GATINEAU – Local TV is struggling mightily. Ad revenue is down and showing no signs of growth, while the ever growing lineup of new specialty channels and the rapid rise of Internet-based alternatives are blasting away at what has always been the bedrock of the television system in Canada.
Some are telling the CRTC that it’s time to adopt a radically different approach for local TV, one that would bolster the revenue side of the ledger while also helping to encourage the development of compelling Canadian content.
For example, Bell Canada and CBC/Radio-Canada suggest shutting down over the air infrastructure completely…
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GATINEAU – It will surprise no one that the cost of sports television are front and centre for so many of the submissions to the CRTC’s TV Policy Review
Telus, for example, called the amount of cash being sent to various leagues and teams for the rights to live games “irrational” and has requested the CRTC address the soaring price of sports services and eliminate penetration-based rate cards in sports packaging.
Lined up on the side of Telus, are Shaw Communications, Cogeco and Canadian Cable Systems Alliance members, distributors who own no sports channels. While vertically integrated companies like Rogers and…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications is throwing its support behind emerging Canadian professional golfers Michael Gligic and Beon Yeong Lee as they compete at this year’s RBC Canadian Open.
Sporting the Shaw logo, Gligic and Lee (pictured) represent some of the up and coming Canadian golfers at this year’s national championship taking place July 21 – 27 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Quebec. The two golfers are the latest additions to Shaw’s roster of professional golf partnerships that include PGA Tour star Graham DeLaet and rising Web.com Tour pro Adam Hadwin.
“Supporting Michael and Beon represents Shaw’s desire…
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GATINEAU – The quest of both the CRTC and the federal government to ensure consumers have more choice in their TV packages is running into some difficult headwinds. Vertically integrated broadcast distributors as well as content developers acknowledge that Canadians do say they want more channel flexibility, but they don’t want a so-called “skinny basic” tier of TV channels.
In the official TV Policy Review Notice of Consultation (2014-190), the Commission has proposed a basic cable package that only includes local Canadian TV stations, the 9(1)(h) must-carry channels, provincial educational services if they exist, and in some cases, the community…
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GATINEAU – Canadian prices for wireline, wireless and Internet services are generally competitive when compared to other G7 countries and Australia, with the exception of entry level mobile wireless service and high-speed Internet, according to an annual report commissioned by Industry Canada and the CRTC.
Prepared by Ottawa’s Wall Communications, the 2014 update Price Comparisons of Wireline, Wireless and Internet Services in Canada and with Foreign Jurisdictions is an annual telecom services price comparison study that combines and averages wireline, mobile wireless, broadband Internet, and mobile Internet service rates, as well as bundles of these services along with basic digital TV…
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SAN FRANCISCO – Rdio has named Michael Orrbrooke as its new general manager of Canada, where he will focus on leading the digital music service’s growth and strategy north of the border.
Reporting to President of International, Scott Bagby, Orrbrooke is tasked with further developing the company’s profile as the leading music streaming service in Canada, and will also develop new partnerships within Canada as well as manage existing partnerships, including its new marketing partnership with Shaw Communications, reads the company’s announcement.
Orrbrooke joins Rdio after serving as president and CEO of pet supply chain Bark & Fitz Inc. Prior to that,…
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HAMILTON – Hamilton, Ontario residents who are former Shaw customers are saying that the switchover to Rogers has left them with spotty Internet and cable service.
According to a report in the Hamilton Spectator, Rogers is undertaking a node-by-node switchover of the network after purchasing Shaw Communication's Mountain Cablevision for $400 million last year.
A Rogers spokesperson quoted in the report acknowledged that some customers had experienced technical issues, but the company has brought more staff into the call centre to handle complaints and now have extra technicians on the road.
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TORONTO – The pending AWS-3 auction announced Monday could spark the consolidation of some new wireless entrants, and give Quebecor/Videotron the push it needs to launch a national wireless service, say industry analysts.
“We believe that (Industry Canada’s) move is the first of many important requirements that will lead to the consolidation of fragmented new entrants and spectrum licences, and attract new capital from Quebecor/Videotron and potential partners”, wrote Scotia Capital’s Jeff Fan in a note to clients.
Videotron’s other requirements, Fan continued, are lower wholesale domestic roaming rates to at least below $0.01/MB, better rules to ensure tower sharing, a…
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WINNIPEG and CALGARY – MTS is donating $25,000 to the Canadian Red Cross – Manitoba Division to support flood relief efforts in Manitoba, while Shaw has opened up its Shaw Go WiFi network to all the communities it serves along the Assiniboine River.
MTS is also waiving temporary disconnect fees for its home phone, Internet and TV customers who have been evacuated from areas where a state of emergency has been declared as a result of recent flooding. Noting that it expects that these customers will rely more on their wireless services at this time, MTS is also offering affected…
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TORONTO – HBO Canada wants viewers to binge watch its new Canadian dramedy Sensitive Skin, and is making the entire first season available to subscribers online and on demand following its broadcast debut next Sunday.
The bittersweet comedy stars and is executive produced by Golden Globe Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Kim Cattrall along with Genie and Tony Award winner Don McKellar, who also directs all six episodes. Based on the original British version, Sensitive Skin is about a woman of a certain age and her long-time husband attempting to change their lives.
Sensitive Skin will premiere July 20 at…
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