TORONTO – Facing a "moderate recession" in Canada, our cable and media companies seem well positioned to weather a deteriorating economy, says a recent analyst’s research report.
BMO Capital Markets financial analyst Tim Casey – who covers cable and media in Canada – admitted that while he was lowering his overall earnings forecasts “for the second time in three weeks” based on an “underlying thesis” of a “moderate recession in Canada” like the one we endured in the early 1990s, most companies seem well positioned to ride it out.
On the radio side, which is of course tied to…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC said Tuesday it will publicly disclose the aggregate financial data of large broadcast distribution undertakings (cable and satellite companies) and large conventional television and radio broadcasters.
“Although it was set out in Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-6 as its preliminary view, the Commission is now convinced, based on the comments received at the proceedings on the Diversity of Voices and the BDU regulatory frameworks, that the public disclosure of the aggregate financial data of both large BDUs and/or MSOs and large OTA television and radio broadcasters by ownership group would serve the public interest and would…
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EXTON, Pa. – Organization for the inaugural SCTE Canadian Summit is well under way and registration is now open for the event which will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 3-4, 2009, at the Toronto Congress Centre.
SCTE Canadian Summit 2009 is designed to facilitate an exchange of technical information for Canadian engineering professionals to help them maximize opportunities and overcome challenges specific to the cable telecommunications industry in Canada both now and in the near future.
The program committee organizing it are senior technical executives from the big five multiple system operators in Canada. SCTE board of directors…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC today denied a request by Shaw Communications to add American cable specialty The Sportsman Channel to the eligible satellite list.
Shaw made the request back in January and the Commission denied it today, siding with those who intervened (WildTV, World Fishing Network, CTVglobemedia, CFTPA, the CAB) saying The Sportsman Channel’s programming overlapped far too much with Wild and WFN. Canadian channels are generally protected from the entry of foreign channels in their genres thanks to CRTC policy promoting Canadian broadcasting.
(Ed note: With 10 days to the delivery of the new BDU and specialty regulations…
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THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Municipally-owned telco Thunder Bay Telecom was granted cable TV and video on demand licenses by the CRTC today.
The small telco becomes the latest in a line of traditional Canadian telephone companies, large or small, to be granted such a license.
While it’s not known when the new service will launch, TBayTel will go up against incumbent MSO Shaw Communications in its northwestern Ontario properties, which include Thunder Bay and the surrounding area, as well as some other smaller communities.
www.crtc.gc.ca www.tbaytel.net
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CALGARY – Shaw Cable launched it last month, now sister distributor Star Choice will soon be offering the high definition photo service called The Frame, beginning Thursday.
The channel is a 24-hour HD, commercial-free photographic art service showcasing visual imagery from celebrated 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 Frame will offer photography and art lovers awe-inspiring images from 16 galleries to start with, including…
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TORONTO – Former CHUM Ltd Vice Chair and COO Fred Sherratt will be honoured at the Ontario Association of Broadcasters’ Community Service Awards Luncheon 2008 on October 7 at 11:30 at the Boulevard Club in Toronto.
The event will also feature a keynote by CRTC Vice-Chair, Broadcasting Michel Arpin.
The OAB Community Service Award for Radio – Small Market will be presented to CKTB/HTZ-FM/ EZROCK Astral Media Radio Niagara. General manger Madelyn Hamilton will accept the award.
An honourable mention goes to The Rock, Durham Radio Oshawa. Craig Robertson, morning show host; Steve Kassay, general manager; and Adrianne Vogel,…
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IN LESS THAN FIVE months, all American full power television broadcasters are required to shut off their analog transmitters.
In Canadian border regions, this could present an opportunity as those remaining Canadian viewers who have resisted cable or satellite TV for so long, instead picking up a number of American TV stations with their rabbit ears. Unless they invest in some digital rabbit ears and a new television, they’ll need help getting the programming they are used to.
For example, in Windsor there are 22 stations available off-air, most from the other side of the border Detroit, Mich., and…
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MONTREAL – The RCMP in Quebec said today it had broken up a “major criminal ring specializing in the sale and distribution of satellite signal decoders.”
Yesterday, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Financial Integrity program conducted nine searches and arrested four people for theft of radiocommunication services as part of an investigation led by the Québec Detachment Federal Investigation Section. Charges could also be laid at the conclusion of the investigation.
The investigation, dubbed operation “Connecteur”, resulted in searches being conducted in several places of business and residences in Montréal, Sainte-Thérèse, Granby, Sorel and Shawinigan. The investigators…
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LOUISVILLE, Colo. – Dr. Richard Green told the CableLabs executive committee last week in New York that he intends to retire as CEO when his current contract expires in December 2009, the organization announced today.
The committee agreed to begin a search for a successor immediately in order to complete an orderly transition prior to Green’s departure. The group also reaffirmed a strong industry commitment to the work and program of CableLabs.
“The entire industry is indebted to Dick for building and managing one of the most successful development laboratories in the country. CableLabs has and will continue to…
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