OTTAWA – The VOIP decision will stand, with a "but".
Today the CRTC re-affirmed its May 2005 decision on voice over Internet protocol. Federal cabinet told the Commission in May of this year to reconsider that decision after all but one of Canada’s ILEC’s filed an appeal.
However, because of the sheer speed in which Canada’s incumbent local exchange carriers are losing customers, the Commission did signal it’s prepared to alter course when it deems necessary and will already re-examine its March 2006 decision on local forbearance.
Specifically, it "declared that competition in local telephone service is…
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TORONTO – Yeah, we know it wasn’t called "Sportsline" anymore, but that’s how Ontario sports fans of a certain age will remember it.
We fondly recall the years in which Jim Tatti (the dignified one with the cool delivery) and Mark Hebscher (the kooky one with the oft-intense delivery) were the co-hosts. It was a fun show highlighting the best of every day at a time when sports wasn’t so, well, big.
Yesterday, CanWest Global cancelled its 11:30 p.m. sports show after 25 years on the air (which had changed its name to "Global Sports" a while back) and let…
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OTTAWA – There’s a regulatory skirmish crawling through the CRTC right now over who gets to program for the diaper and rattle set (think Baby Einstein-type of shows and not as old as Dora the Explorer).
While the potential new viewers spend a lot of time asleep or with their fingers up their noses, pondering the mystery of their blankie, the positions drawn by the parties are as old as Canadian TV regulation. One side (usually a cable company) wants a foreign channel in. The other (usually a programmer) wants it kept out so it can launch its own service in…
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WHO COULD BLAME CANADIAN lawyer Richard Warman for taking a shot with the CRTC last week? What would you do if someone used the web to threaten to kill you, or urge others to do it? Use as many tools as might be at your disposal to protect yourself, I should think.
As you may have read in a number of media reports over the past few days, an Virginia man, Bill White, has called for the Ottawa man’s death (and the death of all Jews, for that matter) and even posted his home address, too, in case someone…
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TORONTO – The VIP program continues to grow at Rogers.
Having launched such a program years ago on its cable side (where video and Internet customers got breaks on Rogers magazines and wireless phones), and more recently on its Jack FM radio station in Toronto, Rogers has now extended such a program to its broadcast TV outlets.
On Monday, September 4th with the launch of its new fall season, Rogers OMNI Television will introduce OMNI VIP, "the first-ever rewards/loyalty program for conventional television viewers," says the press release. "While some credit card companies, retailers and radio stations have…
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OTTAWA – Shaw Communications has added adult channel Red Light District TV to both its Star Choice and Shaw Cable channel lineups.
"Red Light District TV joins Hustler TV as Canada’s most widely distributed adult programming channel," said channel owner Ten Broadcasting, in a press release.
Until now, Red Light was previously only available on Rogers Cable and, thanks an affiliate agreement with the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance, on some CCSA member systems.
Ottawa-based Ten Broadcasting offers both of these digital channels in high definition, making it "the world’s first adult broadcaster to offer adult HD programming on a…
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WINNIPEG – So much for the DSL disadvantage.
Cable – and to a lesser extent, satellite – companies have long said one of the advantages they have over DSL-pushed digital television delivered over the telephone companies’ legacy systems was that the thickness of their pipe to the home could deliver HD while DSL could not.
Yesterday, however, MTS TV launched seven high definition channels for its customers in Winnipeg.
"Our HD service provides the range to enjoy all of today’s hit shows and live sports with a crystal clear picture and amazing digital sound,” said Kelvin Shepherd, president, consumer markets…
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TORONTO – As the new lead sponsor of the Toronto International Film Festival, Bell Canada today made it official that it will provide extensive, exclusive coverage of the festival on its FreeVu Festival Access channel.
Film fans nationwide who are ExpressVu customers will be able to view all TIFF press conferences, red carpet celebrity interviews, exclusive parties and much more in high definition on channel 835 and in SD on channel 307 starting August 28th.
Prior to Bell’s naming deal, Rogers Cable provided 24/7 coverage of TIFF on Rogers Television. This year Rogers has cut back its coverage to…
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OTTAWA – Shaw Communications has sold its interests in digital specialty services Biography Channel and G4TechTV to Rogers Communications.
The CRTC approved both transactions on Monday. Rogers Broadcasting is already the operator of both Canadian channels.
Rogers paid Shaw $1 million for its 33.3% stake in G4 and now owns two-thirds of the channel along with Comcast, the parent company of the U.S. channel.
Rogers paid $5 million combined for Shaw’s 40% stake in Biography and A&E Television Networks’ 20% ownership, to take 100% of the service. AETN owns Biography Channel, Stateside.
Rogers has agreed to pay out 10%…
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VANCOUVER – Shaw Cable has added Italian channel RAI International to its digital cable lineup in Vancouver.
"Customers who currently subscribe to Telelatino will have the option of subscribing to RAI International and expanding their Italian programming choices," says the press release. RAI International is the international service of Italy’s largest television broadcaster, and had to battle Telelatino in order to gain access to the eligible satellite list in Canada.
Click here for a little background.
RAI International will be available on Shaw Digital channel 127 until September 15, 2006 at no cost for all Shaw digital cable…
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