TORONTO – While 2021 has been a year of recovery for the Canadian ad market, traditional media is struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report released by Standard Media Index (SMI) today, which provides a full year review of Canadian advertising spend in 2021.
Throughout the report SMI draws comparisons between 2021 and 2020 as well as between 2021 and 2019, the year before the pandemic hit.
The report shows that in 2021 traditional media spend increased 19% compared to 2020 but declined 15% in 2021 when compared to 2019. Digital, however, increased by 33% in 2021…
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GATINEAU – The Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC) filed an application to the CRTC yesterday seeking an order that CRTC chair Ian Scott recuse himself, or be recused, from deciding matters that affect service-based competition pending the results of an appeal that raises allegations of bias, among other things.
CNOC is referring to TekSavvy’s appeal of a CRTC decision made in May 2021 on a review and vary application. The decision reversed a previous CRTC decision (Telecom Order 2019-288), which lowered the wholesale third-party Internet access rates companies like TekSavvy pay carriers such as Bell and Rogers for…
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TORONTO – In the wake of Tony Staffieri being made permanent president and CEO of Rogers Communications, there have been several major changes to the company’s leadership team.
To start, the role of chief legal and regulatory officer, which was held by Lisa Damiani since spring of 2021, is no longer listed on the company’s leadership page. (Update: Damiani is staying on as an advisor for the Shaw transaction.)
Instead, Ted Woodhead, who was the company’s senior vice-president of regulatory, is now listed as chief regulatory officer and government affairs and Marisa Wyse is listed as chief legal officer. Woodhead first…
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SIMCOE, Ont. – Last December, Rogers Communications acquired Simcoe-based telecom KWIC Internet.
“KWIC’s founders made the decision to sell the company as they transition to other opportunities,” Mark Rapley, KWIC Internet’s general manager said in an emailed statement to Cartt.ca.
Founded in 1983 as a computer retailer, KWIC has since expanded into software development, managed IT and systems integration and telecom services.
The company, which has 25 employees based in its Simcoe office, is now “a full-range residential and business telecom provider, offering a complete suite of services for small and medium enterprise, alongside a locally-serviced and supported Internet, Television, and Home…
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TORONTO — Independent entertainment company Boat Rocker Media announced today the appointment of Ellis Jacob, president and CEO of Cineplex Inc., as an independent director to its board, effective today.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ellis to the Boat Rocker board,” said David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, co-executive chairmen of Boat Rocker Media and co-chairmen of Boat Rocker Studios, in a press release.
“His extensive public company, M&A, integration, and overall entertainment industry expertise will be invaluable as we execute on our growth strategy. Adding a new, independent board member ensures we have an increasingly diverse range of viewpoints and skill sets to draw…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications announced today Glenn Brandt (above) is the company’s new permanent chief financial officer, effective today.
Paulina Molnar has been the company’s interim CFO since Tony Staffieri left company abruptly last September. (Staffieri has since returned to the company and is now its president and CEO after a months-long power struggle you can read about here, here, and here.)
“I want to thank Paulina for her terrific work as Interim CFO and look forward to her continued leadership across our organization as SVP Controller and Risk Management,” Staffieri said, in a press release announcing…
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“… we won’t stop there,” minister says
OTTAWA – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada announced today mid-range wireless plans have been reduced by 25% three months before the federal government’s target date.
The government initially announced it was committing to tracking and lowering the cost of mid-range wireless plans from Virgin (Bell), Koodo (Telus) and Fido (Rogers) over the course of two years in March 2020. (The latest tracking report, which has pricing from October to December 2021 for each of the provinces, can be found here.)
Benchmark prices were “based on prices advertised on company websites in early…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications received top scores in umlaut’s fixed broadband certification report, released today, including the highest total score at 929 out of a possible 1,000 (see chart above).
Telus and Bell meanwhile received total scores of 910 and 903 respectively. (Scores have been rounded.)
The scores are broken down by speed downlink, speed uplink and latency (see chart below).
Rogers received a score of 482 out of a maximum of 500 for speed downlink, while Telus scored 467 and Bell scored 464. For speed uplink, Rogers scored 220 out of a possible 250, Telus scored 207 and Bell scored 198.
For…
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Reliant on service, member association may seek help from government or CRTC
By Ahmad Hathout
TELEVISION SERVICE PROVIDERS in remote parts of the country may see a disruption in television services at the end of the year due to an American company’s decision to end support for technology that distributes satellite TV signals.
U.S.-based network technology provider CommScope said late last year it is ending support for the Quick Take Plus (QT+) system used by Shaw Communications, which relays satellite TV signals to Canadian customers living in certain areas of the country that may lack traditional wired infrastructure.
Jay Thomson, CEO of the…
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Expects Shaw transaction to close in first half of 2022
TORONTO – Rogers Communications Inc. today reported its total revenue is up 6% to $3.9 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31 compared to the same quarter the previous year.
Broken down by segment, wireless revenue increased 5% to $2.4 billion, media revenue increased 26% to $516 million and cable revenue was flat at $1 billion for the company’s fourth quarter of 2021.
For wireless, service revenue was up 6% to $1.7 billion and equipment revenue was up 4% to $680 million. Rogers reported 130,000 net postpaid wireless subscriber additions in…
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