OTTAWA – As the so-called "account stacking" proceeding progresses, reply comments were due in last week and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters let it be known again that the practice runs contrary to existing regulations.
The complaint (originally made by Videotron and first reported here, and followed up here) centers on Star Choice’s decision to allow customers to buy more than one receiver but pay just one bill, on the assumption that any additional receivers are in cottages or other such locations.
The broadcasters insist that the regulations and individual contracts say that one address equals one subscriber…
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KELOWNA – It’s hot here in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. And we don’t just mean the weather.
While it was sunny and 32-degrees Celsius Wednesday in this town of 105,000, inside the Coast Capri Hotel was a hot new technical trade show. More than 170 attendees enjoyed the air conditioning – not to mention the 38 vendor tables and six hours of training at the CommTech Trade Show and Training Seminars.
Six more hours of training and vendor tables are on tap for Thursday, too. (Tune in to cartt.ca for seminar coverage later this week.)
This was…
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SUDBURY – The Radio-Television News Directors Association of Canada presented its Central Canadian awards at the Regional Professional Development Seminar in Sudbury Saturday evening.
The 2005 TELEVISION winners are:
Bert Cannings Award – Best Newscast
* A-Channel London for Lynda Shaw’s Killer – (Medium Market) * CTV Montreal for CTV NEWS AT 6 The December 16 Blizzard – (Large Market)
Charlie Edwards Award – Spot News
* Global News – Ontario for Man on Fire * CTV Toronto for The Boxing Day Shootings – (Honourable Mention)
Dan McArthur Award – In-depth/Investigative
* City TV in Toronto for Fabry’s Drug…
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CALGARY – Star Choice announced today the addition of CHUM Television digi-nets Drive-in Classics and SexTV to its channel lineup.
As of June 1st, Star Choice will also be launching a new bundle of programming services called Intense TV. The new bundle will include the two channels above plus The Fight Network, Spike TV and Much Music for $4.99 per month. Star Choice customers are also able to customize by choosing from 19 bundles of channels. Following their free preview, Drive-In Classics and SexTV will each also be available as pick n’ pay channels for only $2.49 per month….
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TORONTO – Media investors will have to watch for new ticker symbols beginning next Monday.
The changes are being made as part of a broader symbol change initiative announced by the TSX under which it is modifying the ticker symbols previously assigned for approximately 150 of its listings.
For example, with Rogers Communications, RCI.B will replace the current ticker symbol RCI.NV.B for the Class B shares and RCI.A will replace the current ticker symbol RCI.MV.A for the Class A shares. It will be understood that the Class B shares are "Non-Voting" while the Class A shares are "Multiple Voting"….
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OTTAWA – The new Federal Cabinet wants the CRTC to revisit last year’s voice over Internet protocol decision.
As reported on numerous occasions by www.cartt.ca, the CRTC decided last year to maintain its position that voice, even delivered via IP, is still telephone service. What that meant was that incumbent telcos still faced some regulatory shackles (like having to file for tariffs) while newcomers, such as cable operators or VOIP providers like Vonage would have a freer hand.
Canada’s ILECs – most of them anyway – appealed the decision.
In governmentspeak: "The Governor in Council (GIC) has referred…
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EDMONTON – Independent digital specialty channel Wild TV has debuted on Telus TV.
The 24-hour hunting and fishing television channel will be seen for the first time in Alberta in its linear format (its programming has been available on demand with Telus until now and is available on demand with Shaw Cable).
Edmonton-based Wild TV is dedicated to Canadian hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, "offering original programming that captures the thrill of hunting and fishing in the Canadian wilderness as well as the best outdoor programming from across North America," says the company.
"With an estimated eight million hunting…
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OTTAWA – Former Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association senior vice-president and general counsel, Lori Assheton-Smith has launched her own business. This week she made official the establishment of Lori D. Assheton-Smith Professional Corporation, "through which I will continue to provide legal services and advice in the areas of broadcasting, telecommunications and Internet law and regulation," she said.
Assheton-Smith (right) has been with the CCTA in various roles since 2000, culminating in her SVP role. Prior to the CCTA, she was legal counsel with the CRTC.
The CCTA ceased operations in February after the association’s second-largest member,…
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LONDON, Ont. – Corus Radio has named Kent Guy as promotions and marketing director for its four London, Ont.-area stations.
Guy was most recently purchasing and promotions manager for Herbal Magic, and brings 20 years of broadcasting experience to his new position.
He had previously worked for Corus’ London cluster, spearheading the marketing and promotions efforts behind the relaunch of AM980 CFPL and Classic Rock 103.9 the Hawk (based in nearby Woodstock), and participated in the rebranding of FM96 and Energy 103 (now The New 1031 Fresh FM).
“We are pleased to welcome Kent back to the London-area cluster,”…
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OTTAWA – The SCTE Ontario chapter general meeting will be held Thursday, April 27 in Ottawa.
The session topics will cover all aspects of fibre optics. Attendees will gain a better understanding of fiber optic fundamentals, DWDM, node splitting techniques, HFC reverse path issues and troubleshooting.
Times Fiber is also offering their plant tour on Wed. April 26 in Renfrew.
Deadline for registration is Monday, April 24. If you want lunch, pre-registration is mandatory. Vendor tables are still available, too.
Click here for the full agenda.
Other SCTE Ontario notes Due to the August long weekend, the golf date…
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