OTTAWA – In his speech to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters convention today at lunch, CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said he has heard the complaints from the industry (after first making some complaints of his own, see related story) and made a few significant changes to the 2008 calendar.
First, the policy review hearings on broadcast distribution undertakings (cable, satellite, telco TV and others) and specialty services has been pushed back to April 7. They had been scheduled to begin February 4th (after having previously been set for January).
Also new is the broadcasters’ demands that fee for…
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WINNIPEG – Having added 5,000 new customers since April, MTS TV, the digital television service offered by MTS Allstream in Winnipeg, has surpassed the 75,000 customer mark.
In the last two years, MTS TV has grown by over 30,000 customers, most of whom are coming off the Shaw Cable subscriber list.
"We are very excited that MTS TV continues to make outstanding progress in the marketplace," said Kelvin Shepherd, president consumer markets division, MTS Allstream, in the press release.
MTS TV includes video on demand, high definition, TV call display, photos on demand and e-mail on demand.
www.mts.ca/mtstv…
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TORONTO – “Corus had an exceptional year in fiscal 2007,” said John Cassaday, president and CEO of the company in its press release announcing its Q4 and fiscal 2007 year-end results.
“Our share price increased by 26%, we increased our dividend by 16% and we bought back approximately 2% of our shares. These positive outcomes for our shareholders were due to the strength of our core businesses in radio and television. As a result of our year end financial results and our outlook for next year, we are increasing our segment profit guidance range to $255 – $265 million…
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OTTAWA – Canadians are expected to triple their use of wireless data in the next three years – following their rapid embrace of a range of innovative and affordable mobile data services including wireless e-mail, text messaging and Internet access, said the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association today.
Intercarrier text messaging (which Canadian wireless companies first launched), mobile satellite radio, unlimited music downloads, wireless e-mail and wireless video calling, have spurred a rapid growth in data usage by Canadians, says the wireless lobby group.
Approximately 10% of the average Canadian’s monthly cell phone usage is now related to wireless data,…
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SOME FILED REAMS of digital paper with the Commission (Rogers Communications’ submission was 132 pdf pages and a few appendices), while others were more concise (Shaw’s was just nine pages, plus a couple of research reports)
Anyway, we’ve read more than a few thousand words and identified what appear to be the primary issues facing the CRTC with its review of the policies governing broadcast distribution undertakings (all licensed video providers) and specialty services. The hearing is set for February 4 in Gatineau.
Below is a bit of a synopsis of what the BDUs are asking for and what…
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Dear Editor,
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC. asserts that the primary policy objective of the CRTC should be to lessen Canadian protection and facilitate an accelerated importation of foreign channels.
Well, the fastest and most economically efficient way to accomplish that would be to cease protecting Canadian cable companies from U.S. distributors like Comcast and DirecTV.
However, that would be against the law – and would trigger a precipitous dismantling of our once-proud broadcasting system.
Canada is the only country in the world that competes 24 hours a day, and live, with the behemoth U.S. entertainment machine.
We have a unique…
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TORONTO – CTV has launched a new promo campaign for its national news program in Toronto. The campaign includes the running of 15- and 30-second public service announcements, custom station IDs, billboards, and on-street activities around the theme “My Toronto Is…CTV News.” It celebrates the unique places, people and experiences that exist in the Greater Toronto Area and the station’s role in the city.
The “My Toronto is…CTV News” features CTV News anchors and reporters joining everyday Torontonians in declaring their favorite thing about Toronto.
“We wanted to create a definitive brand position for CTV News that builds on…
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TO SAY 2007 HAS been a year of growth for EastLink is simply a colossal understatement.
So far, the company has acquired Amtelecom Communications, Persona Communications and RuSh Communications – meaning EastLink (or officially, its parent company, Bragg Communications) has more than doubled in size to around 500,000 customers.
No longer just a regional cable concern, Bragg/EastLink is a national force to be reckoned with, with cable and telecom services extending coast to coast.
The company is a pioneer, having launched phone service years before other North American cable companies – to much success – in Nova…
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TORONTO – That’s the question the Alliance for Children and Television will attempt to answer on November 29 when ACT will host the second Children, Youth & Media Conference.
This event is the only one of its kind to bring together Canada’s creators, producers and broadcasters of children’s and youth programming. This year’s theme, “Are We Listening?”, promises to generate lively discussions through a series of sessions and panels on key screen-based media issues for Canadian children and youth.
Below are a few highlights on the agenda:
Broadcasters’ Panel: Representatives from BBC Kids, CBC, Corus Entertainment, Family Channel, Teletoon…
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ROGERS BELIEVES Bell Canada is less than two months away from launching its IPTV service in Toronto, beginning in the Yonge-Bloor region, according to David Purdy, Rogers Cable’s VP and GM television.
********** WTBS will change its name to PeachtreeTV as of October 1st, said Turner’s Matt Tolleson. The programming will remain much the same, however. Also – with CNN HD having launched in the States on September 1st – Tolleson says he wants to see that feed in Canada soon.
********** And speaking of HD, Speed is readying its high definition version, which it will have ready to…
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