TORONTO – Rogers Cable says that the number of digital cable customers watching its On Demand programming has more than doubled in the last three years, growing from 50 million views in 2005 to over 100 million views in 2008.
"We’ve seen a huge change in the viewing habits of our digital cable customers in the last few years, and this is only the beginning," said David Purdy, vice president of video product management.
Rogers recently overhauled its On Demand interface to make it “more intuitive” and allow for easier navigation. Its On Demand library has 5,000 unique titles and 5,300 hours of…
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WASHINGTON D.C. – When governments talk about reclamation, they generally are talking about land – either dumping vast quantities of earth into an ocean or other body of water in order to expand their land mass where none previously existed, or restoring certain regions to their natural state after they were clogged with pollution or some industry had used it up.
When cable engineers and their bosses talk about reclamation – but it’s about expanding their bandwidth – and how they can find new bandwidth where it was once all used up.
In what was dubbed the CTO session…
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TORONTO – Rogers Sportsnet is adding the ‘game-in-the-game’ feature seen in NHL hockey broadcasts to some of its Toronto Blue Jays broadcasts.
The interactive entertainment platform, known as NanoGaming, allows fans to make predictions about the game, chat with other viewers, and create groups in order to establish mini-competitions amongst themselves. Participants can compete for points, prizes, and a position on the leader board.
The feature will be available during 100 of the Blue Jay games aired on Sportsnet during the 2009 MLB season.
www.sportsnet.ca
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DURING A SESSION called “Online, On Demand and On TV, Rogers Cable VP and GM Television, David Purdy, noted that when households showing a high rate of P2P sharing were turned into DVR homes, their P2P traffic dropped by 15%, meaning they were looking for fewer TV and movies on line on demand and instead relying on their cable operator and traditional channels more.
********** Baseball legend Lou Brock, signing autographs in the Fox booth, looks so good at 69 years old, I think he could still swipe some bases today. Baseball opening day is this weekend.
********** Cogeco…
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TORONTO – As widely anticipated, Nadir Mohamed has been named president and CEO of Rogers Communications, effectively immediately.
His appointment follows an “extensive internal and external search” carried out by the Rogers’ board of directors following the death of company founder, and former president and CEO, Ted Rogers.
The 52 year old Mohamed, a communications industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, has served as president and COO of the Communications division of Rogers since May 2005, encompassing the company’s wireless and cable communications businesses. He is also a member of Rogers’ board of directors.
"Nadir was the…
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TORONTO – Thanks to a new partnership with on-line career site Workopolis, Rogers Wireless and Fido customers can search for job postings on their wireless device using Workopolis’ new made-for-mobile website.
Job seekers on the move must click on either the Rogers Mall or Fido Shop icon on their mobile device and select the ‘News, Sports & More’ category to search jobs from the main Workopolis site.
The companies have waived the associated data fees through May 31, 2009.
"The wireless device can be an indispensable tool to the increasing number of Canadians who are seeking work. Not only can they be available for calls from…
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TORONTO – In two submissions on separate files, independent broadcaster High Fidelity HDTV has asked the CRTC to allow more open competition among Canadian specialty service operators, or to perhaps clamp down harder on the foreign channels permitted to be carried here.
A letter filed by the company on March 13th supports Rogers Broadcasting’s application to expand what sorts of programming Outdoor Life Network may carry. Rogers has asked the CRTC to let it add some pro sports and other shows, such as comedy, to its license terms.
Even though a changed OLN might compete somewhat with HiFi’s…
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MONTREAL – Without legacy cost structures and the ability to focus on just one product (wireless handsets), Canada’s new wireless entrants look to upset the mobile market here with ultra-low prices, beginning this year, says a new report from consultants SeaBoard Group.
And despite the tattered economy, it appears that financing for the launch of the new players is well in place.
Two of the new entrants, Public Mobile and Globalive, have already made some announcements on launches and staffing. “Canadian wireless seems exempt from the planetary catharsis. Funds are being raised, suppliers consulted, and staffing-up is underway,”…
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TORONTO – Golf Channel HD teed off this week to Rogers Cable customers in Ontario and New Brunswick.
Golf Channel HD is a simulcast of the standard definition network Golf Channel. It is available in free preview through April 16, at which time it will be available at no extra charge to customers currently subscribing to Golf Channel SD.
www.rogers.com
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VANCOUVER – After catching a “significant measurement error”, BBM revised its audiences ratings for the Vancouver Canucks’ broadcasts on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific that aired between September and mid-February.
The correction resulted in the channel’s total audience number (2+) to jump 32% to 307,000 for its Canucks broadcasts, and 40% to 145,000 in its “key” advertising demographic of adults aged 25-54. The total audience 2+ numbers are up 21% from last season’s number of 253,000 for all Canuck broadcasts on Sportsnet, according to a company press release.
“The original audience numbers reported for Canucks on Sportsnet were unrealistic because they were so…
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