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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TORONTO – Keying off an internal CableLabs research paper, a Wall Street Journal report said yesterday that cable operators may need to spend billions on more rounds of network upgrades.
The newspaper story (subscription required) quoted the leaked document from Cable Television Laboratories – the cable industry’s R&D and specifications arm – saying that broadband video growth at places such as Google and YouTube, coupled with the multibillion-dollar spend by Verizon to get fibre to the premises and roll out digital television, will require CableLabs members to dig into their wallets for yet another rebuild.
The story also…
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TORONTO – Residents in communities across Ontario including: Belleville, Chatham, Dundas, Ancaster, Welland, Milton, Georgetown, Tecumseh and Trenton can now get local telephony from Rogers Communications (and none of those towns are Rogers Cable areas).
Rogers Home Phone celebrated its first anniversary on July 1, 2006 with nearly 550,000 customers.
"Communities across Ontario can now benefit from the choice provided by Rogers Home Phone service," said Phil Hartling, vice-president and general manager, Rogers Home Phone. "Consumers who choose to switch to Rogers Home Phone service can keep their same phone and phone number, all while receiving a better service…
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SIGNIFICANT. MARKET. POWER.
Those three words appear all through the Telecom Policy Review Report, which Cartt.ca has covered at length. According to my search of that document, the three words appear together 62 times, and a further 65 as its SMP acronym.
When reading that huge report, it’s easy to see how SMP was and is a very big deal to its authors. The Telecom Policy Review Panel was very conscious of the concept and how the companies with SMP might still have to be watched. It’s a key concept of the report.
But you wouldn’t know it from…
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TORONTO – MTV’s Laguna Beach can be seen everywhere this fall as it launches on a total of six platforms, specialty, broadband, VOD, mobile, conventional TV, and live.
"Our audience is constantly demanding more. More content. More places. More access – and when it comes to Laguna Beach, more drama," said Brad Schwartz, senior vice-president and general manager, MTV. "Canadians are grabbing the entertainment they want on whatever device they want and MTV will be there to deliver that all-important Laguna-fix. The new media model is to be ‘everywhere at once’ and Laguna Beach is the ultimate example of…
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