OTTAWA – The tightly knit nature of the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors makes it impossible to open telecom markets to greater foreign investment without negatively affecting Canadian culture in some way, Friends of Canadian Broadcasting told the Standing Committee on Industry this week.
Ian Morrison, a spokesperson for Friends, highlighted the integrated nature of Canada’s largest communications and broadcasting companies during his opening remarks pointing Rogers Communications, Bell Canada and Quebecor. If Rogers were owned by foreigners, it would have to sell Rogers Media. Similarly, Bell couldn’t control Bell TV, he said.
“Disposing of these key broadcasting assets would…
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VANCOUVER – Citytv-owned CKVU debuted in high definition on Monday for viewers who receive the basic HD service from major cable operators serving the Vancouver market.
"Citytv is thrilled that viewers in the Vancouver market are now able to watch their favourite programming in HD," said Renato Zane, VP and GM of Rogers Media Television B.C., in the announcement. "We’re confident that audiences will enjoy this enhanced viewing experience."
Cable operators offering CKVU HD include Novus Entertainment, Shaw Communications and Telus TV.
www.Citytv.com
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OTTAWA – The broadcasting industry is opposing a plan by Industry Canada to allow fixed and mobile services – in addition to broadcasting – in portions of the L-band. Aerospace players say they want a piece of the band as well to accommodate testing of aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT).
The L-band is divided into three sub-segments: 1435-1452 MHz is used for subscriber radio systems (SRS); 1452-1492 MHz is allocated to digital audio broadcasting (DAB) and has some SRS services; and the 1492-1525 MHz has an SRS and mobile satellite services allocation. This upper part of the band is the least used.
The…
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WINNIPEG and VANCOUVER – Craig Wireless has sold its spectrum in B.C. and Manitoba to Inukshuk Wireless Partnership for $80 million.
"This sale is very supportive of the Company’s strategy to create value for shareholders through a portfolio of spectrum investments," said co-CEO Boyd Craig, in a statement.
The Canadian spectrum licenses to be sold represent approximately one quarter of the company’s total spectrum holdings. Following completion of the sale, which is subject to regulatory approval, Craig will continue to operate spectrum in the U.S., Greece, Norway, and New Zealand.
Inukshuk, a partnership of affiliates of Rogers Communications and Bell Canada, Continue Reading
TORONTO – Rogers and TBay Tel have teamed up to offer HSPA technology and new mobility products to residents of northern Ontario for the first time.
The strategic business relationship will give TBayTel customers located just west of Sault Ste. Marie to the Manitoba border – an area of close to 300,000 square kilometres – access to Rogers’ network, mobile content and handsets, as well as the ability to bundle services with other TBayTel offerings.
“The integration of Rogers’ services and technology will deliver improved value and customer experience to our customers and other stakeholders throughout the region”, said TBay Tel president…
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TORONTO – CanWest has received court approval to expedite the appeal made by Goldman Sachs challenging the sale of its TV assets to Shaw Communications.
In documents filed in an Ontario court Wednesday, CanWest said that the appeal is creating uncertainty around its restructuring efforts and for its 1,700 full time employees, and that it could negatively impact the acquisition of programming for the upcoming Fall season. Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Harry Laforme agreed with CanWest and granted the request.
In other documents filed Wednesday, Goldman said that “it does not oppose expedited treatment” of the motion for leave or the…
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IF YOU TALK TO ANYONE under 20 they will consider it quaint to hear tales of phones that were connected to walls; notes that were sent with a stamp; and televisions that were housed in large cabinets offering four channels, if you were lucky, accessible with the turn of a dial.
Online and offline; wired and wireless, the world is a dramatically different place than it was 19 years ago. Yet the Canadian media market is still governed by broadcasting legislation from 1991 at a time when urgent action is needed to bring regulation in line with technology to meet…
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"NEVERTHELESS, THE SYSTEM is not working well in 2010 in ensuring that conventional television broadcasters have the means to continue to meet their obligations under the Act."
That quote – from paragraph 162 in yesterday’s decision on “A group-based approach to the licensing of private television services”, which set out new rules for a number of things, but all most appeared to care about was the fee-for-carriage/value-for-signal donnybrook – says it all. Private broadcasters are pleased. Carriers are not.
Whatever the outcome of the Federal Court filing that will need to happen before the broadcasters can solicit new wholesale…
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GATINEAU – Canadian content exhibition requirement for over-the-air broadcasters were lowered to 55% from 60%, and the broadcasters seem to have been given a break on spending requirements, according to the CRTC decision from proceeding 2009-411 released today.
Under the CRTC’s new group-based TV regulatory policy, the CRTC will now require Canada’s three largest English-language networks to spend at least 30% of their gross overall revenues on Canadian programming.
CTVglobemedia, Canwest, and Rogers will also be given a specific spending requirement for their OTA networks during licence renewals, but will have the flexibility to shift some of their expenditures to their specialty channels….
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TORONTO – CTAM will host members at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 28th to watch the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Boston Red Sox.
Save the date – details to follow.
www.ctam.ca
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