TORONTO – Former Corus Entertainment exec Barbara Williams is joining the CBC as its executive vice-president effective May 1st.
In a memo to employees on Wednesday, CBC CEO Catherine Tait described Williams (pictured) as a “veteran media executive with deep knowledge of Canada's ever-changing media landscape”, noting her past roles as EVP and COO at Corus Entertainment, as well as senior positions at Shaw Media and CanWest Broadcasting.
This had been a widely rumoured landing spot since she left Corus at the end of October.
“A visionary leader, Barbara brings with her a wealth of experience with…
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OTTAWA – As talk of Canadian broadcasters battling Netflix and needing online scale dominated last week’s Prime Time conference, spare a thought for kids TV producers also struggling to reach audiences on tablets, smartphones and TV Everywhere.
It turns out a combination of streaming VOD services buying up high end kids fare to entice new subscribers and reduce churn, and the global explosion of YouTube and user-generated content is putting the squeeze on kids content creators.
"The trend is the middle is going away. You're either producing something very high cost, industrial, or entering the space by doing something low cost…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has waded in to an ongoing dispute between the city of Calgary and a group of big telco carriers over a municipal rights-of-way bylaw and a proposed municipal consent and access agreement (MCAA).
The Commission said Friday that it was turning down an application by the city seeking a declaration and determination that certain telecommunications carriers may rely upon Calgary’s rights-of-way bylaw for the performance of their obligations under section 43 of the Telecommunications Act, which deals with access to infrastructure.
The decision also approved certain terms and conditions of an MCAA between Calgary and…
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VANCOUVER – Sportsman Channel Canada has replaced World Fishing Network on TV lineups in Canada.
Sportsman Channel Canada, like its U.S. cousins Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network, will feature “the most trustworthy and reputable Canadian experts in the outdoor industry” through programming that includes entertaining and educational hunting, fishing and shooting programs, according to the news release.
The channel is a partnership with Canada's Outdoor Group Media and Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks.
“The launch of Sportsman Channel Canada will undoubtedly prove to be a viewer favorite throughout Canada,” said Outdoor Group Media president Mark Yelic, in the release. “We…
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MONTREAL – With just days to go before Bell Let's Talk Day on January 30, Bell issued a public thank you to the Canadian organizations supporting the initiative and promoting its messages around mental health.
"Everyone's engagement in mental health is crucial to making progress, and we can all join the conversation on Bell Let's Talk Day by sending messages of support to fight the stigma, call for action and directly drive Bell's funding for mental health programs”, said Bell Let's Talk chair Mary Deacon, in the news release. “We're grateful to these leading organizations for encouraging everyone to get engaged in the…
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OTTAWA – With a winter storm blowing outside, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association hosted 300 delegates for its third 5G Conference at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
The focus of this year’s event was the tremendous potential for 5G to impact all sectors of the Canadian economy. Delegates were provided with the current status of 5G and what it means for Canada.
Touting Canada’s position as a “4G Superpower”, CWTA president and CEO Robert Ghiz emphasised that Canada is well positioned for the launch of 5G. That said, numerous challenges remain as the next generation of wireless technology ramps up.
Tejas…
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5G, 5GE and now 10G?
LAS VEGAS — In a not so subtle move to jump on the 5G hype train The Internet & Television Association NCTA, CableLabs and Cable Europe announced at CES their vision for delivering 10 gigabit networks, or 10G.
10G of course has nothing to do with the wireless industry’s 5G, but the number is twice as big, so to the average consumer the perception will likely be it must be better.
With the 10G platform the cable industry said it will be ramping up from the 1 gigabit offerings of today to speeds of 10…
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WE DON’T YET KNOW what public process the expert panel reviewing Canada’s Broadcasting, Telecom and Radiocommunication Acts, headed by Janet Yale, will follow as this year unfolds.
So, when the deadline for written submissions to the Broadcast and Telecom Legislative Review (BTLR) panel came on Friday, January 11, we asked various companies and groups for their submissions. Most gladly sent them. Some sent excerpts. Others decided to keep them private for now, since the panel itself has not yet told us, or anyone, definitively, what the plan is for making them public.
Because of the volume, we have decided to begin…
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TORONTO – The season three premiere of HBO drama True Detective will debut during Crave’s first-ever free preview this weekend, parent Bell Media said Tuesday.
Three of Crave’s linear channels – Crave 1, HBO 1, HBO 2 – are being unlocked from Friday, January 11 (11 AM ET/MT) to Monday, January 14 (11 AM ET/MT), allowing audiences to sample over 15 Hollywood hit movies uncut and commercial-free, top HBO content, and a selection of Showtime hits.
The free preview is available via participating television providers across Canada including Bell, Bell Aliant, BellMTS, Cogeco, Eastlink, Rogers, Shaw, Shaw Direct, and Telus, among…
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TWO YEARS AGO, on December 21, 2016, the CRTC acknowledged the increasing importance of Internet services to Canadians in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2016-496, in which the Commission defined fixed and mobile wireless broadband Internet access services as basic telecommunications services.
The Commission also established several new expectations for ISPs to address consumer complaints related to bill shock and contract clarity.
As a result, all ISPs that provide retail fixed broadband Internet services to individual and small business customers now must ensure their contracts and related documents clearly explain, in plain language (i) the services included in the contract (ii) any limits…
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