REDMOND, Wash., and LOUISVILLE, Colo. – An agreement announced Wednesday between Microsoft and CableLabs means Microsoft’s dream of easily delivering high-quality TV signals to PCs is right around the corner.
The world’s biggest software company and the North American cable industry’s research and development organization today announced they have reached an agreement that will allow Microsoft and PC manufacturers to bring to market digital-cable-ready Windows Media Center-based PCs in the holiday 2006 time frame.
These Media Center PCs, capable of supporting a CableCARD module, will allow consumers to enjoy one-way cable programming, including premium high-definition cable content, on their…
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OTTAWA – Both Rogers and Shaw Cable have applied to the CRTC again to alter the rules surrounding local ad avail time on U.S. cable channels.
Currently, American channels such as CNN, A&E, The Golf Channel and others make two minutes an hour available for cable companies to sell local availability time. In the U.S., it’s a multi-billion-dollar sales industry.
In Canada, MSOs are not allowed to sell the time by the CRTC. They must give 75% of the time to Canadian specialty channels (who have to also pay MSO costs) and to use the remaining 25% to promote…
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TORONTO – Think Broadband Solutions was officially launched this week by Tri-Vision Electronics.
The new, wholly-owned subsidiary “will focus on new telecom and wireless business opportunities and to complement Tri-Vision Electronics Inc.,” says the company.
Think will provide in-country equipment sales and supply, logistical support, niche product research, design and development, in-house and offshore manufacturing capabilities and equipment test, repair and refurbishment. Progress is well underway to represent major brand names in Canada, says the press release.
In fact, the company announced yesterday that it will offer Andrew Corporation subscriber access cable products including CATV coaxial cable and connectors for…
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VANCOUVER – With its labour woes (hopefully) finally behind the company, Telus CEO Darren Entwistle said Thursday the company is moving quickly on two new technologies: its new wireless EVDO network, and its digital television solution, Telus TV.
During a quarterly conference call with financial analysts, Entwistle said beginning next week, Telus will launch its EVDO (Evolution Data Optimized) high speed wireless network in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. The new net will allow wireless data speeds of more than 700 Kbps, about six times faster than its current offering.
And launching this month, is Telus TV, its…
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TORONTO – On Tuesday CHUM announced the launch of the CHUM Prairie Bridge Finance Program (CPB).
The new program is part of CHUM’s nearly $20 million commitment in programming benefits to Alberta and Manitoba as a result of its acquisition of Craig Media Inc., and will provide “much-needed gap funding in the form of recoupable loans for eligible television and film projects,” says the CHUM release.
The CPB initiative will make available $500,000 in gap financing to Alberta and Manitoba-based production companies. This is in addition to the previously announced $6.9 million in licence fees and other expenditures to…
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WINNIPEG – It’s still early days for high definition in Canada but with costs for broadcast equipment and the sets themselves coming down, it won’t be early for long.
Randall Dark, one of the speakers at the HDTV session Tuesday at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters annual convention in Winnipeg, runs HD Vision Studios and says he sees no reason why the whole industry can’t more quickly move into HD.
In the U.S., where he’s based, it’s taken off “like a rocket ship,” and if broadcasters and the production industry don’t move on HD, “you will lose market share,”…
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CALGARY – Shaw Cable has added Wild TV to its on demand lineup.
The category two hunting and fishing digi-net which is available as a full channel on Access Communications and MTS TV, has made its content available on Shaw On Demand.
The move, “makes watching your favorite hunting and fishing show as easy as using your remote,” says the Wild press release.
The independent specialty channel is appealing to fans to make some VOD buys and take in some of Wild TV’s VOD shows and programming segments like, The Moose is Loose, Elk Fever, Bears and Bruins and…
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IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT a family-owned cable company will bring in an outsider to run it. Especially a telco guy.
But, when that cable operation is in the middle of turning into a telephone company, too, it doesn’t seem like such a bad idea after all. Until June of this year, John Piercy was working as a consultant to Hamilton’s Mountain Cablevision, working out the kinks in its telephony offering, leading up to this past summer’s launch.
That’s when Owen Boris (Mountain’s founder) and his son Les asked Piercy (right) to come aboard full time as president. Les is…
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TORONTO – Maintaining it’s long-standing support of Bullying Awareness Week, Astral Media’s Family Channel is launching its 2005 "Take the Pledge" campaign.
The week is November 14 to 20, 2005, and its focus is to encourage kids to stick up for each other rather than silently watch if they see someone being bullied.
During the week, special programming will air on Family to challenge kids to take "The Pledge," an empowering statement that exemplifies the Bullying Awareness Week message that bystanders can be part of the solution to the problems of bullying.
Containing such lines as "I can help…
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TORONTO – Asian Television Networks has acquired the exclusive Canadian rights to the Videocon Cup, a twelve game cricket series with India vs. South Africa and India vs. Sri Lanka beginning today and running through to the end of November 2005.
ATN also announced the launch of ATN-ZEE Cinema, a popular Indian movie channel, ATN-ZEE Gujarati, a regional Language channel, ATN-Aastha, a Spiritual, devotional and faith based channel with yoga, fitness, aromatherapy and live telecasts of major festivals of India, and ATN Bangla, the longest running independent satellite channel from Bangladesh.
All three launched October 19th on Rogers Cable.
ATN…
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