AFTER SIX YEARS, SATELLITE radio produced its first-ever profit in Canada when earlier this month SiriusXM Canada reported it was $3.3 million in the black for the first quarter of fiscal 2013.
For executive chairman John Bitove, that Q1 result is vindication after plugging away just as XM Canada to begin with – in competition with Sirius Canada – and then finally merging with it in 2011 two years after the American satellite radio companies combined themselves. Satellite radio faced numerous launch obstacles, chiefly convincing people to want to pay for radio in the first place,…
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OTTAWA – It’s common these days to see Internet speeds still advertised with “up to” speeds that rarely ever approach the average speeds that subscribers will actually experience in practice. The problem is that most consumers believe they are getting, at least some of the time, the advertised speeds says the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) because they are not being properly informed. It’s calling on the Competition Bureau and CRTC to play a more active role in monitoring the compliance of ISP speed and performance claims in advertising and to develop rules for broadband labelling.
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TORONTO – Shaw Media is planning to launch two new morning news programs at Global Montreal and Global Maritimes called the Morning News. Both weekday programs will provide viewers a “mix of timely information and in-depth conversation,” says Shaw. The shows are scheduled to debut Monday, January 28th from 6-9am ET/AT.
“As Canada’s fastest-growing news organization, the launch of the Morning News in Montreal and Halifax caps off what has been a highly successful morning show expansion across Canada,” says Troy Reeb, Senior Vice President, News and Station Operations. “Having launched morning shows in all local…
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TORONTO – CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada is facing off on the 2nd screen in a big way this Saturday to kick of its 60th season. Budweiser is sponsoring Facebook and Twitter pages where fans can login during national broadcasts and interact with in-game features that reflect the live game action.
HNIC says Hockey Night in Canada: 2nd Screen presented by Budweiser gives viewers new ways to interact and engage with the game through smartphones, tablets and computers. Fans can login at Facebook and test their knowledge and try their luck at predicting team and…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC approved a pair of new category B specialty service licenses yesterday for Fantasy Sports TV and Quest.
Fantasy Sports TV is a Fight Network (which is controlled by Leonard Asper) application and the channel, if launched, will be “devoted to fantasy sports, allowing viewers to act as owners and assume all the responsibilities associated with operating real sports franchises, and allowing viewers to create, monitor, trade and discuss players on their teams with others also playing fantasy sports,” according to the Commission decision.
Quest’s application was filed by its owner HGTV Canada (Shaw…
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TORONTO – Building on an idea that was dubbed “Watch Canada” back in October, the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada and the CRTC on Wednesday announced the creation of a working group of leading industry executives whose goal will be to “promote the increasing success of Canadian film, television and digital media with a principal focus on the Canadian market,” says a press release.
The creation of the group grew from industry leaders’ feedback at the Symposium on the Promotion of Canadian Films and Television Programs in Canada and Internationally which was held in Ottawa in conjunction with the International…
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A NEW REPORT FROM BMO Capital Markets, which dives deep into what will affect investment in the telecom and media space in Canada in 2013, takes a good look at the possibilities and assumptions heading into the auction of the 700 MHz spectrum everyone assumes will take place mid-year.
The report, by analyst Tim Casey, says what most believe – that the big winners in the auction, which will be expensive. will be the big three of Rogers, Telus and Bell, but that the latter two have an advantage over Rogers since Bell and Telus share the operation of their…
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TORONTO – After more than a year of negotiations, Hollywood Suite has found accommodations for their four HD commercial-free movie channels on the Rogers HD lineup. They’re now working to land Shaw next.
Featuring more than 400 HD movies per month, uncut and unedited, Hollywood Suite is: WarnerFilms (channel 486), MGM Channel (487), Sony Movie Channel (488), AXN Movies (489) and Hollywood Suite OnDemand. Rogers HD TV customers across Ontario will have a free preview of all four movie channels and Hollywood Suite OnDemand until March 31, 2013.
“We’re excited to be working with the great…
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TORONTO – Mobilicity says its legal battle with Telus to keep its TV ads running was no-contest. In a press release, it declared a “colossal victory for Canadian wireless consumers” after the British Columbia Supreme Court dismissed an interlocutory injunction application by Telus to pull certain Mobilicity TV ads off the air. But Telus contends today’s Court decision only dealt with the interim ruling to have the ads pulled and that it will not impact their pursuit of a full hearing.
"Today is a big day for wireless consumers and continued competition in Canada," said Mobilicity…
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WHITEHORSE – Latitude Wireless representatives will be visiting Watson Lake this month to mark the launch of its 3G HSPA wireless service.
“Watson Lake residents are going to be able to enjoy the clarity and speed of the new 3G network,” said Curtis Shaw, General Manager of Latitude Wireless. “We are very pleased that we were able to upgrade our network prior to the holidays to support the latest tablets and smartphones.”
3G HSPA technology allows customers to enjoy broadband wireless applications, including Internet access, video steaming and a variety of social media applications….
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