MONTREAL – Not surprisingly, Quebecor-owned Videotron was the first TV service provider to trumpet the arrival of the Sun News Network, also owned by Quebecor, which launched nationally Monday afternoon.
Canada’s newest all-news channel, a re-brand of the over-the-air Sun TV in Ontario and simltaneously a digital specialty channel elsewhere, “is poised to shake up the Canadian news media landscape”, according to Videotron’s news release. With a mixture of “hard news” by day and “straight talk” by night, the network features talent such as Charles Adler, Ezra Levant, Theo Caldwell, Brian Lilley, Krista Erickson, Pat Bolland, Alex Pierson and David Akin.
“The network is…
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TORONTO – Rogers Media has overhauled the websites of its two newest radio stations, re-building them in blog style format designed to connect listeners quickly and easily to the content that matters the most to them.
91.7 The Bounce in Edmonton and 102.3 BOB FM in London, which Rogers purchased last June, now stream live on-line, plus allow listeners to check out the station’s recent playlists and morning shows, buy songs, and share content with friends and followers. The websites also feature multimedia galleries, Twitter and Facebook posts, a proprietary loyalty club and contest sections.
"91.7 The Bounce in Edmonton and…
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OTTAWA – The country’s television broadcasters may be a little more worried about the threat from foreign over-the-top (OTT) services than they have let on.
A group of some 35 senior private sector executives from the country’s distribution, telecommunications, broadcasting, production and creative sectors have formed a loose coalition called Over-The-Top Services Working Group to counter, or at least mitigate, the impact that these services could have on their traditional media businesses.
Founded by Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA), the group counts industry heavyweights like Bell and Rogers amongst its members. And it has been meeting quietly over the last few…
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NEW YORK – Rogers Ventures, the venture capital arm of Rogers Communications, is investing in mobile payment provider Payfone.
The New-York based company announced the closing of its $19 million strategic funding round, which includes new investments from American Express, and Verizon, as well as from existing investors Opus Capital, BlackBerry Partners Fund and RRE Ventures. Payfone said that its new funds will be used to “continue innovations in its market approach and to support its global expansion across North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia”.
"Strategic investment from major operator players like Verizon Investments Inc. and Rogers Ventures, as well…
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THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 15, marks two important deadlines for CTAM Canada members.
It is last day to RSVP for the annual CTAM night all the ballgame, where members can cheer on the Toronto Blue Jays as they take on the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. A presentation by Rovi chief evangelist, Richard Bullwinkle, will begin at 5:45 and the game begins at 7:07 pm.
The event is free to CTAM members. Please reserve your ticket by registering with Andrea Baxter at abaxter@ccsa.cable.ca or (506) 849-1334, Ext. 212.
And don’t miss your chance to register for the next Canadian…
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GATINEAU – Don’t change regulations just to let the major sports broadcasters get out of scheduling problems they created themselves, Score Media told the CRTC this week.
Earlier this week during the group based licensing proceeding, Score executives said that Rogers Media’s and Bell Media’s requests for more schedule flexibility for the likes of OLN and ESPN Classic Canada must be denied.
The two big sports broadcasters said they need the freedom to add some of their sports TV overflow to OLN and ESPN Classic Canada if needed because despite their many channels – Sportsnet, Sportsnet One and the regional channels…
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CALGARY – Mobilicity said Wednesday that it will launch its wireless service in Calgary on April 28, marking the last of its current market rollouts.
“It’s time Calgarians stopped paying among the highest wireless rates in Canada,” said president and CEO, Dave Dobbin, in the announcement. “A better alternative to Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility is on its way. Mobilicity provides reliable talk, text and data capabilities – without outrageous extra charges and fees that eat into people’s savings.”
Calgary-based consumers will be able to purchase plans and name-brand handsets like BlackBerry and Android at over 70 points of…
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GATINEAU – The Independent Broadcast Group has called on the CRTC to establish a new, flexible framework for smaller and independent Canadian broadcasters.
Appearing before the CRTC last Thursday during the group-based license renewal proceeding, the independents insisted that it’s only fair to provide competitive parity for the unaffiliated broadcasters.
“The CRTC needs to be prepared to provide similar or greater flexibility to independent broadcasters within months of this happening to at least maintain some competitive parity in the short term,” said Naomi Zener, director of business and legal affairs at Channel Zero (owners of CHCH, CJNT, Movieola and Silver…
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HAMILTON – Cable industry veteran Owen Boris died Saturday night at his home in Hamilton after suffering a heart attack. He was 79.
Boris founded Hamilton’s Mountain Cablevision in 1959 and remained principal owner of the successful cableco for half a century before selling the business to Shaw Communications in July 2009. At that time, Boris told Cartt.ca that he felt that the time was right to retire and to “pass this great history on to someone with more financial muscle.”
Fellow industry veteran JR Shaw described Boris as “truly one of a kind”.
“There’s no one else in the…
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PRINCE RUPERT, BC – City West Cable and Telephone has named William R. Craig as its new CEO. Craig, who will begin on April 18, takes over from Rob Brown who is retiring after nearly 37 years.
A former Rogers exec and senior policy analyst with the CRTC, Craig has also held the roles of CEO of Bermuda Broadcasting, president of Shift TV Inc., president of World On Wireless, and VP of TV and property development for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I can’t think of a better person for this position”, said Steve Lake, chair of the board’s hiring committee, in…
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