Dear Editor,
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC. asserts that the primary policy objective of the CRTC should be to lessen Canadian protection and facilitate an accelerated importation of foreign channels.
Well, the fastest and most economically efficient way to accomplish that would be to cease protecting Canadian cable companies from U.S. distributors like Comcast and DirecTV.
However, that would be against the law – and would trigger a precipitous dismantling of our once-proud broadcasting system.
Canada is the only country in the world that competes 24 hours a day, and live, with the behemoth U.S. entertainment machine.
We have a unique…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications said this afternoon it will buy 35 Dundas Street East, currently known as The Olympic Torch building to house Citytv and OMNI Television in Toronto.
The acquisition of the building is subject to certain important conditions being fulfilled, says the press release The closing schedule is currently planned for mid November.
A move-in date for the building that’s just around the corner from the Eaton Centre has not been selected and Rogers Media’s base on Lakeshore Avenue where OMNI is currently housed, will continue to be a Rogers building.
Rogers acquired Citytv Toronto along with four…
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TORONTO – The CRTC has been told by VisionTV’s owner S-VOX that a mandatory basic package consisting predominantly of Canadian channels is a must in order to preserve the diversity of the entire system.
S-VOX called for rules to ensure that Canadian content providers hold "pride of place" within the country’s television system, says its press release
S-VOX operates the analog multi-faith channel VisionTV, as well as two digital services: One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel and The Christian Channel.
The submission follows on the heels of a proposal to the CRTC by Rogers Communications and other cablecos…
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KELOWNA – The third annual, two-day CommTech Canadian trade show and seminars will take place at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna, B.C. on May 14 and 15, 2008.
And, as an added feature, a golf tournament has been added for May 13.
Organizers are now calling for Technical Papers. The application form with speaker information is required prior to December 15, 2007.
It is anticipated that the further expanded trade show will attract over 50 exhibitors from Canada and the U.S. Exhibitor tables, passport/event program advertising opportunities and sponsorship packages are now available.
Cable companies, telcos, subcontractors, telecommunications…
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TORONTO – A field trial of Rogers’ next generation High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) network is underway in Moncton, New Brunswick, the company said this morning.
The new 3G network is the fastest and most advanced wireless network in Canada and is available in most metropolitan areas west of Atlantic Canada.
Once deployed, the HSPA net will allow Rogers to offer customers in Atlantic Canada the full suite of Rogers Vision services, including wireless video calling, video on demand and radio on demand. Rogers is the first and only wireless provider in North America to offer video calling.
"Rogers…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC today approved an application from Rogers Broadcasting for a new digital channel tentatively called Sportsnet 2.
The channel is to be a national, English-language Category 2 specialty service that would be devoted primarily to the coverage of soccer, cricket and rugby.
The programming would include exclusive international soccer matches from professional leagues and tournaments and the service would also provide coverage of national Canadian teams, including junior programs, sports news, in-depth analysis or instructional programs.
Rogers also stated that no more than 10% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast year would be devoted to…
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RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – The challenges and opportunities presented to cable operators by switched digital video technology was the focus of the SCTE Ontario Chapter Fall Technical Conference, which was themed “Video delivery: Past, present and Future”.
Over 180 were in attendance for the seminars and tabletop trade show.
“This is a very important chapter in cable for a business and technology perspective,” said Joseph Nucara of Adara Technologies during his presentation.
Switched digital video offers a three-to-five times increase in network capacity (whether it’s a 550 MHz plant or even 1 GHz), “without a costly rebuild,” added Nucara….
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TORONTO – Rogers Wireless today announced the next phase of its 3G high speed wireless network and Vision services in 22 Canadian markets.
Earlier this year, Rogers introduced its Vision suite of services in Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe. Rogers is the first and only wireless carrier in North America to offer wireless video calling, a service that few use because the number of handsets that can pull it off is still pretty low.
The Rogers Vision suite of services operates on Rogers’ new High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) network. HSPA is the latest evolution of GSM, which has become the…
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TORONTO – A pair of independent analyst reports published to investors last week both identified Shaw Communications and Videotron ltée as the two companies best-prepared to bid for wireless spectrum during the advanced wireless spectrum auction in early 2008.
Of course, the rules surrounding the auction have not yet been released (the best we can tell you is that they’ll be out before Christmas) and both sides are busily lobbying. Companies who want AWS to possibly build their own networks like Quebecor (owners of Videotron) or expand nationally like MTS Allstream, want some special breaks in the auction…
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TORONTO – Rogers Cable said today it has added popular Greek channel, Mega Cosmos to its digital cable lineup.
From now until November 12th, 2007 Rogers Personal TV customers can preview the Greek programming for free on channel 575.
"Rogers recognizes that many of its customers want multicultural programming and we aim to meet those demands through our ever-expanding multicultural offerings," said David Purdy, Rogers’ vice-president of television, in a release.
Mega Cosmos is Greece’s largest and most popular TV station, adds the release. It offers Greek language entertainment television with 24-hour news programs, sports, movies, dramas, game shows…
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