OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC announced today Canadian television service providers can no longer distribute the Russian state-funded English-language channel RT (Russia Today) or RT France.
The Commission formally removed both channels from its list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution in Canada after determining their continued distribution “is not in the public interest,” according to a press release.
“RT’s programming is not consistent with the standards against which Canadian services are measured nor the policy objectives set out in the Broadcasting Act,” the release explains.
“The CRTC is also concerned with programming from a foreign country…
Continue Reading
CALGARY — Shaw Communications and the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) announced today they are teaming up once again for the “Brighter Communities powered by Shaw” fundraising initiative, a text-to-donate program supporting local charities in B.C. communities.
“For the second year in a row, each of the 17 Canadian BCHL teams are partnering with a local charitable organization that is working to make a difference in the lives of children and youth in their community. Beginning today until May 31, fans can make a $10 donation to support their team’s charity by texting a unique code to 41010,” explains a Shaw…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Rogers Communications is in talks with potential buyers of Shaw Communications’ Freedom Mobile, although according to the Globe and Mail, these talks do not include Quebecor subsidiary Videotron.
The news comes following a statement earlier this month from François-Philippe Champagne, minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, in which he said he would not allow Rogers to acquire all of Shaw’s wireless assets. (Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw still needs approval from ISED, the CRTC and the Competition Bureau.)
At a Scotia Bank conference the following week, Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri said Rogers found the statement to be…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – While Rogers Communications has been working on its acquisition of Shaw Communications, Telus has been accelerating its broadband build program in the hopes of grabbing market share ahead the proposed deal’s approval.
“We knew the timeline for… going through the process of approval was 18 months to two years, and then they’ve got a post-acquisition integration effort,” said Tony Geheran (above), executive vice-president and chief operations officer at Telus, in an interview with Cartt.ca.
Based on this, in May 2021, Telus announced it would invest an additional $1.5 billion in capital expenditures over 18 months. This pulled forward…
Continue Reading
Interventions suggest scope of CRTC hearing could be appropriately widened
OTTAWA – The CRTC’s decision on the future of the Russian state-funded English-language news service RT is unlikely to have a significant impact, Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. (ECGL) argues in an intervention submitted to the CRTC yesterday.
RT came to Canada in 2009 after ECGL applied to add it to the Commission’s list of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution in Canada.
The CRTC received an order from the Governor in Council last week, asking it to “hold a hearing to determine whether RT (formally known as Russia Today)…
Continue Reading
ROGERS PRESIDENT AND CEO Tony Staffieri (above, centre) is “unsurprised” François-Philippe Champagne, the minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said he would not allow the company to acquire all of Shaw Communications’ wireless licences last week.
Speaking with Scotiabank telecom analyst Jeff Fan (right) at the bank’s telecom, media and technology conference this afternoon, along with Glenn Brandt (left), Rogers’ chief financial officer, Staffieri said the statement was actually “very helpful in terms of articulating their broad view, which is on the wireless side, what they’d like to see is a continued fourth player in the marketplace.”
Overall, Staffieri told…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
COGECO CEO PHILIPPE JETTÉ (above) said today his company has been in “constant conversation” with Canada’s telecom regulator about when the industry can get the terms and conditions required for establishing a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), and is expecting something in ‘late spring, early summer.’
In April last year, the CRTC decided regional telecoms can force negotiations with the big three national telecoms for access to their mobile wireless networks, thereby allowing these smaller entities to establish services beyond their existing territory – so long as they have spectrum and infrastructure in the target area.
But the regulator has…
Continue Reading
CALGARY — In celebration of International Women’s Day, Shaw Communications and Hackergal today announced “Code the Future”, a new initiative designed to introduce young women, including non-binary, gender queer and trans individuals, to the basics of code and to help inspire them to explore the world of STEM.
Starting today, visitors to codethefuture.ca will be given the tools “to create a custom, web-based digital image using CSS and JavaScript coding languages,” which they are encouraged to share with their social networks “to inspire others and spread positive messages that celebrate women in STEM,” reads a press release.
“Code the Future is…
Continue Reading
TORONTO — Corus Entertainment announced today the appointment of Charmaine Crooks (above, left) and Margaret O’Brien (right) as new independent members of its board of directors, effective March 7.
These appointments bring Corus’s total board membership to 12.
“We are thrilled to welcome these two talented individuals to our Board of Directors,” said Heather Shaw, executive chair of the board, Corus Entertainment, in a press release. “Both women bring a wealth of knowledge and experience which complement our future growth objectives and further reflect our increased commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at Corus.”
“These two new board members join an experienced…
Continue Reading
Recommends government ensure all conditions are enforceable if it does
OTTAWA – The merger between Rogers and Shaw should not proceed, the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology says in a report presented to the House today.
The committee recommends that if it does go through, however, the government should ensure “all conditions attached to the merger approval are fully enforceable and that resources are available to enforce them.”
According to the report, the committee, chaired by Liberal member of parliament Joël Lightbound, is unconvinced of the merger’s merits and has taken issue with the enforceability of the commitments Rogers has made…
Continue Reading
