OTTAWA – It’s time to open up Canada’s telecom borders to foreign investment, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development told the federal government this morning.
Dimitri Ypsilanti, head of the information, communications and consumer policy division directorate on science, technology and industry with the OECD in Paris discounted the both cultural and network sensitivity reasons for maintaining foreign investment restrictions in telecom during his chat this morning with the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology which is examining the rules on foreign investment in Canadian telecom companies.
“There’s no reason in my mind to believe that foreign telecom network…
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TORONTO – Registration is now open for CTAM members wishing to cheer on the Toronto Blue Jays as they take on the Boston Red Sox at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 28th.
This year’s guest speaker will be Richard Bullwinkle, Chief Evangelist of Rovi Corporation, who will present on the different personas of entertainment consumption, including how the consumer’s perspective on consuming entertainment impacts adoption of technology. Based on a social study of how consumers engage with media and technology in their own homes, this presentation outlines key considerations for addressing consumers’ true pain points.
The speaker begins at…
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OTTAWA – CRTC audits of the community channels operated by some of Canada’s biggest cable companies show “numerous abuses”, according to the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).
From 2002 through 2005 (the last year in which the CRTC monitored them), CACTUS said that the audits prove that cable companies “routinely” exceeded the maximum of two minutes per hour of promotional ads, and the 15-second limit for sponsorship messages.
Calling out Rogers in particular, CACTUS said that one of its OHL hockey programs contained 24 ads in one episode, plus another 41 ads two nights later, yet none of…
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TORONTO – After officially opening its doors on April 1st, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) will stage information sessions across Canada to further explain its new funding guidelines and answer questions from potential recipients.
The first of the outreach sessions are scheduled for Victoria and Vancouver on April 12, before crisscrossing the country. Click here to register to attend one of the 15 sessions.
The meetings will be led by Nathalie Clermont, director of CMF program management, along with Roxane Girard, director of CMF program administrator/Telefilm Canada, Francesca Accinelli, director of the English market, and Stéphane Consantino, director…
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TORONTO – Rogers Digital Media has re-launched its Citytv video theatre with improved search and navigation capabilities, and a quicker rate at which content is delivered.
Rogers credits technology from Brightcove and Endeca for the improvements to its on-line platform video.citytv.com, which features both locally-produced Citytv content and many of its popular U.S. and Canadian television shows.
“Brightcove and Endeca have enabled Citytv.com to rapidly introduce a scalable and flexible video experience that meets the evolving needs of our on-line audiences and deepens consumer engagement with our video content," said Claude Galipeau, SVP of Rogers Digital Media, in a statement….
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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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