TORONTO – Telus says it’s the first “premium” Canadian carrier to scrap its $35 activation fee, it will also eliminate the $25 equipment exchange for renewing customers.
In a bid to differentiate itself from Rogers and Bell, the telecom says the move reflects its focus of placing “customers first and being fair and transparent,” by becoming the first “established brand” to eliminate activation fees.
The move is part of Telus’ “clear and simple pricing initiatives,” to help customers understand when they are paying for “tangible products or value-added services,” it stated in a news…
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TORONTO – As part of its major re-launch, specialty channel GameTV has announced a number of new executive appointments. To support the re-launch the channel has also unveiled a trade media campaign this week, with a consumer campaign planned for October 29th. The channel, owned by Insight Sports, launched in 2005 as Casino & Gaming Television. It was renamed GameTV in 2007 and is now available in 9 million households across Canada.
“We have assembled this stellar team to lead the re-launch of the GameTV brand across all aspects of the channel from sales and marketing…
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MY FIRST MEETING WITH SHAW Communications president Peter Bissonnette in the winter of 1998 seems like a lifetime ago. It was in Richmond Hill, then the home base of Shaw’s substantial Ontario cable operations. I think it was February.
This was before Bissonnette was even president of the company. Before Shaw and Rogers traded their Ontario and British Columbia cable systems to each other. Before Izzy Asper and JR Shaw split up WIC (Western International Communications). Before the Shaw family spun its media assets into Corus Entertainment. Before a Jean Monty-led BCE bought CTV the first time, claiming – a…
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GATINEAU – A monthly per subscriber compensation regime proposed by CBC/Radio-Canada is being panned by its private sector opponents while the corporation’s foray into the digital arena is also being questioned by interveners to its licence renewal.
In its application, CBC said that it needs to be compensated for its signals because the broadcast distribution undertakings (cable, satellite and telco TV companies) are free riding and making money off the back of the corporation’s content. In essence, the public broadcaster is seeking a value for signal, or fee-for-carriage, regime. (The CRTC’s authority to implement such a model was Continue Reading
TORONTO – Ad sales and marketing veteran Jack Tomik has jumped from the CBC to join Rogers Media. Tomik will fill the newly-created position of Chief Sales Officer effective November 1. Rogers also promoted Dale Hooper to Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Consumer Insights. Both Tomik and Hooper will report to Keith Pelley, President of Rogers Media Inc., and serve as key members of Rogers Media’s Senior leadership team.
“Jack’s time at CBC has covered an eventful period in our history, and throughout, his talents and experience have helped us to meet many financial challenges and positioned…
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OTTAWA – Rogers Communications bid to extend Citytv into the Maritimes through simultaneous substitution of the broadcast feeds from bordering U.S. stations has been denied by the CRTC.
Bell Media, the CBC and several individuals argued that the proposal does not adhere to the simultaneous substitution policy, which grants simultaneous substitution privileges to only local and regional stations. The group also contended approval of the application would grant Rogers the benefits of having a local station in Atlantic Canada without investments in service to the region. The CBC added that Rogers had not substantiated its claim…
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CANNES – CTV has ordered its first digital-only series, Backpackers, from Shaftesbury’s Smokebomb Entertainment. To be shot in Europe, the live action scripted content will be deployed across all its digital platforms as eight 6-minute episodes.
As a stand-alone digital series, CTV has the option to keep the content exclusive to its network since it’s not obligated to offer it to other Canadian distributors. Rogers Media has inked its own exclusive Canadian supply deal with Michael Eisner’s Vuguru studio for its digital series and content.
The show targets the A18-34 demographic and features live-action,…
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AMSTERDAM/TORONTO – Mobile payment solutions currently in pilot testing and coming to market this year on Rogers NFC-enabled devices (Near Field Communication) will be secured by digital security technology from Gemalto. Rogers says it will deploy the Upteq NFC, Gemalto's EMV-ready, SIM-UICC solution, to store and secure consumers' credentials and card data required to make payments with NFC-enabled mobile devices.
"It's essential that consumers have peace of mind when it comes to storing payment cards on their mobile device and using it to make credit and debit transactions on the go," said David Robinson, Vice-President,…
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TORONTO – The deadline for the Ontario Association of Broadcasters’ annual Community Service Awards is fast approaching. Member stations are encouraged to apply here and upload their full entry including audio and/or video.
The Community Service Awards program acknowledges the generosity of broadcasters but also recognizes the creativity in developing a successful public service campaign. The award recognizes the difficulties in creating an effective campaign that motivates people to take action.
Entries are open to all member stations and must be received by Friday, October 19, 2012. To qualify campaigns must have run between September 1,…
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HAMILTON – The SCTE Ontario Chapter is looking for presenters for its next theme, "The Evolution of HFC” networks at its next Technical Session and Vendor Show on Tuesday November 13, 2012 at Carmen’s Banquet Centre located in Hamilton.
The event is a great way for your employer and you to get great exposure with a captive appreciative audience.
Please forward a brief overview of your presenting topic to scte-ontario@rogers.com by Oct 9th. Vendor table registration will…
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