Search Results for: rogers

Cable / Telecom News

SCTE Canadian Summit 2013 goes online with new webinar series

EXTON, PA. – The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) today announced that this year’s SCTE Canadian Summit will take place as a series of online technical webinars as a way to cost-effectively increase information sharing for cable engineering professionals in Canada and beyond. The four-part series, which has been designed to address current and next-generation issues in cable technology, will be held from 1-2 p.m. Eastern time on a bi-weekly basis, beginning Tuesday, May 7. The series is intended to continue availability of the high-tech informational resources that have hallmarked SCTE’s Canadian Summit program, while… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

What’s in your drawers? Recycle your old cell phone for Earth Day

OTTAWA – With Earth Day just around the corner on April 22, why not mark the occasion by recycling your old cell phone – and get a little spring cleaning done at the same time? According to the 2012 National Cell Phone Recycling Study, released today, 41% of old cell phones are stashed away in junk drawers as opposed to being recycled. That’s just one reason why Recycle My Cell, Canada’s free cell phone recycling program, is encouraging all Canadians to participate in this year’s Earth Day by recycling… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

More Cloud: Rogers buys Blackiron Data for $200 million

TORONTO – Saying it will improve its enterprise-level data centre and cloud computing services, as well as its fibre-based network connectivity services, Rogers Communications announced today that it has bought Blackiron Data from Primus Telecommunications Group for $200 million in cash. Blackiron Data is a pure-play provider of data centre and cloud computing services with eight data centres in five major Canadian cities, including Toronto, Ottawa, London, Edmonton and Vancouver. Last year it reported revenue of US$33.7 million and EBITDA of US$13 million. Its 132 employees will join Rogers. “The cloud… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

AMI’s described video broadcasts a hit with Blue Jays fans

TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays have teamed up with Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) to offer at least 16 game broadcasts with live described video, making them the first professional sports organization to gear broadcasts towards audiences who are blind or partially sighted. Speaking Wednesday evening at a CTAM Canada event at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, David Errington, president and CEO of AMI, praised the Canadian broadcasting for its commitment to accessibility and outlined his company’s goal to add more live events to its schedule. “When we do our research with our consumers, they want to consume media just… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

COMMENT: Maybe “basic” customers should be redefined, says Shaw

THE SIZE OF GLOBAL cable companies has always been defined by the number of basic cable customers they have. For decades, basic cable has been the first buy-in for any household wanting more than the TV channels they can capture off-air. That, however, is changing. Today’s customers often want to talk about broadband first because increasingly, they want their web and e-mail before their favourite shows. Besides, they can often find those favourite shows online via that broadband connection, negating the need for traditional cable TV service of any kind, depending on what sort of entertainment they like. Shaw Communications CFO… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Free preview of Israeli Network supports Israel’s Independence Day

TORONTO – To help raise awareness of Israel’s 65th Independence Day, Ethnic Channels Group is offering a free preview of The Israeli Network from April 15 to May 14. ECG says the channel is the only Israeli broadcast entity which reaches out to the English speaking Jewish demographics while adding English subtitles to the Hebrew speaking programs. The channel maintains a diverse spectrum of programming from Israel’s most popular channels. The Israeli Network broadcasts in Canada on Rogers Channel 899 and Bell Fibe Channel 897. www.ethnicchannels.com Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

SPECTRUM: Selling set-aside to incumbents not part of the plan, says Paradis; Shaw thinks it’ll pass

DURING A SHORT, Monday morning interview with reporters during a visit to Asia to extoll the virtues of the Canadian ICT sector (and others), Industry Minister Christian Paradis noted he wasn’t exactly pleased with Rogers Communications pending purchase of Shaw Communications’ AWS spectrum. Shaw bought the spectrum in 2008 during that auction but decided not to build a traditional wireless network after all. As spectrum which was set aside for new wireless entrants, the auction rules said it is not allowed to be purchased by one of the incumbent providers until next year. However, Shaw has already Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw reports $1.25 billion in Q2 revenue, boosts guidance

CALGARY – Shaw Communications Inc. reported today that consolidated revenue for its second quarter and for the year to date was $1.25 billion and $2.57 billion, respectively, each up 2% over the comparable periods last year. Net income was $182 million for Q2 FY2013 and $417 million for the six months ended February 28, 2013, compared to $178 million and $380 million respectively for the same periods last year. Total operating income before amortization increased 9% to $538 million over the comparable quarterly period, and the year-to-date amount of $1.14 billion was up 8%. Free… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Obituary: Former cable and telecom exec Ron Osborne

Ron Osborne, the longtime Canadian media and telecom executive who began his career as a chartered accountant, died suddenly on Monday in Florida. The 66-year-old Osborne was described in an announcement put out by Postmedia (where he was chairman of the board) as a “rare breed of executive” whose business expertise was sought after by several Canadian private and public companies as a member of their boards of directors. Osborne, who emigrated from the United Kingdom in 1968, joined Maclean Hunter in 1981. He worked there for 13 years, the last eight as the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Wind, Mobilicity and Public Mobile pull out of CWTA

TORONTO – In a move that is sure to make the politicos in Ottawa take notice, Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and Mobilicity today jointly announced their withdrawal from the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), saying the association is biased in favour of its rivals and does not represent their interests. The group claims the CWTA has become the “voice of big three telcos” – referring to Rogers, Bell and Telus – at the “expense of consumers and new entrant mobile service providers” and does not represent the Canadian mobile wireless sector. “When we were first… Continue Reading