MONTREAL – The Quebec language group which took Rogers Cable to task this week for its distribution and placement of French-language channels in Ontario “unfortunately made inaccurate assumptions”, a Rogers official says.
“I think the group didn’t take things in context,” Rogers communications vice-president Taanta Gupta said. “We’ve done a major re-alignment of channels, but we make these changes so that they disrupt the least number of people as possible. We’ve also moved some English-language channels .”
On Tuesday, the group, Impératif français, complained to the federal government that the carrier is demonstrating “contempt” for the province’s French…
Continue Reading
BARRIE – The Ontario Chapter of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) has put together a line-up of speakers with real-world experience for its next professional development conference in Barrie on Feb. 8th.
On the agenda: Basic design and performance considerations for HFC plant, with Rogers Cable’s Bob Beaver; an in-depth look at ways to maximize return plant robustness while minimizing operational costs, led by Clearcable’s Jason Lowe; and the implications of having more and more utilities constructing underground, with Eric Goulden of Telonix.
In response to many requests, Rick Haub of PPC will lead a session on…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – The Quebec language group Impératif français has complained to the federal government about the manner in which Rogers Cable handles French-language TV channels in Ontario, saying the carrier is demonstrating “contempt” for the province’s French speakers.
In a letter to federal Public Works Minister Michael Fortier, the group calls on the federal government to respond, by not renewing its cellular service contracts with Rogers Wireless.
It says Rogers no longer offers the Radio-Canada arts channel ARTV as part of its basic service, even though it says the station is made available at no cost to distributors in…
Continue Reading
A SINGLE ELEMENT ON DAY ONE of the new Sportsnet Connected typified the new programming focus of the Rogers Media-owned regional sports network.
It was Wade Belak.
It wasn’t so much the new set with its BAM ("big-ass-monitor", says Connected’s show manager Mike English) 103-inch plasma TV, lack of a traditional sports desk or that the anchors and reporters are more casual in their presentation and attire (some more comfortable than others) that hit hardest. It was Belak, and only figuratively, thank goodness.
The Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer showed up in a long-sleeved camouflage shirt and jeans. Great for…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Canada’s hottest new music stars, along with a rock legend, will be honoured at the 10th Annual Canadian Radio Music Awards (CRMA) on Saturday, March 10th in Toronto.
Addictiv, Eva Avila, Gregory Charles, Mobile, The New Pornographers, and Joel Plaskett are among the artists nominated in nine categories. In previous years, the CRMAs introduced rookies such as Avril Lavigne, Sam Roberts, Arcade Fire and Michael Bublé.
Presented by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), the Awards will be handed out at a gala luncheon on Saturday, March 10, 2007, 12:30 p.m. at the Royal York Hotel in…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – A great opportunity to socialize with chapter members and learn more about CTAM Canada’s plans for 2007 will happen Wednesday January 24th in Toronto.
This is an event you don’t want to miss! Do you have a friend that’s not a member? Bring them along to see what membership in CTAM Canada is all about! Enjoy a fun filled evening with great hors d’ouvres, cocktails, prizes and friends.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24, 2007, 6 to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Flow Restaurant and Lounge www.flowrestaurant.com; 133 Yorkville Ave.; Toronto, ON
COST: Free
REGISTRATION: RSVP by e-mailing Andrea Gagliardi at…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Long-time Rogers Media affiliate marketing and sales manager Ian Spencer is moving to CanWest MediaWorks.
His last day with Rogers is January 19th. Spencer has been with Rogers for four years and came to the company when it purchased Sportsnet from CTV about four years ago. Spencer has worked for the sports channel since its inception as CTV Sportsnet.
Spencer will join CanWest MediaWorks as manager of television distribution working under director of television distribution Cary Rubin, and will be involved in all of CanWest’s specialty services as well as Global Television HD and CanWest’s on demand agreements with BDUs.
"I…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Rogers Wireless announced Wednesday that it will be turning down its older TDMA and analog networks effective May 31, 2007 and will move customers on these older networks onto its advanced GSM network.
GSM, which stands for Global System for Mobile Telecommunications, is proven for its superior coverage and signal quality and is used by 80% of the world’s wireless customers including the vast majority of Rogers customers in Canada, says the press release.
"By transitioning subscribers who are still on our TDMA and analog networks to our more advanced GSM service, these customers will enjoy the…
Continue Reading
PETERBOROUGH – Lindsay Broadband has hired Christopher Skarica as its new vice-president of engineering.
Skarica spent 11 years in cable (Maclean-Hunter, Rogers, Cogeco) before moving to Nortel Networks in 1999 and then Broadbus Technologies (now Motorola) in 2004.
Prior to Nortel, he was the director of engineering for Cogeco Cable’s Ontario Operations. "Christopher has played key roles in the design and implementation of new technologies in cable TV networks including dual band and multi-beam satellite reception, two way optical and RF HFC equipment, SA and GI digital video compression systems, digital DWDM optical transport networks, Packet Cable compliant voice…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Rogers Sportsnet tore the wrapper off its new flagship show, Sportsnet Connected, on Monday evening, aimed squarely at the young male audience.
It was a little irreverent and a little silly (even moreso than sports news programs usually are), the anchors wore jeans, ties are now verboten and I think I saw one host’s hirsute bellybutton (no, not Martine Gaillard’s), while some of the other reporters grew out a soul patch.
Most of the chairs have vanished and the anchor desks are either gone or redesigned – and 6 p.m. host Brad Fay looked maybe a little…
Continue Reading
