GATINEAU – Hockey and regulation, two things Canadians are well known for, thoroughly revealed their influence in statistics released today by the CRTC.
The headline, of course, was the massive revenue line. Revenues earned by Canadian specialty services, pay-TV channels and video on demand license holders surpassed $2.5 billion in the 2006 broadcast year, ended August 31, 2006, says the Commission data on the industry released today.
During the last year, this part of the electronic media industry saw the highest growth in its revenues as they rose by 12.4% as compared to 2005.
However, profits before interest and…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – After spending $7 billion over two decades to build what’s become the largest wireless company in Canada, Rogers Communications CEO Ted Rogers said he is more than a little miffed at the lobbying tactics being deployed by one of his business partners.
After noting on a conference call with financial analysts on Tuesday afternoon that Rogers Wireless has had in its 20 years, "losses for 19 and profits for one," the company founder set out in no uncertain terms how he feels about lobbying spearheaded by Videotron to decrease the Quebec media company’s cost of entry to…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – First quarter revenue at Rogers Media jumped 10.8% to $266 million, driven by a range of factors.
The division (which owns such assets as Rogers Sportsnet, OMNI, The Shopping Channel, 46 radio stations and a magazine group that publishes Maclean’s, Chatelaine and many others) also saw its expenses climb by 9.7% in the quarter to $249 million. Operating profit however, still jumped 30.8% to $17 million.
The increase in this division’s revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2007 over the corresponding period in 2006 reflects growth across all of media’s divisions as well as the…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Revenue, operating profit and subscriber levels increased across the board at Rogers Communications in the first quarter of 2007, ended March 31st.
Consolidated revenue grew 15.8% to $2.3 billion while consolidated operating profit rose 34.3% to $798 million.
Wireless postpaid ARPU (average revenue per user per month) jumped 8.7% year-over-year to $67.64, while postpaid churn fell to under 1.2%. Postpaid subscriber net additions grew 5.5% in Q1, while quarterly net additions of basic cable, digital cable, high-speed Internet and cable telephony subscribers all increased versus first quarter 2006.
"I think it’s thrilling when all three of our…
Continue Reading
By Laurel Hyatt
GATINEAU – The Citytv stations are “failing” and need CTV’s injection of cash to stay afloat, so the CRTC should make an exception to its ban on owning two conventional TV stations in a market, says Ivan Fecan, president and CEO of CTVglobemedia.
Allowing CTV to keep City stations in Toronto/Hamilton, Vancouver/Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg is in the public interest because “the City stations are teetering at the financial edge,” Fecan told commissioners Monday at the start of a two-day hearing into the $1.365 billion CTV buyout of CHUM Limited.
The CRTC’s…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – A new committee aimed at addressing the various journalistic ethics questions reporters face every day has been struck by RTNDA Canada, the association of electronic journalists.
The president of RTNDA Canada, Bob McLaughlin, says this new Media Ethics and Communications Committee will provide expertise on broad journalistic questions as they arise.
"RTNDA needs to provide leadership and be responsive to issues, which confront working journalists in this country. These issues can range from cameras in our courtrooms to questions of journalistic independence," said McLaughlin. "This committee will assist the executive of RTNDA Canada in developing a response…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Unique Broadband Systems announced Monday that its subsidiary wireless company, Look Communications, has filed a statement of claim against Bell Canada.
The legal action was taken in response to Bell Canada’s "Notice of Intent to Disconnect" Look’s services referred to in the company’s press release of April 12, 2007. The statement against Bell Canada alleges, amongst other things, numerous breaches of contract, misrepresentations and abusive behaviour by Bell Canada towards Look, says Monday’s release.
The beleaguered Look, which owns some valuable wireless spectrum and has spent the last two years attempting to transform itself into a mobile…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – V-chip patent owner Tri-Vision International announced late last week that it and Wi-Lan, by mutual agreement, have agreed to extend the exclusivity period of negotiations.
Last month, Wi-Lan agreed to buy Tri-Vision in a deal valued at $108 million.
The exclusivity period is being extended to the earlier of:
(i) May 11, 2007 or (ii) the date of signing of the Acquisition Agreement but no later than May 11, 2007
"The extension allows both parties to complete due diligence and finalize the Acquisition Agreement," says the press release.
Tri-Vision also announced that Terry Canning has resigned…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – The best in radio and television reporting was honoured by the Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada this weekend in Toronto.
This year RTNDA Canada created five new award categories to recognize outstanding videography, use of sound, new media, information programming and diversity. The RTNDA "Diversity Tool Kit" was added to Canadian newsrooms after its release in January. It offers solutions aimed at bringing increased diversity to newsrooms and the stories electronic journalists tell.
To acknowledge those accomplishments RTNDA created a new Diversity Award, won this year A-Channel Barrie and CBC. Eight television and eleven radio…
Continue Reading
KELOWNA – Register today to attend the Canadian CommTech Trade Show and Training Seminars May 30th and 31st at the Coast Capri Hotel in beautiful Kelowna.
“Our exhibitors show is sold out with a waiting list," said show host Janice Lee of JLL & Associates. "We are so pleased. This show will provide 35% more exhibitors than last year and 25% more technical seminars. Our 2007 show is drawing attendees from Atlantic Canada through to Vancouver Island. Last year’s attendance was 52% cable, 41% telco and 7% from other industries.”
Buyers, technicians and operations management personnel can obtain diverse…
Continue Reading
