Clause-by-clause to start Nov. 18
OTTAWA – The heritage committee today heard from its final witnesses on Bill C-18, the Online News Act, who talked about getting the bill to better address the needs of Indigenous and ethnic media, the possibility of launching a fund instead and about the inclusion of broadcasters.
Jean LaRose (above), president and CEO of Dadan Sivunivut – which was created by APTN in 2019 and oversees APTN’s non-television activities including First People’s Radio – said they support the bill but told the committee it “needs to better reflect the unique place of indigenous news organizations…
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CEO accuses Bell of refusing to negotiate MVNO rates in good faith
MONTREAL – Quebecor announced today its third quarter 2022 financial results, which show the company’s revenues were $1.1 billion – a slight decrease from Q3 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA was also slightly down at $518 million.
In Quebecor’s telecommunications segment specifically, the company reported $942.2 million in revenue, which is an increase from $939.5 million in the same quarter the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA in the segment was $489.5 million, up from $476.8 million.
In the media segment, the company reported revenue of $170.1 million – down from $190.6 million in the…
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By Howard Law
IF JOURNALISTS IN politics are the friends of news media, perhaps it needs new friends.
At the Commons Heritage Committee, former CTV reporter and Conservative MP Kevin Waugh continues to thunder that major TV networks Bell CTV, Rogers City-TV and CBC should be excluded from the “FaceGoogle” Bill C-18.
This Monday at the Senate committee studying the Online Streaming Act Bill C-11, former Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simons and former CBC TV correspondent Julie Miville-Dechêne suggested Unifor’s recommendation for better cable and streamer funding of local news was unnecessary because TV companies are set to cash in under…
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OTTAWA – Almost all newcomers to Canada own a smartphone, according to the latest data to be released by the CBC’s Media Technology Monitor (MTM).
MTM’s second annual newcomers study, which had 4,000 respondents, “focuses on the media behaviours as well as the leisure and settlement activities of those who have arrived in Canada in the last 5 years,” says an email today announcing the new data and a free infographic providing a look at MTM’s findings.
The study also found 60% of newcomers get a cell phone after arriving in Canada. “Flanker brands such as Fido, Virgin and Freedom are…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications announced today over 70 registered charities and non-profits have been awarded its 2022 Ted Rogers Community Grants.
“The Community Grants program supports youth aged 15-29 in the areas of education, digital literacy, health, sport, and entrepreneurship,” a press release says.
This year, the funding will help over 50,000 youth in 250 Canadian communities.
“We are proud to partner with local organizations to help young Canadians reach their full potential,” said Tony Staffieri, president and CEO of Rogers, in the release. “Our youth are the future, and we need to do everything we can to give them the best…
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By Bill Roberts
WHILE MANY NORTH AMERICANS might think social media has a mostly negative effect on society, Jeanette Irekvist (above) vice-president and head of Ericsson Canada’s customer unit, is convincingly seeing the glass as more than half full.
Indeed, she and Ericsson believe 5G is here to unlock a world of possibilities to improve the human condition.
With Canada’s largest wireless companies having spent almost $9 billion last year on 5G spectrum, Irekvist tells us not only “why” 5G but also talks about how Ericsson has been a critical technology presence in Canada for nearly 70 years.
It’s an impressive account of…
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OTTAWA — Gusto Worldwide Media announced today its international food channel Gusto TV is now available via the Xumo app on Rogers devices in Canada.
“Gusto TV was born in Canada and we’re so excited to be available to Canadian audiences again,” said Chris Knight, president and CEO of Gusto Worldwide Media, in a press release. “We’ve been very well received on the Xumo platform in other countries, but it’s good to be home.”
Gusto TV offers hundreds of hours of exclusive content and its award-winning titles can be viewed in English, Spanish and Simplified Chinese across more than 160 countries on over 40…
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VANCOUVER — Canucks Sports & Entertainment (CSE), Rogers Communications and Sportsnet announced today a 10-year extension to their ongoing agreement “that will see the long-time partners continue to collaborate across media and sponsorship to serve the Vancouver community through the 2032-33 season,” reads a press release.
As part of the renewed partnership, Rogers Communications retains the naming rights of Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks.
The deal also extends the 24-year broadcast partnership agreement between the Canucks and Rogers Sports and Media’s Sportsnet, which will remain the exclusive regional TV and radio partner of the Canucks through to 2033.
“In…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC last week sided with Quebecor in a dispute with Bell, Rogers and Telus over what the term “manufacturer’s suggested retail price” (MSRP) means as it pertains to the Wireless Code.
Section G of the Wireless Code deals with early cancellation fees and factors in the MSRP of devices when the device was subsidized as part of the contract.
In April, the CRTC launched a show cause proceeding on the use of the term after Quebecor, on behalf of its subsidiary Videotron submitted a letter claiming it observed Bell, Rogers and Telus inflating the retail price of…
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CEO calls CRTC decision restricting those qualifying under MVNO framework “unfortunate”
MONTREAL – Cogeco announced its fourth quarter 2022 financial results last night, showing revenue was up 14% year-over-year, while earlier today, on an investor’s call, its president and CEO Philippe Jetté outlined the company’s next steps towards launching wireless.
Financial results
In terms of its Q4 2022 financial results, Cogeco reported revenue of $746.9 million. The company also reported adjusted EBITDA increased 18.7% to $348.5 million.
Cogeco’s Canadian telecommunications revenue alone increased 1.1% and adjusted EBITDA increased 6.4% year-over-year, “mainly resulting from lower marketing expenses and certain year-end adjustments,” a press…
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