OTTAWA – The incumbent wireless operators want a straight-up winner-take-all auction (mostly).
Those newer to the wireless game want some protective rules in place. They say some restrictions (set asides, caps) are needed in order for them to be able grab a slice from the lucrative, high quality, 700 MHz wireless spectrum to go on auction likely in 2012 or 2013.
In November, Industry Canada launched a consultation on a technical framework to auction spectrum in the band 698-806 MHz (also known as the 700 MHz band). Comments were sought on general policy considerations related to commercial mobile broadband spectrum…
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OTTAWA – TV and film production stakeholders are urging the CRTC to not lose sight of its Canadian programming expenditure (CPE) benchmarks when considering the group-based licence renewals of the large, vertically integrated, broadcasters.
The Canadian Media Production Association tells the Commission that it shouldn’t acquiesce to any demands to deviate from its proposed 30% CPE requirement and argues that the CRTC should reject outright broadcasters’ demands to have CPE requirements lower than 30%.
“Since the broadcaster groups all compete for the same types of programming (both Canadian and foreign) and for the same advertisers, they should all be…
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OTTAWA and TORONTO – Another complaint from an unhappy Rogers Internet customer prompted the CRTC to question the company’s Internet traffic management practices (ITMPs), the third time in as many months.
In a letter dated February 23rd, the Commission asked Rogers to respond to a customer’s allegation that its “ITMP incorrectly identifies time sensitive traffic generated by inter-active games as P2P traffic, subjecting such traffic to the ITMP and rendering the games unusable”. Section 2009-657 of the Telecommunication Act dictates that ITMPs that result in a noticeable degradation of time sensitive audio or video traffic require prior Commission approval.
When contacted by…
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TORONTO – On Monday, Rogers Cable subscribers will be able to turn their TVs up to 208 and watch chicken cook.
As part of a new multi-faceted ad campaign with Swiss Chalet, the big MSO will air non-stop SD video (and audio) of the fast food chain’s rotisserie chicken cooking for 13 weeks in an unending loop beginning February 28. We hope the chicken isn’t too dry by the end of its oven run.
Some electronic program guide ads, potential couponing and calls to action such as visiting the Swiss Chalet Facebook page for offers and information, as well as…
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TORONTO – Former CEO of Rogers Media Television, Leslie Sole, has left the company, Cartt.ca has learned.
Sole had his operational role at Rogers Media altered in the past number of months. He had been in charge of the TV broadcasting arm of the company (OMNI and Citytv) for a number of years but in November, new Rogers Media president and CEO Keith Pelley made Scott Moore president of the broadcasting arm and Sole was made chief content officer, He was to be responsible for the creation and execution of the Rogers Media content strategy.
At the time, the press…
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TORONTO – Rogers is holding on to all of the Toronto Blue Jays MLB games this season.
The company said that Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet Radio The FAN 590 will air all 162 games, starting with the team’s season-opener on April 1st. Sportsnet will broadcast 124 games on its four regional channels and 38 games on its national network Sportsnet One, all in HD.
"Viewers and listeners will see a much more integrated broadcast in our television and radio production," said Rob Corte, executive producer of live events, in the announcement. "We’re excited about the opportunity to engage Blue Jays…
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OTTAWA – Look for a number of new TV stations from the likes of Rogers and the CBC to hit the Canadian airwaves.
The CRTC approved five applications from Rogers this week for national, English-language Category 2 channels. Specifically:
– The Competition Channel, which will air reality-based programming, including competition-based reality and do-it-yourself makeover programs;
– Contessa, which will feature programming on relationships, lifestyle, beauty, trends and style, and focus on the interests and needs of working women aged between 25 and 54 years;
– Epic TV which plans to show classic television programming;
– Luxury Living featuring all things that can bring a…
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NEW YORK and TORONTO – Rogers is bringing iVillage, the largest on-line community for women, to Canada this spring after striking a long-term partnership with the site’s parent NBCUniversal.
The expansion marks the first major international partnership for iVillage since the launch of iVillage.co.uk in December 2000. Rogers will independently operate the new iVillage.ca site, which it says will reflect iVillage’s brand mission as a trusted and reliable community where women come to connect, share advice, find life tools and engage in conversations that matter most to them.
“We’re excited to partner with iVillage and bring the leading women’s digital brand to…
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TORONTO – Rogers Media has named Jason Tafler to the newly created position of chief digital officer.
Tafler will be responsible for strategic and operational leadership for the digital division of Rogers Media with accountability for financial and operational targets, the company said Wednesday. Rogers Digital Media is responsible for over 250 Rogers Digital products including brand websites, mobile products and client microsites as well as pure digital plays such as Sweetspot.ca, BRANCHEZ -VOUS!, PoolExpert and Canadian Parents.
A veteran of the U.S. and Canadian digital sector, Tafler comes to Rogers from PointRoll, a provider of digital marketing solutions and technology…
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OTTAWA – Broadcast distribution undertakings (BDUs) say they need greater regulatory flexibility to offer on-demand services to compete with over the top service such as Netflix, particularly if they continue to take eyeballs away from conventional distributors.
This was the one primary messages to come out of a session on over the top (OTT) services at the Canadian Media Production Association’s annual Prime Time event in Ottawa last week.
David Purdy, vice-president of video product management at Rogers Cable, insisted that OTT services will have an impact on the Canadian broadcasting system and as a result, it’s only fair…
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