of reports offer a paternalistic, if not patronizing, view of the consumer interest. The story, or…
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TORONTO – With a number of provincial and municipal elections scheduled for this year, Canada’s biggest news organizations have laid down the law on the use of their footage in political ads.
In an open letter dated April 22, representatives from CBC, Radio-Canada, Bell Media, Shaw Media and Rogers Media forbade the use of their respective content in political advertisements without their express consent.
“Accordingly, in anticipation of the upcoming elections, we wish to advise that effective immediately our organizations will not accept any political advertisement which uses our content without our express authorization”, continues the letter. “Additionally, we will not…
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TORONTO – Customers with shorter contracts have lower wireless bills and are more satisfied with their service, while SaskTel and Telus’ Koodo Mobile ranked highest in wireless customer satisfaction for the third year in a row, according to a new study released by J.D. Power & Associates.
Among full-service carriers, SaskTel’s score was highest at 727, which was 15 points higher than its 2013 score. The survey noted that SaskTel performed particularly well in terms of network quality, account management, offerings and promotions, customer service, and handset factors.
Koodo Mobile from Telus scored highest among stand-alone carriers with 778 points, up…
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TORONTO – In a digital media world where TV viewers can choose when and where they want to be entertained, content producers and distributors are betting big on live events as a way to keep people engaged with their TV channels.
“Live events such as the Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs are front-and-centre in our coverage planning,” said, Michael Dutton, global director of entertainment products for the Associated Press (AP), who participated Wednesday afternoon in a panel discussion on “The Future of Entertainment” at the Digital Media Summit in Toronto as part of Canadian Music Week 2014.
AP licenses video…
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TORONTO – Describing radio as an industry “under attack (because) everybody wants our audiences,” Eric Rhoads, publisher of U.S. industry magazine Radio Ink, kicked off the “Inside the Executive Suite” discussion at Canadian Music Week last Wednesday by asking Canadian radio executives how many hours a week they typically work.
While answers varied, it’s safe to say Canadian radio bosses are working upwards of 60 hours a week to lead their respective organizations through the ongoing migration to digital platforms.
Paul Ski, CEO of radio and regional broadcast operations for Rogers Broadcasting, said his work schedule is “very fluid” but added:…
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IT IS UP TO CEO HUBERT LACROIX to show whether he believes it is his good fortune – or his utter misfortune – to lead the CBC at this point in time. Despite all the talk about a new, five-year strategic plan to get to 2020 and a silly new “conversation” with Canadians he announced Monday, Lacroix must know already what he wants, and must, do. And, is it ever going to hurt. The changes that must be made to the CBC will run far deeper, and wider, than the 650 layoffs which were announced last month.
It will alter…
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OTTAWA – “Combined, the new entrants spent about $3 billion to acquire spectrum, build networks and go after subscribers,” said John Bitove, the chairman of foundering wireless company Mobilicity – as well as the yet-to-launch Feenix Wireless, which purchased spectrum in this year’s 700 MHz spectrum auction.
He was speaking to delegates at the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Biennial National Conference on New Developments in Communications Law and Policy held in Ottawa last week in a session on the success, or failure, of Canadian wireless policy. Panellists, which also included economist Steven Globerman, Rogers’ Ken Engelhart, and lawyer George…
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TORONTO – Telelatino marked Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo on Monday with the launch of Spanish-language TV channel Univision Canada.
A rebrand of TLN en Español, the channel will air programming such as Hispanic daily morning show Despierta America, entertainment news show El Gordo y La Flaca, long running variety show Sábado Gigante, prime time telenovelas and specials including the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.
“This is a milestone moment in Canadian Spanish language media,” said Telelatino Network president Aldo Di Felice, in the announcement. “Univision is the most recognized and respected Spanish language media brand in North America and is…
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