By Ahmad Hathout
The Shaw Rocket Fund is asking the CRTC to rule that Rogers must continue funding the Certified Independent Production Fund (CIPF) through to the next licence renewal period or hold a public consultation on its intention to cut off payments at the end of this month.
The fund, which bankrolls children’s programming, has been receiving $2.2 million in tangible benefits spread over seven years (around $300,000 annually) from the cable giant as a condition of its purchase of Shaw’s broadcasting assets, which was approved by the CRTC in 2022. At issue is the approximately $4.7…
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Corus announced Thursday that Heather Shaw is retiring as executive chair, a position she held since the company was spun off from Shaw in 1999. She will remain on the board as a non-executive chair.
“Heather has been an important part of Corus’ history, helping to steward the company through significant milestones and an ever-changing industry,” Co-CEO Troy Reeb said in a press release. “We are appreciative of her commitment to Corus and of her long career in media leadership.”
Shaw was a director of Shaw Communications Inc. and Shawcor Ltd. She is a director of several private companies as well…
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By Connie Thiessen
Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw have been released as the hosts of the Citytv’s Breakfast Television (BT).
BT personality Devo Brown shared the news with viewers Monday morning that the hosting duo were no longer with the show.
“They brought us plenty of great conversations, laughs, and unforgettable moments. We’re grateful for everything they shared with all of us,” Brown told viewers. “We wish them the very best in what comes next. We know change is never easy, but for over 35 years Breakfast Television has grown and evolved to bring you the best to start your day. So stay tuned, we have some exciting plans in…
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By Ahmad Hathout
A senior official from the Competition Bureau told members of Parliament on Monday that the watchdog is pleased with a proposed amendment to the Competition Tribunal Act that would shield it from cost awards except in limited circumstances, after it was forced to pay $12.9 million after challenging Rogers’s proposed acquisition of Shaw.
A proposed amendment in Bill C-59, which is one of two pieces of legislation to overhaul Canada’s competition rules, would limit the scope by which the Competition Tribunal can force the law enforcement agency to compensate private parties in the event it…
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Rogers announces new five-year deal as title sponsor
CALGARY – Rogers Communications said Tuesday the Shaw Charity Classic golf tournament presented by Rogers has reached a key milestone, raising more than $100 million since its inception for children’s charities across Alberta.
In 2023 alone, the 11th annual tournament raised $18.7 million for 272 charities, which included a $1 million donation by Rogers to support Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AtlaLink. This brings the total raised since the tournament’s inception to $112.3 million, says a press release.
“The…
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OTTAWA – The Competition Tribunal has ordered the Commissioner of Competition to pay Rogers and Shaw a little more than $9.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively, to compensate for their costs associated with the Competition Bureau’s legal challenge last year of the companies’ merger.
In a decision filed Tuesday, the Tribunal says Rogers is to be paid $414,720 for counsel fees and $9,298,152.58 as reimbursement for reasonable disbursements, plus any applicable HST. Shaw is to receive $416,187 for legal costs and $2,836,920.30 to compensate for reasonable disbursements, plus applicable HST.
Quebecor’s Videotron,…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – Executives from the largest telecoms said Wednesday that they are seeing more bundled services as the current and future competitive play in a post Rogers-Shaw merger market.
Doug French, Telus executive vice president and chief financial officer told TD Securities telecom analyst Vince Valentini that the Vancouver-based telecom’s strategy of driving more fibre in its footprint has enhanced the quality of its bundling strategy – the practice of reducing prices by selling more than one service, such as mobile wireless and internet.
French said that the company hasn’t seen a change in Rogers’s networks in western Canada…
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By Ahmad Hathout
VICTORIA – Shaw recommended the British Columbia government adopt a government policy directive that would give the province’s utility company the ability to create a new telecommunications division to address lagging permits to its joint-owned poles, according to a briefing note obtained by Cartt.
The recommendation, which would help “expedite permits controlled by BC Hydro,” was made late last year to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, which oversees utility crown corporation BC Hydro.
BC Hydro jointly owns with telecom incumbent Telus a network of poles on which carriers attach their communications equipment to expand broadband…
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OTTAWA – The head of the Competition Bureau said Tuesday that the watchdog’s opposition to Rogers’s acquisition of Shaw was the correct move, citing high prices Canadians pay compared to international peers.
“While it didn’t go our way, I fully stand by our decision to challenge that merger,” Competition commissioner Matthew Boswell said on the second day of the International Institute of Communications conference in Ottawa.
“We put forward a responsible, evidence-based case. That is our job. We carefully scrutinized all the evidence, knowing the differing incentives of all parties,” he added.
“We fought the right fight for the right reasons and on the right principles.”
The commission’s fight…
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By Ahmad Hathout
CALGARY – Rogers is preparing to make additional cuts to the Shaw team, which will include layoffs in the programming and communications departments, according to individuals with direct knowledge of the matter.
Vice president of programming Andrew Eddy and vice president of external affairs Chethan Lakshman are expected to depart the company this week, the individuals said. Katherine Emberly, president of business at Shaw, announced on her LinkedIn page Friday she was also leaving the company.
It is unclear to Cartt how many more are expected to be let go as part of Rogers’s integration of the cable company…
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