Search Results for: rogers

Cable / Telecom News

AWS: Rules favoring newcomers could hurt consumers, says report

MONTREAL – Advanced wireless spectrum auction rules that favour new entrants would certainly drop cellular prices in the short term – but such rules may also damage Canadian consumers in the long run, says a new paper published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy in Montreal. The rules for the 2008 auction are expected to be released by Industry Canada before Christmas, with the auction to happen early in the new year. The paper’s authors, University of Toronto economics professor Frank Mathewson, and associate principal at CRA International, Andrew Tepperman, say that any company wanting to… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CTAM Canada event next week to focus on selling TV in a multi-product world

TORONTO – Join CTAM Canada and a panel of experts for a new seminar entitled: "How to Market Television Services in a Multi-product World." When: Thursday, November 22, 2007 Time: 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Location: Velma Rogers Theatre, 333 Bloor St. E. Cost: Free to all CTAM Canada Members (To become a CTAM Canada Member visit www.ctam.ca for details) Registration: RSVP to Kirsten McKernan at kirsten.mckernan@chumtv.com or by calling 416-591-7400 ext. 2587 Moderator: Harris Boyd (Solaracom) Panelists: David Purdy (Rogers Cable), Gary Pelletier (Cogeco Cable), John Piercy (Mountain Cablevision), Domenic Vivolo (Astral Television Networks), Chris Fuoco (Alliance Atlantis… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CAB: Some bright spots for radio ahead, leaders say

By Laurel Hyatt  OTTAWA – Rising copyright fees, onerous content regulations, declining youth listenership, and competition from the Internet and other digital media are just some of the things that may be keeping Canadian radio executives up at night. But there are a few positive developments, a group of top leaders said on Tuesday. At a session of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters convention in Ottawa, radio leaders in a united front lamented the challenges the industry faces, including the “exploding copyright issues,” in the words of Elmer Hildebrand, president and CEO of Manitoba-based Golden West Broadcasting Ltd., who… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Fido announces new high-speed mobile service

TORONTO – Fido has announced that its third-generation, high-speed mobile service is now available to customers in 25 markets from Chicoutimi to Victoria. Services include mobile and multimedia features such as wireless video calling, streaming video-on-demand, over 25 channels of mobile television and streaming radio-on-demand, including XM Satellite radio stations. Fido customers using the 3G protocol will experience mobile download speeds similar to broadband high-speed Internet, the company said in a statement. Customers can also use the “Out and About” application to look up listings for local restaurants, bars, concerts and shows on their handset. “With features like video… Continue Reading

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

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

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