Dear Editor,
This is in response to the letter to the editor Cartt.ca received from Bill Roberts, president and CEO of Vision TV, earlier this week criticizing the Rogers’ brief in the upcoming review of the regulatory frameworks governing BDUs and discretionary services. Mr. Roberts appears to have either misread or misunderstood our filing and I would like to set the record straight.
In his letter, Mr. Roberts alleges that our key message in this proceeding is to remove protections for Canadian services and make it easier to import foreign services. In fact, our key message in this…
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MONTREAL – Astral Media CEO Ian Greenberg said today that Bell Canada has stopped proceeding towards the launch of its much-anticipated Internet protocol-driven terrestrial digital television service.
When asked about new platforms like IPTV and how it might impact Astral’s television business, Greenberg said Bell has put its plans to launch the service “on ice.”
“And that’s happened in the last two weeks. So I don’t think there’s much to discuss on IPTV,” said Greenberg.
He later said the decision was made by Bell just within the past 10 days. Any Bell IPTV service would, of course, carry a…
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TORONTO – A joint submission to the CRTC’s BDU and specialty policy review from seven independent broadcasters recommends putting those channels in all BDUs’ digital "basic" packages.
Saying the diversity of the Canadian television system depends on preserving a place for small, independent specialty services, the channel owners say they should all be in digital basic in order to offset impact of media concentration and integration (See: Rogers buying Citytv, CTV buying CHUM, CanWest buying Alliance Atlantis…).
Such a move would grant the independent Canadian channels "must-carry" status.
The members of the independent specialty services group are: Aboriginal Peoples…
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GATINEAU – Having to wedge six new channels to the collective basic cable lineups in Edmonton and Calgary at essentially the same time is just too much to ask, Shaw Communications has told the CRTC.
In a recent application, Shaw has asked for a new condition of license to let it carry Crossroads Television System (CTS), a new religious broadcaster in Calgary and Edmonton which has been in operation in Ontario for years, on channel 51 – an unrestricted channel, but well away, numerically, from where most other must-carries are placed.
Shaw notes that the CRTC approved new licenses not…
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SOME FILED REAMS of digital paper with the Commission (Rogers Communications’ submission was 132 pdf pages and a few appendices), while others were more concise (Shaw’s was just nine pages, plus a couple of research reports)
Anyway, we’ve read more than a few thousand words and identified what appear to be the primary issues facing the CRTC with its review of the policies governing broadcast distribution undertakings (all licensed video providers) and specialty services. The hearing is set for February 4 in Gatineau.
Below is a bit of a synopsis of what the BDUs are asking for and what…
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TORONTO – Just as new rival Super Channel is launching EastLink, Bell ExpressVu, Cogeco, and Rogers digital customers will be able to see a free preview of The Movie Network November 9 to 11, the broadcaster announced today.
And out west, Bell, MTS, SaskTel and Telus will be offering Movie Central for free.
The free preview weekend will include Hollywood movies such as The Last King of Scotland, Invincible, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Clerks II and School for Scoundrels; acclaimed HBO series including Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Big Love and Flight of the Conchords; and hit Showtime programming including Dexter,…
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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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