Search Results for: rogers

Cable / Telecom News

Rogers debuts DOCSIS 3.0 home networking, will bump up Internet speed

TORONTO – Rogers Cable has launched a wireless home networking device called the ‘N gateway’, making it the first cable Internet provider in North America to offer a DOCSIS 3.0 N gateway wireless home networking specifically designed for optimal usage on its high-speed network. The enhanced gateway combines the modem and wireless router into one device, designed to minimize clutter and make it easier for customers to manage their wireless home network. Consumers are also able to extend their wireless connection further, and will have less signal quality issues, according to the press release. "We continuously invest in our… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

ATN to launch 9 new channels on Rogers

TORONTO – Canada’s largest South Asian broadcaster, Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN), will launch three new Chinese channels and six new South Asian channels on Rogers Cable this Fall. The addition of the movie, news and entertainment services from China and India will bring the number of services ATN operates to 23, and will mark its first offering to Mandarin-speaking audiences. "These nine channels carry world class content that will attract large audiences among the South Asian diaspora and Chinese communities in Canada”, said president and CEO Shan Chandrasekar, in the announcement. “We are extremely pleased with the signed distribution… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw plans to fight new CRTC fees

CALGARY – Shaw Communications says the CRTC has “betrayed Canadians’ trust” with Monday’s announcement of two new taxes on TV consumers. "It is difficult to believe the CRTC is mandating these tax transfers – money from the pockets of ten million Canadians to three Canadian broadcasters", said president Peter Bissonnette in a statement released Wednesday. Like its cable brethren Rogers, Shaw has vowed to fight the new fees “aggressively”, noting that broadcasters have not commited to spending more on local programming with the additional funds. "Our customers are already heavily subsidizing the broadcasters with a CRTC ordered tax of… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Highlights from Monday’s Commission decision

BELOW ARE A FEW OF what we think are the main talking points we pulled from yesterday’s CRTC releases on the LPIF, individual broadcasters’ one-year license renewals and the public notice on September’s hearing. • The Regulator is clearly trying to rebrand the fee-for-carriage debate by banishing such language in favour of “value for signal.” The public notice on the hearing contemplates a negotiated new fee between broadcasters and carriers. This looks like a done deal and now it’s just about price. (Ed note: As for that price, TSN made $117 million from BDU subscriber fees in 2008. More… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

LPIF and PN: New money now, more new money later, as CRTC shifts millions to broadcasters

GATINEAU – The most immediate impact of the CRTC’s Monday announcements? It looks like A Channel Windsor will get a reprieve. The Commission today finalized the new $102-million fund that is meant to tide broadcasters over until it figures out how to completely reset the scales of power of the industry it regulates with yet another hearing on the TV business come September. "Canadians have made it abundantly clear that they value local programming," said CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein, in the press release. "We have taken steps to ensure that broadcasters, and particularly those in smaller markets, continue… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

New “TV taxes” will cost consumers the most, BDUs predict

TORONTO, MONTREAL and OTTAWA – Three of Canada’s largest BDUs were quick to express their mutual disappointment with Monday’s CRTC decision, and hinted that it will be the consumer who will be hit the hardest. Rogers said that the introduction of the “major new consumer TV taxes” should have Canadian consumers “very worried”, and vice-chair Phil Lind predicted that the new fees could cost its customers an additional $50 – $100 per year depending on their cable package. “Today’s CRTC announcement says that, not withstanding earlier rulings by the CRTC and notwithstanding the lack of support by the Canadian… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

HD wars continue

TORONTO – Rogers Cable issued the most recent salvo in the (“we have more HD!” – “no, we have more HD”) battle between it and Bell TV. Rogers today said it has finished the launch of 18 HD channels, giving it “the most variety” of high def services. “With 34% of Rogers Digital Cable customers subscribing to the high definition television service, and viewership of HD titles on demand doubling in the last year alone, it is clear that HD is the future of TV,” says this morning’s press release. "If you’ve ever turned on the television and said… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

BDUs urge Commission to ignore CBC

GATINEAU – Earlier this week, the CBC attempted to give the CRTC a little advice before the Regulator releases its public notice announcing the September hearing into an overhaul of the regulation of the TV business in Canada this coming Monday. As reported by Cartt.ca, this past Monday the CBC offered up a proposed new distribution order which would govern new fee-for-carriage negotiations between broadcasters and cable and satellite companies (actually, the broadcasters are trying to “re-brand” the fee-for-carriage battle to one entitled value for signal, but we digress…) Together, Shaw Communications, Telus, Rogers Communications, Cogeco and Bell… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco hires former Rogers exec to lead business division

MONTREAL – Tony Ciciretto has been hired as president of Cogeco Data Services, the company announced today. Prior to joining Cogeco Data Services, Ciciretto was president of the TVN Group, a private investment firm he co-founded in 2008. From 2003 to 2007, he held a leadership role at Rogers Communications as vice-president, Rogers Business Solutions. Prior to that, he worked at Bell Canada for 15 years in various increasingly senior roles culminating with the position of senior vice president, business sales and operations at Bell Nexxia in 2003. In partnership with the management team, Ciciretto will be responsible for… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

COMMENT: MSM injures its credibility repeating Telus-iPhone gossip

BY UNDERESTIMATING THE SPEED of tech rumours that go a little viral and overestimating the diligence of Canadian journalism, I lost a bet last week. Last Thursday, I came across an unsubstantiated rumour on the web that said Telus would have the Apple iPhone in October of this year. I bet a friend it would take a couple of days at least before that rumour found its way into the mainstream media (MSM) as a “sources say” piece. I was wrong. It took less than a day. Thanks to Google Alerts, I was linked to gadget news/blog site Electronista.com,… Continue Reading