TORONTO – They’ll probably crack eventually, but so far, the big four of Canadian video distribution, Shaw Communications, Rogers Communications, Bell TV and Videotron have resisted adding the new TSN2 to their channel lineups.
As usual, it’s a fight over money (that and to a lesser extent, packaging and capacity).
TSN2 was the “alternate feed” of the main TSN network, a sometimes on, sometimes off, dumping ground that the sports network used when it had conflicts with two live events. Most of the carriers had it somewhere on the dial and didn’t mind making space for that channel since…
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MONTREAL – Bell Canada just set the bar much higher on the customer service front in most of Canada by launching a pair of new residential service programs.
The big telco/Internet/wireless/TV company today announced “same day next day” service for fast and free servicing of Bell TV, Bell Internet and Bell Home Phone, and “express install” for premium next-day installation of all three home services, if customers make that choice. (Shaw Cable offers a same day next day service already.)
"These two new service initiatives support our number-one strategic imperative – improve customer service – and our focus on…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC on Friday approved Shaw Communications’ request to add Big Ten Network to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis.
The Big Ten Network is an American college sports channel (a joint venture between the 11-school sports conference and Fox Cable Networks) which shows live games and other programming about the various NCAA sports teams in the Big Ten.
Shaw applied to the Commission for the channel on January 9, 2008 and despite some objections, the Commission concluded “BTN is a very ‘niche’ service, broadcasting U.S. collegiate sports from only one…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC will put off a review of its benefits policy until after the federal government renders its views on the Canadian Television Fund.
The Commission issued a public notice in July, asking for comments on altering its benefits policy so that some money could be directed to new media initiatives. Currently, when one broadcast company buys another, a certain percentage of the transaction (10% in the case of television companies) must be set aside for public benefits, which are mostly for the production of Canadian content.
However, a number of recent transactions (such as Goldman Sachs’…
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CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – The Campbell River Television board of directors said today that its members have spoken and they want to sell the cable co-operative to Shaw Communications.
The board has the preliminary results from the August 23, 2008 special meeting and “members who exercised their right to vote were in overwhelming support” of selling CRTV to the big western cableco, said the release. As a co-op, 75% of members must vote in favour of a change in ownership.
“At this point in time, the process of handing CRTV over to Shaw becomes a housekeeping issue,” says the…
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CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – The CRTV board of directors have announced a special meeting that will allow the membership to complete the voting process on the proposed $46 million sale of independent cable co-operative Campbell River TV to Shaw Communications.
The meeting will be held on August 23 at the Sportsplex at 4 p.m., with the doors opening for registration at 2 p.m.
As a co-operative, CRTV is required to attain 75% approval for any sale – as well as to change the bylaws of the entity in order to allow for such an ownership change.
Members who have not…
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MONTREAL – CanWest Broadcasting is rebranding Lonestar, a Western-themed cable channel, as MovieTime, a digital offering of popular Hollywood movies. CanWest says that MovieTime, which goes live Oct. 6, will feature more than 250 Hollywood movies.
Catering to adults 25-54, MovieTime will offer viewers unparalleled access to an extensive collection of contemporary hit movies.
"There are few things that generate as much excitement, delight and passion as people’s most-loved movies and with MovieTime, we are thrilled to give audiences a one-stop channel to catch all their favourite hits," says Barb Williams, executive vice-president, content, Canwest Broadcasting.
Canwest says Movietime reflects its on-going…
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IF THERE’S ONE THING distributors don’t like, it’s being told what to do by the CRTC.
As we saw during the April hearings into broadcast distribution undertaking and specialty service policy, cable companies don’t like linkage rules or must-carries or carriage restrictions or much of anything else they “have” to do.
Cable altogether opposed the licensing of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network as a must-carry, 91(h) channel in 1999, but the Commission still licensed it as a channel which all distributors must carry as a basic service. APTN is one of those channels that furthers the goals of the…
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MONTREAL – Bell Canada’s sassy buck-toothed duo, Frank and Gordon the beavers, may have been euthanized this week, but they sure worked hard the last quarter.
Bell Canada Enterprises (which is still a public company for a bit longer) reported its second quarter results today and had its best wireless quarter in two and a half years. And, it is dumping its beavers in favor of a new marketing campaign which is set to take flight during the Olympics, which begin this weekend.
Bell Mobility’s net adds were up 32%, its best postpaid gain since Q4 2005. Total additions in…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications today launched an unusual new TV channel entitled The Frame, a 24-hour high definition, commercial-free photographic art service showcasing visual imagery from artists and photographers worldwide.
“From exclusive fine art collections to award-winning photographs, The Frame will allow viewers to experience the world of illustrious photography and art in HD from the comfort of their own living rooms,” says the press release.
The premiere of The Frame will offer photography and art lovers images from 16 galleries, including Canada Collects, Animal Kingdom, Water World, Birds of a Feather, The Seven Seas, Canadian Horizons, City Lights,…
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