OTTAWA – The Canadian government got its wish for four wireless carriers in each region of the country in its recently completed 700 Mhz spectrum auction, which netted federal coffers $5.27 billion.
Overall, the results of the auction show that it was the Big Three that divvied up the majority of the spectrum even though they were limited on buying prime spectrum in the B, C, C1 and C2 blocks. While Rogers Communications focused on the prime B band and the A block, Bell Canada and Telus licence purchases appeared to complement each other in the C2 and the unpaired…
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TORONTO – Rogers is offering customers the option to upgrade their smartphones every 12 months through a soon-to-be-launched program known as Rogers Next.
The early upgrade program waives the early upgrade and connection fees, and allows subscribers to choose any smartphone worth up to $250 based on two-year term subsidized pricing. If the two-year term subsidized price for the chosen device exceeds $250, customers may pay the difference in the hardware price.
Rogers Next, which will be available soon for new and existing customers, will cost $24.99 per month or $29.99 per month if the customer opts to include the company’s…
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TORONTO – As if its monster NHL deal wasn’t enough, Sportsnet has signed a 12-year partnership extension with the Canadian Hockey League through the 2025-26 CHL season, continuing its hold as the exclusive broadcaster of the CHL and the Memorial Cup in Canada.
The new agreement, which begins with the 2014/15 season, includes multimedia rights for television, online and mobile, plus more than 50 CHL games each year, including CHL playoff games and the Memorial Cup. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“In combination with our ground-breaking NHL agreement, this truly cements Sportsnet as Canada’s home of hockey,” said…
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TORONTO – Registration is now open for Content Industry Connect, a one day event that promises to bring together television, film and digital media leaders for a day of visionary keynotes, entertaining and informative discussions, facilitated networking, and face-to-face meeting opportunities.
Presented by the Banff World Media Festival, Content Industry Connect will take place March 6 at The Ritz-Carlton in downtown Toronto.
Confirmed speakers include executives at Google, Microsoft, AOL, Twitter, CBC, Bell Media, Corus Television, Rogers Media, Shaw Media, a special sneak peek from the creators and stars of Orphan Black and the advance premiere of Spun Out.
For more information or to…
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OTTAWA – The 700 MHz spectrum auction has ended and Industry Minister James Moore will announce the results late Wednesday.
A statement issued by Industry Canada Tuesday evening invited media to a 30 minute lock-up to be followed by the official announcement by Minister Moore in Ottawa at 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday. Cartt.ca will be there.
Reuters appeared to break the news in a story that quoted unnamed sources who claimed that the “main thrust of the auction had been finished at least a week ago”. Industry Canada said prior to the auction that it would publish the winners, their licence packages and…
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TORONTO – Registration is now open for the inaugural CommTech East show, which will take place April 15 and 16, 2014 at the Mississauga Convention Centre.
Held in conjunction with SCTE Ontario Chapter, the Eastern Canada show is a new addition to the multi-industry CommTech show. It will feature more than 25 technical sessions and 80-plus exhibitors. Rogers has been announced as the show's sponsor.
Professionals from the cable, telecom, wireless, ISP, government, utilities and related industries are invited to attend.
CommTech West will be held later in the spring on May 28 and 29, 2014 at Calgary’s Coast Plaza Hotel and Conference…
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GATINEAU – Rogers Communications refuted accusations of charging unjust wholesale rates for Canadian wireless carriers and denied undue preference for U.S. Wireless carriers in its 32-page reply to the CRTC’s proceeding investigating domestic wholesale wireless roaming rates.
The Commission is investigating whether there has been discrimination in higher wholesale rates charged to domestic wireless companies while American carriers receive preferential deals.
The CRTC received interventions and replies over the past two weeks from Bell Canada, Quebecor Media, Telus, EastLink, Wind, Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), Benjamin Klass, Canadian Network Operators Consortium Inc. (CNOC), Commissioner of Competition, Fibernetics, Lynx Mobility Inc., MTS…
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GATINEAU – We're about a month away from all Canadian television distributors being required to make all Canadian national news channels available to all of their subscribers, but one seemingly basic question remains unanswered: Will Sun News Network be made available on analog cable?
Two months after the CRTC issued an order requiring that Sun News and the four other Category C national news channels be made available to subscribers of "all licensed distribution undertakings", there doesn't seem to be a consensus on this question.
The order and accompanying decision don't include the word "analog" at…
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TORONTO – Sports producer Gord Cutler has been appointed SVP of NHL production, Sportsnet and NHL president Scott Moore announced Thursday.
Cutler will take up his new post on February 18, and will be responsible for all on-air production elements of Sportsnet’s NHL coverage on all platforms, including national and regional games, all playoff games and the Stanley Cup Final, special events and non-game events, and studio broadcasts, to deliver best-in-class hockey experiences to fans across Canada.
“My working relationship with Gord extends close to 30 years. He is one of Canada’s top sports producers, possesses incredible hockey knowledge, and understands…
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TORONTO – While Rogers Communications posted a tough Q4 with wireless growth and profit down significantly, new CEO Guy Laurence spoke publicly for the first time on Wednesday since taking over the position in December.
On the results themselves, Laurence said the company simply must improve. “There are areas of strength, but overall they are not satisfactory to me and over time I expect to do better,” he told the conference call with financial analysts Wednesday morning after the release of the Q4 2013 and full year results.
Right now, he added, he is about half-way through…
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