Search Results for: rogers

Radio / Television News

Policy dominates TV discussion

OTTAWA – Fee-for-carriage is back and it’s not just on broadcasters’ wish lists in panel discussion here at the CAB Convention: the CRTC has announced it will re-consider the issue in its forthcoming review of policies for BDUs and specialty services, which has been pushed back from Feb. 4 to Apr. 7. Just an hour before CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein reopened the matter, broadcasters raised it in a panel discussion on the future of television in Canada. While the chairman did not specify what factors encouraged the Commission to reconsider FFC, given the regulator’s refusal to allow… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CAB honours top programs and promotions

OTTAWA – Members of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) were recognized Monday for their outstanding programming and promotion initiatives. The 2007 Gold Ribbon Awards were presented to the following radio stations and services: What Radio Does Best: CJAY-FM, Calgary (Gerry Forbes Neighbourhood Takeover) Astral Media Inc. Humour – English: CHOM, Montreal (Terry, Ted and Kim in the Morning) Astral Media Inc. Humour – French: CKMF, Montréal (Les deux minutes du peuple) Astral Media Inc. Promotion: Image: CJAQ-FM, Toronto (JACK Superband) Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. Promotion: Audience Building: CHIK-FM, Québec (I Love PY) Astral Media Inc. Promotion of Canadian Musical… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CAB awards Gold Ribbons for community service

OTTAWA – The Gold Ribbon Awards for Community Service, along with a Special Award to veteran broadcaster Al MacKay, were presented Tuesday at the annual convention of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB). The Special Award to Al MacKay recognizes his many years of work on the important issue of violence on television, and his leadership of the Action Group on Violence on Television. The Community Service Awards for Radio were presented to: Small Market: CKLM-FM, Lloydminster (The Christmas Convoy) Medium Market: CFMC-FM, Saskatoon (C95 Radio Marathon for Breast Cancer) Rawlco Radio Ltd. Large Market: CHFI-FM, Toronto (The 98.1… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Rogers sells two multi-faith stations to S-VOX

TORONTO – Rogers Media announced today it will sell two multi-faith stations, commonly known as OMNI 10 and 11 to S-VOX, the owner of multi-faith and multicultural broadcaster VisionTV. The deal provides that S-VOX Trust will purchase all of the assets of the CHNU-TV and CIIT-TV stations, operating in Vancouver and Winnipeg respectively. Rogers had agreed to sell the stations as part of its purchase of five CityTV stations. The transaction is subject to CRTC approval. “This is a momentous event in our 20-year history as a Canadian independent broadcaster,” said S-VOX President and CEO Bill Roberts. “The addition… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CAB begins with a cool metaphor, dire warnings

OTTAWA – Amid strains of Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers and images of our melting north, Canadian Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Glenn O’Farrell strode onto the stage at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa this morning and began to spin an interesting – if unusual – metaphor. The CAB CEO drew parallels between the warming that is happening in the Arctic with the massive changes staring Canadian media companies in the face at this moment in time. Not long ago, scientists thought that the fabled Northwest Passage, for so long locked in by ice, might be navigable –… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CityTV begins life with Rogers

TORONTO – CityTV’s Breakfast Television officially became part of the Rogers broadcasting family last week and on Monday began sharing live Toronto traffic reports with 680 News. 680News Traffic Reporter Eva Fragiskatos will be with Breakfast Television’s Kevin Frankish and Dina Pugliese every weekday morning from 6 to 9 am. “This is just the beginning of a very exciting relationship for CityNews and 680News,” said Steve Hurlbut, CityTV’s National Vice President of News and Local Information Programming. “Both our newsrooms are all about serving Toronto and together the city will truly be our newsroom.” 680News Vice President and General… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Chair scolds broadcasters

OTTAWA – CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein set conference delegates straight on a couple of things today at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters annual convention here at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa before juggling the 2008 regulatory calendar a little bit (See related story).  We’re not an expert judge of people’s overall moods, but he seemed a shade on the grumpy side when addressing the Commission’s need for additional resources as it struggles with regulating broadcasting and all that encompasses nowadays. First he made it clear that recent comments made during a speech on new media does not… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Videotron keeps pitching for wireless spectrum

MONTREAL – With Industry Canada preparing to auction off new wireless frequencies in the new year (and nearing the announcement of the rules surrounding that auction), Videotron is keeping up the pressure so it can too can get a piece of the action, more cheaply than in a wide open auction. In a speech to the Metropolitan Montreal Board of Trade Thursday, Videotron president and CEO Robert Dépatie relaunched his company’s attack against the three existing wireless carriers, saying they’re afraid to see “real competitors who’ll offer better prices and will force them to reduce their own rates.” At… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Rogers passes seven million wireless subs

TORONTO – Rogers Communications’ third quarter results released this morning show strong results right across the board. Consolidated revenue grew 13% to $2.6 billion, operating profit increased 23% to $984 million, and net income ballooned 75% to $269 million. On the wireless side, subscribers now number more than seven million with net additions up 20% year-over-year (195,100 vs. 171,200 in Q3 ’06), while wireless postpaid ARPU grew 7% to $75.15 (driven by a 53% growth in data revenue to $183 million) and postpaid churn fell to 1.12%. Data revenue now represents 13.6% of network revenue with monthly data ARPU… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

NFL team a possibility for Ted

TORONTO – Ted Rogers said today that he and fellow Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum have an agreement to pursue a National Football League team together, should they ever decide to go down that road. Tanenbaum is chairman of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (and is the man primarily in charge of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA’s Toronto Raptors). Rogers Communications, of course, owns the Rogers Centre and its primary tenant, the Toronto Blue Jays. The difference with the NFL, however, is that the league does not let corporations own its teams, so any new team couldn’t be… Continue Reading