I READ WITH INTEREST your commentary concerning the dispute between the independent BDUs (CIDG) and Bell Media.
Like Kevin Crull, the CEO of Bell Media, I too have “walked on both sides of the fence” (as noted in his letter of March 28). I was the president of the Canadian Cable Television Association and the CEO of Star Choice, Bell ExpressVu’s principal competitor, now known as Shaw Direct. More recently, I was the head of English services at the CBC, which, like Bell Media, includes a big conventional network and a number…
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CALGARY – Customers can claim their greenside seats with Shaw and Shaw Direct's 3D broadcast of the Masters scheduled for April 4 – 8, 2012.
This year's 3D tournament broadcast will provide 14 hours of coverage, and will once again focus on the back nine holes of Georgia's Augusta National Golf Club, using different camera angles produced by the Masters.
Viewers will require a 3D-HD television and the TV manufacturer's specified glasses to watch the 3D broadcast, as well as an HD receiver, HDPVR or Shaw Gateway to view this technology. The 3D broadcast can be accessed free of charge by Shaw cable…
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ON THURSDAY, A PANEL of seven CRTC commissioners and a dozen industry executives took part in a hearing where they all must have asked themselves repeatedly, “Geez, how often have I heard this before?” At least, that’s the question that popped into my head as I listened in.
Bell Media faced off against the Canadian Independent Distributors Group during an expedited hearing concerning the parties’ fight over Bell Media’s 2011 wholesale carriage agreement, as we have already covered extensively. The CIDG (Telus, Cogeco, EastLink, Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and MTS) say the dispute isn’t primarily about…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications has named Jim Little as its chief marketing officer, effective April 26.
As CMO, Little will lead the strategic direction for the overall marketing and brand experience for all lines of business at Shaw. He will oversee all marketing activities to strengthen corporate brand, maximize sales, increase market share, and maintain industry leadership across all aspects of the business.
Little has held senior marketing, brand and communications roles with organizations including Bell, Alcan, Bombardier, and most recently as the chief brand and communications officer for RBC.
"We're pleased to welcome Jim to the senior leadership team at Shaw,"…
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TORONTO – Shaw Media has inked an exclusive partnership with social networking platform GetGlue which will allow viewers to ‘check-in’ with some of its most popular domestic programming.
Through its website and mobile application, New York-based GetGlue allows users to share details about the entertainment they consume, and discuss their tastes with friends and other fans. The more users check-in, the more GetGlue can recommend additional entertainment options they might be interested in.
With each check-in, users will be able to unlock and display exclusive sticker rewards for tuning in to selected Shaw Media shows, starting with the season premiere of Top Chef…
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GATINEAU – There was little love for the CRTC when, on the day before St. Valentine’s Day, Videotron filed its appeal of the wholesale Internet billing decision (more popularly known as the usage-based-billing issue). However, the Quebec cableco wasn’t the only provider to let its feelings be known regarding the matter, other network owners as well as the independent ISPs have taken the Commission to task over the appropriate rates for wholesale network access and use.
The issue that never seems to go away is not focused on the capacity-based billing framework, which most agree is a good idea, but…
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TORONTO – GlassBox Television has named Vanessa Case as executive vice president of programming, effective immediately.
Case joins GlassBox with over with over 17 years of experience in the broadcast industry, most recently with Shaw Media where she was responsible for that company’s specialty channel programming and scheduling as both senior director and as vice president of content. In her new role, Case (right) will oversee the programming and scheduling of Travel+Escape, Bite TV and Aux TV.
“Having Vanessa join our executive team is another step towards our…
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CALGARY – Corus Entertainment’s corporate secretary and prominent Calgarian Jack Perraton died February 19th after a brief battle with leukemia. He was 65.
Throughout his career, Perraton (pictured) worked as a prominent attorney and community leader. He was Chancellor of the University of Calgary from 1998 to 2002 and was on the board of governors from 1998 to 2011. He also chaired the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta from 2003 to 2011 and was CEO of the Canada 2005 Exposition Corporation which led Canada’s bid to host a World’s Fair in 2005.
OTTAWA – The success of independent producers under the CRTC’s group licensing regime (GLR) will be tied to that of the broadcasters, the Canadian Media Production Association’s Prime Time 2012 heard this morning.
Peter Grant, counsel at McCarthy Tetrault, presented findings of a short paper examining the impact of GLR on indie producers that show under this new regime a substantial increase in money will become available for Canadian programming. He said that money available will jump from $290 million in 2012 to approximately $329 million in 2016. What’s also evident is that programs of national interest (PNI) will make…
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DENVER – In May, Rogers Communications vice-chairman Phil Lind, will become just the third Canadian inducted into the Cable Center’s prestigious Cable Hall of Fame. (Ted Rogers and JR Shaw are the other two.)
Lind, long recognized as Ted Rogers’ right-hand-man, is a 42-year veteran of the Canadian cable, broadcasting and telecommunications company. When he first came on board, Rogers owned just two small radio stations and about 15,000 cable subscribers.
Lind (pictured) was Ted’s point man as the company gobbled up other Canadian cable companies and was legendary, Stateside, as Rogers became a major cable player there as well in…
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