OTTAWA – Canada’s major telecommunications providers have agreed on an initial five-year term to allow customers to roam on each others’ networks on an emergency basis in the event of a major network outage to ensure Canadians are not left out of essential services, such as 911 access, according to a formal agreement announced Wednesday by the Minister of Innovation.
The companies, including Bell, Rogers, Telus, and Shaw, have also committed to assisting each other in such an event and also “to providing clear and timely communications to keep Canadians and appropriate authorities informed about response and restoration during major…
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MONTREAL and TORONTO — Independent internet service provider Distributel has agreed to be acquired by Bell for an undisclosed amount, the companies said in an announcement today.
Distributel will continue to operate independently after close of the deal — which is subject to standard regulatory approval — and Matt Stein, the CEO of the company, will remain at the helm, a press release said.
“With this announcement, Distributel is better positioned to compete and deliver on our decades-long commitment to bringing choice and affordability to Canadians from coast to coast to coast,” Stein said in the release. “We hope Canadians are…
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TORONTO — Kids’ and family entertainment broadcaster WildBrain Television announced today it has commissioned three new original productions from independent Canadian producers for its flagship network Family Channel.
The new content — two animated series and a live-action movie — will roll out on Family Channel beginning this fall and continuing into 2023.
First to premiere will be Slugterra: Ascension (above, top right), a series of 20 four-minute, CG-animated shorts produced in partnership with Epic Story Media. The series marks the return of Slugterra characters Eli Shane, Trixie Sting and the slugs for the first time in six years.
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THE BIGGEST STICKING point for the proposed merger of Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications continues to be Shaw’s wireless assets.
As Cartt.ca previously reported, this is even after the companies came to a definitive agreement with Quebecor for the sale of Shaw’s Freedom Mobile. (The agreement is contingent on the Rogers/Shaw merger closing and on necessary approvals.)
Both the federal government and the Competition Bureau have been clear they have concerns about competition in Canada’s wireless market and about the impact Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw could have on it.
Industry minister François-Philippe Champagne issued a statement back in March…
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No set rates means decision will require a lot of work and time to implement, CEO says
By Amanda OYE
OTTAWA – Last week, when renewing independent broadcaster OUTtv’s licence for a five-year term, the CRTC also granted the service dedicated to the LGBTQ2 community, “must-offer” status for three and a half years in the English-language market starting next March.
Noting that with the decision the CRTC has recognized the distinctiveness and vulnerability of the LGBTQ2 community, OUTtv CEO Brad Danks said in an interview with Cartt.ca the decision was also an indication the Commission recognizes that without regulatory support, OUTtv…
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EVEN WITH A DEFINITIVE agreement for the sale of Freedom Mobile to Quebecor subsidiary Videotron on the table as a way to remedy concerns about competition in Canada’s wireless market related to the proposed merger of Rogers Communications and Freedom owner Shaw Communications, a hearing in front of the Competition Tribunal on the matter appears to be all but inevitable.
“We understand that the parties believe that the sale of Freedom will address the concerns raised in our challenge of the Rogers-Shaw merger and have filed an amended response to the Competition Tribunal with this position,” a spokesperson from the…
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TORONTO, MONTREAL and CALGARY – Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications and Quebecor Inc. announced today they have signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Shaw’s Freedom Mobile to Quebecor subsidiary Videotron.
The definitive agreement is “substantially consistent” with what was announced with regards to the sale back in June, according to a press release. It still needs to be cleared under the Competition Act and by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and is contingent on the close of the merger of Rogers and Shaw, which itself still needs approval under the Competition Act and from the…
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OTTAWA – When the federal government announced it was proposing a new telecommunications policy direction to the CRTC back in May, it emphasized how it would improve competition.
This is supposed to help ensure telecommunications services are affordable and encourage innovation in the industry.
The proposed policy direction compels the CRTC to consider, among other things, how its decisions “encourage all forms of competition and investment”. But while several telecommunications service providers (TSPs) that submitted comments to the government on the proposed policy direction seem to agree competition is important, there is disagreement on what kind of competition the CRTC…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications announced today it is donating $100,000 to support children and youth in Alberta while at the same time recognizing 10 community champions from the past 10 years of the Shaw Charity Classic.
“After 10 years of the Shaw Charity Classic, there are countless stories to be told about the dedicated, passionate and generous people behind the tournament’s success and incredible impact,” said Brad Shaw, executive chair and CEO of Shaw Communications, in a press release.
“These remarkable Community Champions represent just a handful of the most compelling stories. Through the leadership and commitment of these people, the…
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CEO says they are “more determined and motivated than ever” to expand across Canada
MONTREAL – Quebecor Inc. today announced its second quarter 2022 financial results, which states revenue for the quarter was $1.1 billion – a decreased of $16 million compared to Q2 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA was reported to be $491.4 million, a $10 million decrease compared to the same quarter of 2021, according to a press release.
In its telecommunications segment, Quebecor reported $912.6 million in revenue for Q2 2022 (a decrease from $928.4 million in the same quarter of 2021) while adjusted EBITDA was $487.5 million (up from $481.5…
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