OTTAWA – The CEOs from three of Canada’s biggest broadcasters have thrown their support behind the skinny basic concept, calling it a “consumer-first solution”.
In a press release issued after their appearance at the CRTC hearing Tuesday, CBC, CTV and Global said that a pared down basic television programming package will provide “affordable, accessible, and sustainable TV services for all Canadians.”
"Canadian consumers and TV viewers deserve a choice, and a new affordable bundle of basic TV channels is a start," said CBC president and CEO Hubert Lacroix, in the release. "With a regulated capped rate, Canadians will be protected from fee hikes with…
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OTTAWA – In what could be a first for a Canadian BDU, Rogers Cable has asked the CRTC if it may carry the digital multicast signals of a U.S. broadcaster.
In its application, Rogers requested that the Commission amend its Class 1 and 2 regional broadcasting licences in Ontario, and its Class 1, 2 and 3 regional broadcasting licences for its terrestrial BDUs in New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Specifically, Rogers has asked for the addition of the following condition of licence:The licensee is authorized to distribute, at its option and on a digital basis, the multicast service ThinkBright and Well Television…
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TORONTO – Nickelodeon in Canada will offer over eight million households a chance to sample its kid friendly programming over the holidays thanks to a month long free preview.
From December 15 through January 18, the newly launched channel will be available on Rogers (channel 231), Shaw Direct (channel 182), Shaw (channel 135), Cogeco (channel 142) and Bell TV (channel 559).
Nickelodeon in Canada is a licensing agreement between MTV Networks International and Corus Entertainment.
www.nickcanada.com
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MONTREAL – Telefilm Canada will finance 17 English-language feature films this year under the Canada Feature Film Fund.
Five regional projects will proceed, as well as six projects under the organization’s low budget independent feature film assistance program.
The national projects include Beat the World, Hockey: The Musical, and The Whistleblower from the Ontario and Nunavut region; The Kate Logan Affair from the Quebec region, plus Wrecked and Fubar II from the Western region.
In related news, Telefilm Canada and the Rogers Group of Funds announced that nine feature-length documentary projects will receive funding support under the Theatrical documentary program in 2009-2010….
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MONTREAL – Stingray Digital has signed a multi-platform agreement with EMI Music Canada to add the label’s music video content to Stingray’s Galaxie Music Videos on Demand service.
The music videos on demand service lets viewers select their choice of music videos, or select and watch professionally-programmed music video playlists. It launched on Rogers in September and will be soon offered by other television service providers.
"The Galaxie Music Videos on Demand service has been growing in popularity since the launch in September,” said Stingray president Eric Boyko, in the announcement. “With access to the historic library from EMI, viewers…
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TORONTO – Rogers has added 13 more high definition channels to its lineup in a move that it says allows it to offer more choice than its competitors.
Effective immediately, Rogers customers can now view:
– Global BC HD– History Television HD– TCM – Turner Classic Movies HD– KTLA HD– WPIX HD– WSBK HD– MEXCESS HD– MFUN! HD– CBS COLLEGE SPORTS HD– WOW HD– TV5 HD– TFO HD– Fireplace HD
"Rogers is thrilled to bring our customers even more of the programming and customizable entertainment they want with the best-quality, high-definition experience," said David…
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OTTAWA – At its annual board meeting, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters board of directors has given its new chair, independent radio broadcaster Elmer Hildebrand of Golden West Broadcasting, 45 days to come up with a new strategy for the group.
When contacted by Cartt.ca on Wednesday, Hildebrand asked for patience as he meets with various member companies to sort out next steps. However, several sources with both large and small broadcasters who spoke to Cartt.ca on condition of anonymity said the Association is almost certainly finished as an association representing TV broadcasters.
Simply put, Canwest and CTV too often want…
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EDMONTON – The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton will be the place to be for future Alberta sports broadcasters this Saturday morning for the seventh annual Rogers Sportsnet Sports Broadcasting Seminar.
The all-day seminar will feature guest speakers from Sportsnet such as hosts Martine Gaillard and Jamie Campbell, reporter Roger Millions and sportsnet.ca columnist Mark Spector.
The seminars will cover topics such as the Olympics, behind-the-scenes of a live event telecast, and what skills and strategies are needed to cover sports on television, while interactive sessions will allow students to audition, and to receive tips on how to break in to…
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TORONTO – Rogers officially dedicated its new broadcast centre in downtown Toronto in honour of its founder Ted Rogers on Wednesday, the first anniversary of his passing.
The ceremony, which aired live on Rogers-owned Citytv, also included the unveiling of a portrait of Rogers and a plaque in his honour which will hang in the building’s foyer. The ribbon was cut by Ted Rogers’ wife Loretta Rogers; Toronto City Councillor Kyle Rae; Rogers Media president Tony Viner; and Rogers Media Television CEO Leslie Sole.
"Housing two iconic Canadian television brands, OMNI Television and Citytv, in one landmark broadcast facility fulfills a commitment Ted Rogers made when…
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VANCOUVER – Rogers Wireless has slapped rival Bell Mobility with a lawsuit over its claims that it operates “Canada’s most reliable network”, just days after Rogers itself was forced by Telus to stop claiming the same thing.
In court documents filed Tuesday in Vancouver, Rogers said that Bell’s claim that it’s new HSPA/HSPA + network is “the largest, fastest and most reliable network in Canada” is false and misleading because there are virtually no customers on the new network, and it has not conducted adequate testing.
Bell launched a national advertising campaign with that claim on November 4, 2009, in conjunction…
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