MONTREAL – On Thursday, the Vidéotron announced the launch of Illico Club Unlimited, an online video subscription service that will have the largest collection of French-language movies, television series and other programming available in Canada.
The service, which launches on Saturday, will cost $9.99 a month, a bit higher than the $8 a month that Netflix Canada charges. It will be available to everyone in Quebec and Ontario, regardless of whether they live in an area served by Vidéotron or subscribe to a Vidéotron service. This may expand to other provinces as well. Quebecor executives say they have secured rights…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Viewers tuning in to Global today will notice a new look designed to reflect the networks' top-rated programming and news lineup in a “big, bold and dynamic environment.”
"Global's identity refresh is part of the larger re-positioning of the Shaw Communications portfolio of brands designed to ensure our relevancy to both our customers and viewers across the country," said Jason Keown, Senior Director of Marketing, Global Entertainment. "Our creative is both fast and dynamic with a vibrant colour palette that unifies our entertainment and news brands across all platforms."
Global Entertainment introduces four…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – The future of cable is IP, and the CEO of Rogers says the company plans to take a similar leadership role in advancing its IP network offerings for customers that it did in introducing smartphones.
“Everyone is going IP, that is the future of cable,” said Rogers president and CEO Nadir Mohamed who also announced he will retire in January 2014, but will continue to lead the company through 2013. He was speaking at a media call this morning in Toronto. Late yesterday the company released its fourth quarter results of 2012 which beat…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Responding to the growing use of mobile devices, the Greater Toronto Area beginning March 25, 2013 will be getting two new area codes says the Telecommunications Alliance (Bell, Rogers, Telus and Vidéotron). In Toronto, the 437 area code will be added to the 416/647 area codes. In the 905/289 region, the 365 area code will be introduced.
The new 437 and 365 area codes will provide additional telephone numbers with no impact on existing telephone numbers says the alliance. The new area codes will coexist with the current ones and will come…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Content company Blue Ant Media has appointed Sam Linton to Executive in Charge of Production. Linton comes with over 24 years of broadcast experience in production and programming and will be working out of the company’s head office in Toronto.
The company owns specialty channels Travel+Escape, Bite TV and AUX TV along with four premium, commercial-free channels Oasis HD, HIFI, eqhd, radX and their companion websites.
“Original Content is very important to Blue Ant Media and we couldn’t be happier to have Sam join us to help lead the development of our…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – With the addition of Astral Media and Cineplex Entertainment, the Canadian Premium Audience Exchange (CPAX), now reaches more than 20 Million unique Canadians monthly. They join founding partners CBC/Radio-Canada, Shaw Media, Rogers Media as well as Corus, V and Télé-Québec in the initiative.
The online, real-time bidding exchange service provides advertisers and agencies with access to premium digital inventory. Nationally CPAX says it offers an efficient and cost-effective means of reaching targeted audiences with premium inventory across leading Canadian brands in both English and French, a reach that now exceeds more than 20…
Continue Reading
IT SEEMS OBVIOUS NOW that the federal government’s attempt at building more competition into the Canadian wireless market has been a failure.
With the benefit of hindsight, looking back at how the Canadian wireless market has evolved since the 2008 advanced wireless spectrum auction, I keep wondering: “what did the federal government think was going to happen?” Back then, in an ill-advised attempt to foster more competition to the burgeoning wireless market in Canada, the federal government offered any Canadian-led wireless newcomer a leg-up in that auction, setting aside spectrum that was just for newbies willing to gamble on becoming…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has agreed to extend the submission deadline for the hearing into the must-carry of cable and satellite channels as outlined in section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act after receiving requests for an extension from Shaw, Rogers, Cogeco and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (jointly), Telus and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.
The deadline for the submission of interventions, comments and answers has been extended to February 27, 2013 and the deadline for the submission of replies has been extended to March 11 2013.
In addition, the preamble and the following item…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Seven outstanding women in the communications, broadcasting and information technology sectors are being honoured by Canadian Women in Communications for their contribution to their companies and as role models of leadership with its prestigious Annual Awards.
The presentations will be made at CWC’s 2013 Annual Awards Gala at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa on April 16th. The event, which is known for attracting hundreds of top business and government leaders, will be hosted by Juno-award-winning R&B singer/songwriter Jully Black.
“This year’s award recipients are singular contributors to the industry,” said Judith Campbell,…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Wind Mobile has some pretty harsh words for the CRTC’s attempt at creating a wireless code of conduct for mobile service providers. The upstart carrier says the Commission completely missed the boat in not addressing three-year contracts and the de-linking of handset subsidies and service terms.
Simon Lockie, chief regulatory officer at Wind, lauds the CRTC for taking this necessary step to listen to consumers concerns and try to implement a wireless code of conduct, but by not dealing with three-year term contracts or exploring ways to separate handset subsidization from service pricing, the Commission is missing a…
Continue Reading
