OTTAWA – The big players in Canada’s wireless broadband space have told Industry Canada that it should avoid adopting the U.S. plan for the 2500 MHz band and instead opt for the international band plan. They say the economics resulting from such a decision are much better for the Canadian wireless sector.
“Harmonization of the Canadian band plan with the globally adopted band plan will be essential if Canadians are to benefit from the global ecosystem for wireless network technology and consumer devices that are already developing for the band,” Inukshuk Internet tells Industry Canada in comments filed…
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TORONTO – While more and more Canadians opt for smart phones like BlackBerry’s, iPhones and Android-powered devices, increased competition in the market is going to hurt the incumbent wireless operators’ bottom lines, says a new report.
Toronto’s Convergence Consulting forecasts a Canadian wireless service ARPU decline of 1% for 2010 (ARPU saw a 3% decline in 2009), driven by a 7% drop in voice ARPU (2009 saw a 9% voice ARPU drop). While data service ARPU will grow by 26% in 2010, the company estimates, that will not be enough to counter overall ARPU decline according to its report ‘Canadian Wireless 2008-2014:…
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TORONTO – As the CRTC considers Shaw’s proposed purchase of Canwest Global’s TV assets, one industry analyst specualted on the implications of content providers making their content proprietary.
In a note to investors on Tuesday, Dvai Ghose, the managing director and head of Canadian research for Canaccord Genuity, said that companies like BCE and Rogers “see content ownership as an essential bargaining chip when negotiating content deals”, which, he continued, could make it difficult for companies who do not own content, naming TELUS and MTS as examples, to compete in the broadband, TV, and wireless segments.
“This does not seem to be in the interest…
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TORONTO – Rogers is airing a new television series, but this one is available solely on its community TV channel.
The new comedy series, Sketchersons TV, is written and performed by Toronto-based sketch troupe The Sketchersons and produced by Generator Films. The award-winning troupe, well known in Toronto for their weekly stage sketch show ‘Sunday Night Live’, uses talk-show and commercial parodies to offer an amusing spin on mundane everyday life.
“Rogers TV is always looking for local content, driven by Toronto community members”, said Rogers TV Toronto station manager, Annie Hadida, in a statement. “Sketchersons TV is one of many new…
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TORONTO – Canada’s wireless carriers were pleased to read on Cartt.ca that Industry Minister Tony Clement is going to make the auction of the 700 MHz wireless spectrum a priority of his ministry,
“We’re happy he’s saying, ‘bring it on’,” Rogers Communications senior vice-president of regulatory, Ken Engelhart, told Cartt.ca.“We agree with Minister Clement, that (the auction) should be brought on fairly quickly.”
The 700 MHz spectrum, of course, is what our conventional broadcasters use to transmit analog TV signals right now. They face a deadline of August 31, 2011 to get off that spectrum (shutting off their analog transmitters)…
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PART OF THE RATIONALE behind Bell Canada’s purchase of CTV is that the mobile and broadband spaces are unregulated – and that content exclusives will be part of the game when attracting and retaining subscribers who want to see their video content on their iPads, BlackBerrys or PCs, as well as their TVs.
Bell CEO George Cope told us as much when we asked him about it during the press conference announcing the deal last week.
However, to paraphrase what Telus has been saying for a while now: “Not so fast, consolidators.”
The Bell/CTV deal was excellent timing for the…
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TORONTO and CALGARY – Add Shaw to the short list of distributors who have added Rogers Sportsnet One to their programming rosters.
Starting Wednesday, Shaw said that “the vast majority” of its customers will receive Sportsnet One as part of their existing television package. The channel will be available to all Shaw digital TV customers in a free preview until October 31, and then be added to the Shaw Digital TV, HD Plus, and HD Sports packages.
Shaw Direct customers will have Sportsnet One included in the English and French Essentials package, and in the HD Sports packages.
"As customer advocates, we’ve…
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CANADIAN WIRELESS CUSTOMERS ARE hungry for a deal. According to brand new research, they are seeing the big ad campaigns and know they can shop around more than they ever have – and they’ll take their business to the best rate.
While all the wireless providers, new or incumbent, talk a great game about providing the best customer service, the highest speeds, the greatest apps and handsets, and the strongest, most reliable network – all lovely marketing bullet points – they only work to a degree.
Exclusive research from Toronto’s Solutions Research Group and Cartt.ca shows that when it comes to…
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TORONTO – Bell and Telus could be the winners when the 700 MHz wireless spectrum hits the auction block, predicts one industry analyst.
Responding to Cartt.ca’s report that Industry Minister Clement may accelerate the 700 MHz mobile spectrum auction in Canada, Canaccord Genuity managing director and head of Canadian research, Dvai Ghose, told investors Monday that the two big telcos appear to have an advantage over Rogers because they share spectrum, while Rogers does not have a national spectrum sharing partner.
“We also believe that the 700 MHz auction poses a key risk to cash flow and dividend growth for…
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TORONTO – Astral and Rogers have finalized a content deal that will see programming from TMN, HBO Canada, Mpix, Family Channel and Playhouse Disney added to the cable co’s TV, on-line and on demand platforms.
Under the terms of the new agreement, popular programming like True Blood, Hung and Entourage will now be available to Rogers’ customers with matching cable subscriptions as part of Rogers On Demand Online.
In addition, Astral’s Playhouse Disney channel will launch as part of Rogers’ Digital VIP cable package, as well as on RODO and its on demand service. Family Channel, which has until now…
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