Search Results for: rogers

Radio / Television News

CAB 2008: Is local news important enough for $60 milliona year?

OTTAWA – You could tell that Thursday’s CRTC policy release was still a pretty fresh wound for those whose jobs are rather directly affected by the Commission’s new directives. The policy folks heading the panel entitled: The Buzz Around the BDU Regulatory Framework Monday morning at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters annual convention were still digesting the new framework and maybe just a little touchy about what it will mean to them and their companies.  Before she heard CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein make his speech at breakfast, where he touted conventional broadcasters as “the cornerstone of the system,”… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

RCI founder still in hospital

TORONTO – Rogers Communications CEO Ted Rogers was admitted to hospital Friday afternoon and company executives have remained tight-lipped on the prognosis for company’s visionary founder. He is being treated for “an existing cardiac condition,” said the press release late Friday afternoon. Rogers has temporarily relinquished his responsibilities as the company’s CEO to board chairman and former company CFO Alan Horn. “The length of Mr. Rogers’ leave will be determined by his overall health and medical progress,” said the short release. It didn’t identify the hospital in which he is staying. Rogers, 75, has a long history of ill… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

News, docs, info and, diversity Gold Ribbon Awards

OTTAWA – At lunch on Monday, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters paid tribute to its members’ outstanding productions in four categories, including news, documentaries, information and diversity in news and information programming. The winners are: RADIO Aboriginal Programming: CJNB/CJNS, Northwestern Radio Partnership/Rawlco Radio, North Battleford (Cree Ways – Living With Diabetes) Breaking News: CKNW, AM 980 News, Corus Entertainment Inc., Vancouver (The Pickton Verdict) Information Program: CHED, Corus Entertainment Inc., Edmonton (The Inside Story – Inside Drug Court) Diversity in News and Information Programming: CJNB/CJNS, Northwestern Radio Partnership/Rawlco Radio, North Battleford (Cree Ways – Living With Diabetes) TELEVISION Aboriginal… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Smartphone technology helps push sales for Glentel

BURNABY,B .C. – Telecommunications retailer Glentel says greater choice in Smartphone technology, such as the July launch of the Apple iPhone by Rogers, helped push their consolidated sales for the third quarter up 48% to $90.6 million. The company’s quarterly results, released today, also report an operating income of $9.7 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $7 million in 2007 (before interest and taxes), and net income for the quarter increased 48% to $6.5 million. “I am extremely pleased to report such strong results for the third quarter," said Thomas Skidmore, president and CEO, in the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Former Bell Mobility CEO and Rogers VP to run new wireless firm

TORONTO – New wireless venture BMV Holdings has appointed ex-Bell Mobility president and ex-Rogers executive Alek Krstajic as CEO to lead its introduction of wireless services in Ontario and Quebec in late 2009. BMV, which will launch under another, yet unannounced brand name, said in its release today that it will build a wireless network in both provinces that will provide unlimited talk and text offerings at “an industry-leading price point” using flat-rate plans. The company was created in July following its purchase in Industry Canada’s wireless spectrum auction of PCS G Band covering almost 19-million Canadians in the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

A whole new meaning of “pay-by-phone”

TORONTO – Rogers Wireless has teamed up with RBC and Visa to launch a mobile phone payment pilot program which will allow Canadians to make secure purchases using their mobile phone, the companies announced today. Designed to be a fast and convenient way for customers to pay for small purchases, pilot participants will be issued specially-equipped Motorola mobile phones that can simply be waved at Visa payWave-enabled checkout readers at select retail stores and quick-service restaurants in Toronto’s downtown core. "As Canada’s largest wireless provider, Rogers Wireless is continually seeking ways to provide our customers with new and innovative… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

BDU & SPECIALTY DECISION: Reaction

SAVE FOR THE CONVENTIONAL broadcasters who wanted their new fee, many in the industry are, if not slapping the Commission heartily on the back, recognizing that coming up with new regulatory frameworks for BDUs and discretionary TV channels wasn’t likely an easy task and that the Regulator has done a decent job in addressing the myriad issues. Click here for our summary of Thursday’s release. Sure, cable, satellite and telco TV companies don’t want to divert another 1% of revenue to yet another programming fund, the broadcasters’ bet on fee-for-carriage didn’t come through and many wish advertising in… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Ted admitted to hospital; Horn acting as CEO

TORONTO – Rogers Communications founder and CEO Ted Rogers has been admitted to hospital, the company announced late Friday afternoon. He is being treated for “an existing cardiac condition,” reads the press release. Rogers has temporarily relinquished his responsibilities as the company’s CEO to board chairman and former company CFO Alan Horn. “The length of Mr. Rogers’ leave will be determined by his overall health and medical progress,” said the short release. It didn’t identify the hospital in which he is staying. Rogers, 75, has a long history of ill health, beginning with a heart attack in his 50s…. Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

McCoy to be inducted Canadian music industry HOF

TORONTO – Canadian Music Week announced this week that radio broadcaster Chuck McCoy will be inducted to the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame during Rogers Canadian Music Week held in March 2009. Now the executive vice-president of programming and marketing for Rogers Radio, the industry veteran has been part of the broadcast industry for over 40 years. The release said that McCoy will be honoured for his “stellar contributions to the Canadian broadcasting industry” with the Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at the annual Canadian Music Industry Awards gala reception at the Fairmont Royal York… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Media and cable to weather economic downturn (but buy cable…)

TORONTO – Facing a "moderate recession" in Canada, our cable and media companies seem well positioned to weather a deteriorating economy, says a recent analyst’s research report. BMO Capital Markets financial analyst Tim Casey – who covers cable and media in Canada – admitted that while he was lowering his overall earnings forecasts “for the second time in three weeks” based on an “underlying thesis” of a “moderate recession in Canada” like the one we endured in the early 1990s, most companies seem well positioned to ride it out. On the radio side, which is of course tied to… Continue Reading