GATINEAU – The industry needs increased levels of funding for access programming said executives from MTS, who appeared before the CRTC’s local and community TV hearing on Monday. The company has proposed that the more access programming BDUs carry on their community TV channels, the more money they should get.
In opening remarks, Paul Norris, VP of residential solutions at MTS, noted viewers want to see local programming that goes beyond news and that access programming is important for locally reflective expression.
“Access programming fulfills a unique role that is not available from conventional broadcasters or from social media…
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TORONTO – Rogers and Shaw's streaming service shomi is now available on the PlayStation4 (PS4) system.
The PS4 system streams from the shomi app, allowing viewers to receive HD quality content on their TV screens.
“Members have been asking for shomi on the PS4 system since we launched, and I’m thrilled we are now able to provide our service on this platform,” said shomi’s director of product management Ann Tebo, in the news release. “With the addition of the PS4 system there are now four Internet-connected ways for members to get great shomi content on their TV screen.”
www.shomi.com
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GATINEAU – Many parties to the CRTC’s local and community TV consultation have proposed funding approaches (each with their own acronyms we’re having trouble keep track of) which could financially support these struggling services. Rogers Communications Inc. has now joined them, unveiling its own approach to a local programming fund.
In its appearance before the Commission on Thursday, the media and communications giant argued while it still prefers its original proposal calling for greater flexibility to move local programming funds from larger to smaller markets, it offered up another model that it says is workable and would provide financial benefits…
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TORONTO – New Rogers channel Viceland will debut in more than 7.5 million Canadian households when it launches on February 29, the company said Friday.
The millennial-focused linear channel, which replaces Rogers’ Bio specialty channel, will be available through more than 20 TV service providers out of the gate, including Shaw and Shaw Direct, Telus, Videotron, Cogeco Connexion and Eastlink, in addition to Rogers Cable.
Kicking off with a three-month free preview, content includes Gaycation with Ellen Page and friend/co-host Ian Daniel, and original music documentary series Noisey, hosted by Vice correspondent Zach Goldbaum. Viceland will also air original series produced…
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TORONTO – Shaw Media’s Showcase is hoping its newest national, multiplatform marketing campaign will work like magic.
The network has kicked off an extensive campaign in support of its new drama The Magicians, premiering January 25 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. Based upon Lev Grossman's best-selling books, The Magicians centres around Brakebills University, a secret institution specializing in magic. There, amidst an unorthodox education of spellcasting, a group of twenty-something friends soon discover that a magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real.
The campaign plays off of the theme of magic in the real world and positions The Magicians…
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MONTREAL – Cogeco and subsidiary Cogeco Cable held their annual general meetings in Montreal on Wednesday, preceded by a conference call with analysts and a meeting with journalists. Here’s what we heard.
Wireless
“It’s been 10 years that you’ve asked me that question,” Cogeco CEO Louis Audet told journalists, and he had it again in the investor conference call. But the logic hasn’t changed, even as Shaw’s acquisition of Wind Mobile makes Cogeco the largest Canadian cable or telecom provider without a wireless service.
“Our perception since the beginning is that if we enter this industry it has…
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TORONTO – Gains in its television division helped to lift first quarter revenues at Corus Entertainment by 1%, the company announced Wednesday.
For the first quarter ended November 30, 2015, net income attributable to shareholders was $41.3 million, down from $51.9 million year-over-year, and included business acquisition, integration and restructuring costs of $2.4 million, though excludes amortization of Pay Television assets reclassified as assets held for disposal of $1.4 million. Adjusting for the impact of these items results in an adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of $42.5 million in the quarter.
Consolidated revenues for the period were $228.3 million, up 1% over $227.1…
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LAS VEGAS – “Cable companies find it hard to accept that people don’t just want to watch TV in the living room anymore,” said Jay Mehr, EVP and COO of Shaw Communications as it announced the launch of its FreeRange app Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show.
The app makes content instantly available to subscribers no matter where they are and Mehr (pictured) told a gathering of industry partners and press that the cable company had partnered with Comcast and Cisco to leverage Comcast's X1 platform to provide a truly disruptive mobile experience by providing live…
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OTTAWA – The overwhelming majority of community TV channels do not meet the minimum criteria for operating a community TV channel under current CRTC policy, says the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).
As the CRTC prepares to review the policy framework for local and community television programming later this month, the organization said Thursday that it has filed complaints of non-compliance with the Commission’s community TV policy against 47 cable community channels for not airing at least 60% local content and at least 50% access content.
CACTUS’ allegation includes research by CACTUS member and Newwest.tv executive director…
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TORONTO – A new fourth player in Canada’s wireless industry combined with increased wireline competition are two factors poised to significantly impact the Canadian telecom industry in 2016, says Canaccord Genuity.
An industry overview released Wednesday by analyst Aravinda Galappatthige says that company is taking “a more cautious stance” as it considers this year’s outlook for the telecom stocks, particularly when it comes to the big three incumbents BCE, Telus and Rogers.
Galappatthige predicts that wireless competition will heat up as a “resurgent Rogers Wireless” continues to aggressively add wireless net additions, and as regional player Videotron Wireless advances towards its…
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