TORONTO – Maybe a series of minority governments in power only for about 18 months or so is something broadcasters might wish for.
Federal election advertising spending in the second quarter show total national ad spending on radio grew by over 10% during this period (December 2005 to February 2006).
The data was released Wednesday by Canadian Broadcast Sales (CBS), a national sales firm representing approximately 60% of all Canadian radio stations, owned by Rogers Media and Corus Entertainment.
In the second quarter, the top five categories by growth on CBS-represented stations were: Printing/publishing 409%; governments/federal/provincial 229%; beer/wine/coolers 149%; medicines…
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TORONTO – CanoeLive will be different, that’s for sure.
If the three minutes of the news program that Quebecor CEO Pierre Peladeau revealed to ad agency types and media buyers at Tuesday’s Canadian Media Directors’ Council annual conference is what comes to air, SUN TV’s CanoeLive will be a dizzying hour for TV viewers.
The clip featured a young 20-something female visible minority anchor fronting the show with an urban music track humming in the background non-stop (at about the same sound level of TSN’s background noise of local play-by-play), lightning quick cuts from one screen to the next,…
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TORONTO – Televising a combination of native HD programming and content converted with active pan-and-scan technology, the Score HD will broadcast in 720p widescreen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the sports channel announced today.
It’s the first Canadian HD sports channel with a constant widescreen image. News of the move was first reported here in December.
The Score HD is now available to Rogers Digital Cable HDTV customers on channel 507. Negotiations with other carriers are ongoing.
"This is the first phase of our long-term HD vision," said David Errington, senior vice-president and general manager. "The…
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TORONTO – Televising a combination of native HD programming and content converted with active pan-and-scan technology, the Score HD will broadcast in 720p widescreen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the sports channel announced today.
It’s the first Canadian HD sports channel with a constant widescreen image. News of the move was first reported here in December.
The Score HD is now available to Rogers Digital Cable HDTV customers on channel 507. Negotiations with other carriers are ongoing.
"This is the first phase of our long-term HD vision," said David Errington, senior vice-president and general manager. "The…
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CALGARY – Cybersurf, an independent Canadian ISP, announced Monday it would offer free high speed Internet access to customers choosing its voice product.
The company is near completion of its national VOIP and cable high speed service and will use the Shaw, Rogers and Videotron backbones to provide its service.
To BR: branded CIA Local Phone in the Toronto market, Cybersurf’s service is offered as a competitive alternative to Bell and Rogers’ local phone service, and includes E911, 411, free unlimited local calling in the 416 area code, free call features and low domestic and international long distance rates….
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By Greg O’Brien
I REMEMBER WHEN THEN-CRTC broadcasting vice-chair Andrée Wylie told the 1999 CCTA convention in Vancouver that the Commission had no intention of trying to regulate the Internet.
Because of it’s very nature, it’s impossible to regulate the Internet itself (unless you’re China or some other repressive government that deploys some painful cyber-clamps and doesn’t mind tossing people in jail for reading the New York Times or somesuch online), which the CRTC recognized early on. Plus, 1999 was pre tech-bubble and the opportunities of the ‘net seemed endless. Why toss up regulations in front of such potential?
That Commission…
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TORONTO – Rogers Cable is offering a free preview to MTV, the rebranded talktv channel that debuted last night.
Until June 1, customers can watch MTV for free, on the analog tier. (In Toronto, it’s on channel 59.) After the preview, the channel will be part of its Ultimate TV Pak.
CTV brought the MTV brand back to Canada after it failed as a diginet that launched in 2001 that was owned by Craig Media.
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OTTAWA – In a submission which generally backs a cable company’s request to use the local avail ad time to market its telephony and high speed Internet products along with programming services, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters has also asked the CRTC for more cost clarity.
An intervention filed with the Commission last week mostly supports an application made by Halifax-based MSO EastLink to expand what the broadcast distribution regulations say can be promoted during the so-called "local availability" time on American cable channels. Those channels (like CNN, A&E and The Golf Channel) make two minutes per hour of…
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TORONTO – Garfield Emerson, the chair of the Rogers Communications Inc. board of directors, is resigning as chairman after 13 years in the position, the company announced today.
Emerson, who is also stepping down as a director, is being replaced by Alan Horn, currently RCI’s chief financial officer, as a director and the chair of the board. Horn will be replaced as CFO by Bill Linton, who is currently Rogers’ executive vice president.
RCI also announced that current board member Peter Godsoe will become the board’s lead director.
Ted Rogers paid tribute to Emerson. “Gar has been an excellent…
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TORONTO – Citytv will air its flagship shows, including BreakfastTelevision, in high definition starting this September.
The station will show BreakfastTelevision, Toronto’s top-rated morning show, along with CityLine, CityNews at Noon, CityNews at Six, and CityNews at 11 in HD, becoming what it says is the first daily newscast in Canada to be in high def.
Citytv is available in HD on Rogers (channel 134) and Bell ExpressVu (channel 803).
Parent company CHUM says it’s committed to increasing its HD content, through initiatives such as the MuchMusicVideoAwards, shown in HD in 2004 and 2005, and the 2005 Genie Awards….
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