OTTAWA – Three major actors in the Canadian broadcasting sector say they are bullish on the future of the system in the face of new technologies and changing consumer TV viewing behaviour.
CBC/Radio-Canada, Astral Television Networks and Shaw Media said they have taken steps to ready themselves for new consumer content consumption behaviour resulting from new mobile technologies and other emerging platforms. They noted they did this even in the face of a significant advertising downturn resulting from the global financial recession.
During a panel moderated by former Global TV News anchor Kevin Newman, representatives from the three companies…
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WHILE BRAD SHAW is now CEO of a much different Shaw Communications than the one his father JR and brother Jim built and ran, one aspect hasn’t changed.
No handlers.
As a journalist, I’ve interviewed many CEOs and other senior executives at large corporations. Most of them come to interviews with one or two others in tow who keep tabs on the interview or have other tasks. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s just not the way the Shaws do things. Never been their style. When a reporter calls the company with a question, invariably the president or CEO is the…
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OTTAWA – Opponents and supporters of vertical integration faced off in a feisty debate during a session at the Canadian Media Production Association’s (CMPA) annual Prime Time conference in Ottawa on Thursday.
Representing the “prosecution” in the session, titled Vertical Integration on Trial, Telus argued that producers and independent broadcasters are going to be disadvantaged by having fewer outlets for distribution. As well, broadcasters would have to fight the vertically integrated company on issues such as channel placement.
A critical issue, according to Michael Hennessey, senior VP of government and regulatory affairs at Telus, is one of access where…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications falling share of new post-paid customers, thanks in part to new competition from a shared network Bell and Telus launched in November, 2009, has led Canaccord Genuity to recommend that wireless investors switch from Rogers to Telus.
Rogers gained only 49,000 of such customers (a much more lucrative lot compared to less valuable “pre-paid” top-up card customers) in the quarter compared to 109,000 the year before. In comparison, Bell gained about 157,000 of those customers and Telus scooped up 109,000 last quarter, noted Canaccord Genuity analysts Dvai Ghose and Sanford Lee.
As a result, Rogers accounted for…
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TORONTO, – Asian Television Network has launched nine more South Asian Channels on Rogers Cable, bringing the total to 33. The channels are aimed at Canada’s growing South Asian community says Shan Chandrasekar, ATN’s president and CEO.
The new services are: Zoom (Bollywood entertainment channel); Times Now (general English news channel); ATN Malayalam (eneral interest channel from Kerala, India); Sony Aath (Bengali film channel); SAB TV (comedy); Punjjabi TV: (general interest); Channel I Bangla (24/7digital Bangla channel); NDTV Good Times (young, fine living); Jus Punjabi (American-Punjabi station).
www.asiantelevision.com
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TORONTO – The Television Bureau of Canada Thursday announced its 2011 board of directors.
Rita Fabian, executive vice president of sales and marketing for CTV conventional and specialty, will continue as chair, while Errol Da-Ré, senior vice president of sales at Shaw Media, will remain vice chairman. Mitch Dent, executive vice president of TV sales at Rogers Media, will continue as secretary, and Lori Legault, vice president of national sales at Shaw Media, will fulfil the role of treasurer. Along with TVB President, Theresa Treutler, the above form the board’s executive committee.
Completing the board of directors are: Sally Basmajian (vice…
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TORONTO – Every match of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup of soccer will be broadcast live in Canada thanks to CBC Sports and Rogers Sportsnet joining forces, the two companies announced Thursday.
Coverage will begin Sunday, June 26 on CBC when Canada opens the tournament against host Germany.
The partnership will see CBC air all matches involving Canada, plus three of four quarterfinals, the semi-final, bronze and gold medal matches, all live. Rogers Sportsnet will air one quarterfinal match live, while also providing encore broadcasts of the quarterfinal, semi-final, bronze and gold medal matches. Additionally, in the early rounds, Rogers…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications Inc. facing increased competition from traditional rivals BCE and Telus, and from new wireless upstarts such as Wind Mobile offered a modest 2011 growth forecast yesterday.
Rogers expects operating profit to be flat to slightly higher in 2011, at between $4.6 billion and $4.77 billion.
Profit in the fourth quarter, however, was still up by 5% to $327 million compared to the same quarter last year.
The company said it added 123,000 net wireless subscribers during the quarter ended December 31, 2010, which was down 5% from a year earlier. The decline for net post-paid customers was more…
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TORONTO, – John Hinnen, vice-president and general manager of 680 News and vice-president of radio news programming for Rogers Broadcasting is this year’s recipient of the RTNDA Canada President’s Award.
RTNDA’s highest honour is presented annually to recognize individuals or groups that have brought distinction to, or made major contributions to, broadcast journalism.
"This award is recognition of the amazing people I’ve had a chance to work with over the years from Ted Rogers who had the vision for 680News to the amazing team of journalists we work with daily,” says Hinnen.
As an accomplished news executive and radio personality his…
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OTTAWA – Senior vice-president and general manager of digital media, Claude Galipeau, and Rogers Media have parted ways. No reason was given for his departure.
Galipeau has held a number of new media positions with big broadcasters. He was previously vice-president, interactive media, Astral Media, senior vice president, digital media, Alliance Atlantis; executive director, digital programming and business development, at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
While no replacement has been named, his departure has fueled speculation that Alon Marcovici, until recently the head of digital media at CTV, will come on board.
Marcovici worked for more than three years under current Rogers…
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