OTTAWA – Mark your calendars for the hottest place to be this February – the CMPA’s Prime Time in Ottawa 2011.
Scheduled for February 16-18 at the Westin Ottawa, the conference is a national networking event for Canada’s business leaders, decision-makers and policy experts in the television, film and interactive media production industry.
The event will kick off with predictions from world-renowned keynote speaker Richard Tercek who has been dubbed one of the “Digital Dozen” to watch in new media. Delegates will also find out how consumers are consuming content. Are Netflix and YouTube the biggest game changers in Canada? What about…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Bell Canada CEO George Cope couldn’t have been more blunt or matter of fact when asked about what the auction of 700 MHz wireless spectrum, which is expected in 2012. “It has to be a wide open auction,” he said. “There can be no discussion on this.”
Cope was speaking Tuesday afternoon at the Scotia Capital 2010 Telecom and Technology conference in downtown Toronto.
Cope spoke just after both Globalive (Wind Mobile) chairman Anthony Lacavera and Public Mobile CFO Jim Hardy had addressed the very same issue – albeit with different opinions than Cope, or earlier in the…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw’s home phone customers have topped the one million mark.
After launching Shaw Home Phone in February 2005, the company said that its number of customers “have been rapidly climbing” due in large part to “the reliability and exceptional value created through added features and competitive long distance rates”.
"Reaching a million customers in only five years is a remarkable achievement," said EVP Brad Shaw, in the announcement. "We thank our customers for choosing Shaw and we will continue to work hard every day to provide them with an exceptional customer experience. The million customer milestone is a testament to…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Canada’s only television network devoted to the world of pets has secured distribution on Shaw Direct.
The Pet Network will be available in free preview on channel 556/187 (Classic/Advanced) before being offered as part of the ‘Smart Stuff’ bundle.
“We are delighted that, through Shaw Direct, The Pet Network will now reach more Canadian animal lovers than ever before”, said the channel’s president and CEO, Martha Fusca, in the announcement. “We are proud of this channel’s rich and varied programming lineup, and look forward to winning many enthusiastic new viewers.”
www.thepetnetwork.tvwww.shawdirect.ca
Continue Reading
A GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE designed to stop incumbent ISPs like Bell, Rogers and Shaw from implementing usage-based billing seems to be quietly gaining momentum.
Led by the consumer group OpenMedia.ca, the campaign launched a petition late last week which calls usage-based billing “a blow to consumer choice, to access, and to free expression” and “devastating not only for the user experience, but for all innovation and entrepreneurship online”.
Using an image of a parking meter whose red ‘expired’ tag reads “Too Much Internet”, the petition had over a thousand names in less than 24 hours. This prompted the OpenMedia.ca network to kick off an…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Shaw has received another short term renewal of its Class 1 cable licenses in Western Canada to help the CRTC keep tabs on its compliance.
In its decision on Friday, the CRTC said that short-term renewals allow it “to review at an earlier date the licensees’ compliance with the Commission’s regulatory requirements and policy provisions”.
Shaw systems serving various locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are set to expire on November 30, 2010. They have been renewed from December 1, 2010 through August 31, 2015.
www.crtc.gc.cawww.shaw.ca
Continue Reading
REGINA – SaskTel is voicing its firm objection to a proposed 50% increase in local telephone rates in rural Canada, at least without an opportunity for residents in those areas to weigh in.
The Regina-based telco said in a statement that rate proposals made last week by Shaw, Rogers, Telus and Bell during the CRTC’s local telephone service hearing failed to address “the sharp inequalities in employment and incomes across the country”. SaskTel also suggested that the majority of “rural and northern residents do not understand the magnitude of the impact this public hearing could have on them”.
“We believe that these…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The country’s largest cable companies want the CRTC to treat them the same as Bell and Telus. At least, as far as the Commission’s rules on speed matching go.
In a petition submitted to Cabinet last week, Cogeco, Quebecor on behalf of Videotron, Rogers and Shaw asked that the Governor in Council vary, rescind, or refer back to the Commission its decision on Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-632 issued on August 30, 2010.
That decision, as Cartt.ca reported, was based on a public proceeding launched in May 2009 to consider whether incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and cable…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Expanding the basic service objective to include broadband would have substantial negative financial impacts on their businesses, a group of small independent ISPs told the CRTC on Monday during the fourth day of hearings into the obligation to serve and other telecom matters.
This is the second week of the hearing, which moved back to Gatineau after three days in Timmins, Ont.
David Buffet, president of Radiant Communications Corp., said that creating a new subsidy regime to fund broadband expansion would turn a slight profit the company generated in 2009 to a net loss. Revenue…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw Direct has announced plans to launch its own broadband video-on-demand portal this winter, plus rolled out a new HD receiver designed to give its customers more options and more control
The company said Monday that the portal will be accessible through all broadband Internet services exclusively for Shaw Direct customers. Users will be able to access content directly on their computers through a dedicated website.
Shaw Direct’s Advanced HD Receiver (HDDSR 605) includes features such as 3D capability and an interactive on-screen guide. The new technology is MPEG-4 capable, utilizes HDMI connectivity, and allows customers to see up…
Continue Reading
