GATINEAU – Some of the project evaluation and eligibility criteria proposed by the CRTC for its new broadband deployment fund must be altered or it risks repeating the deferral account fiasco, according to comments on a new broadband funding regime.
Introduced as part of the Basic Service Objective decision last year, the proposed funding model would provide much needed capital to broadband deployment projects in unserved and underserved communities across the country. It also set a new standard called the Universal Service Objective (USO) with a minimum requirement of 50/10 Mbps.
In comments to Telecom Notice of…
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OTTAWA – Ross Video has received an Emmy Award for its contributions the Media Object Server (MOS) Group.
The MOS Group was recently honored by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a 2017 Technology & Engineering Emmy for the development and standardization of the MOS protocol, which has become a foundational technology for modern television news environments.
MOS was developed to address the need to connect a variety of device types from multiple vendor companies in a television news environment, from teleprompters to graphics systems, video servers, newsroom editorial systems and automation. The evolving protocol is supported and…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications credited its BlueSky TV for an increase in cable TV subscribers for the first time since 2010.
After years of TV customer losses, Shaw said Wednesday that it added nearly 13,000 cable TV subscribers in the three months ended May 31, compared to a loss of about 27,000 subs in Q3 2016, after launching BlueSky TV across its entire cable video footprint earlier this year.
Revenue from continuing operations for the quarter of $1.31 billion increased by 2.8% over the same period last year, while operating income before restructuring costs and amortization for the quarter dipped to $550…
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TORONTO – Corus Entertainment CEO Doug Murphy says the company is making progress on its goal of “returning to growth” after posting double-digit gains in third quarter revenues and profits.
Corus said Tuesday that net income attributable to shareholders for the quarter ended May 31, 2017 was $66.7 million, versus a $15.8 million net loss in the same period last year, which includes business acquisition, integration and restructuring costs of $4.6 million. Adjusting for the impact of this item resulted in an adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of $70.1 million in the quarter.
Consolidated revenues for the quarter of $461.6 million…
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HAMILTON – When Comcast, the largest cable company in North America, needed to upgrade its network to handle the massive demands of delivering IP video at scale, there was no where to turn.
No vendor could provide the complete solution Comcast needed. So the company developed one itself, Neill Kipp, a distinguished engineer and software architect for Comcast, told last week’s Clearcable Networks Technology Summit in Hamilton, Ont.
“I think what is intriguing about the Comcast story is that they turned to open source to find a solution. A lot of small operators think open source is not viable,” said Rob…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications and Vancouver’s Mobi by Shaw Go bike share system are setting the wheels in motion this Canada Day long weekend to help residents give back to the community.
Shaw pledged to donate $1 to Ronald McDonald House British Columbia and Yukon for every ride Vancouver residents and visitors take on Mobi by Shaw Go from Friday, June 30 to Monday, July 3. The initiative is part of Shaw's Canada 150 birthday wishes campaign to recognize the people and organizations who are doing exceptional work to improve the lives of children and youth.
"Whether you're biking to work,…
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TORONTO – Hollywood Suite will offer the red carpet treatment to new customers in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta after finalizing agreements with Cipher TV (AEBC Internet Corp), Beanfield Metroconnect and Frontline 360 Inc. for its four HDTV movie channels.
“We are thrilled to satisfy more and more Canadians’ appetites for nostalgic, high-quality programming with our growing service partnerships,” said Hollywood Suite content distribution VP Julie Kumaria, in the news release. “With an illustrious, expansive film catalogue and monthly movie premieres to boot, Hollywood Suite is excited to deliver the customers of Cipher TV, Beanfield Metro Connect and Frontline 360 unparalleled…
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MONTREAL and CALGARY – Videotron is continuing to shed its wireless spectrum outside of Quebec, announcing early Tuesday that Shaw Communications has bought seven licences for $430 million.
The sale includes three 700 MHz licences covering southern Ontario and the entirety of Alberta and British Columbia, and four 2500 MHz licences covering Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.
The transaction is subject to required approvals from regulatory authorities, including the Competition Bureau and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. It has already received all required internal approvals at Shaw and Videotron parent company Quebecor.
Videotron said that the proceeds of the sale will…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications has sold off its Denver-based subsidiary ViaWest Inc. for approximately C$2.3 billion (US$1.675 billion) to GI Partners portfolio company Peak 10 Holding Corporation.
The deal is subject to customary conditions, including U.S. regulatory approval, and is expected to close by the end of the company’s fiscal 2017 year-end in August. It is not subject to a financing condition.
ViaWest provides hybrid IT solutions, including colocation, cloud computing and security and compliance for North American enterprises. Shaw, which bought ViaWest in 2014 for US$1.2 billion, said that it expects to realize net cash proceeds of approximately C$900…
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THE ANNUAL CANADIAN MEDIA LEADERS panel at the 2017 Banff World Media Festival pivoted from the future of production, development, and broadcast screen-based content to the onslaught of streaming opportunities commanding the increased attention of domestic advertisers and viewers.
Those leaders included: Rick Brace, president of Rogers Media; Randy Lennox, president, Bell Media; John Brunton, chair and CEO of Insight Productions; Sally Catto, general manager, programming, CBC; and Barbara Williams, EVP and COO, Corus Entertainment.
Running throughout the discussion was a strong sentiment that non-Canadian OTT services should be paying their fair share of domestic taxes and other tithings for the…
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