GATINEAU – The CRTC heard how the approval of Rogers Communications to acquire Shaw Communications’ broadcast assets will impact other organizations in Canada’s broadcast system on Tuesday during the second day of the Commission’s hearing into the matter.
“While the merger makes sense for Rogers and Shaw for their future, it has the unintended consequence of potentially all but destroying the independent broadcasting sector,” said Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv and OMG Media Group, who participated virtually at the hearing as part of a panel (pictured above) representing Independent Broadcasters Group (IBG).
Danks argued if the deal goes through, Rogers will…
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Commission asks Rogers to further consider proposals from interveners
By Amanda OYE
GATINEAU – Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications extolled the virtue of their proposed merger on the first day of the week-long CRTC hearing into the broadcasting side of the deal while Commission panel members grilled them on safeguards and the public interest.
“Joining forces with Rogers not only makes sense for Shaw, it makes sense for Canada,” Brad Shaw, executive chair and CEO of Shaw Communications told the Commission. “Combining the complementary assets of our two companies allows Rogers and Shaw to invest so much more than the sum of…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications last Friday announced it is committing $500,000 to support the relief and recovery efforts of organizations throughout British Columbia, including the Canadian Red Cross, Food Banks BC and local grassroots organizations, to address the immediate and ongoing needs in areas affected by recent floods.
“We are thinking of everyone impacted by this natural disaster and, like so many, we are deeply grateful to the emergency response teams and the organizations who continue to manage the devastating impacts of the past week’s storms,” says Brad Shaw, executive chairman and CEO of Calgary-based Shaw Communications, in a press…
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GATINEAU – Despite attempts to delay it, the CRTC hearing into Rogers Communications Inc.’s application to acquire Shaw Communications Inc.’s broadcast assets will begin Monday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. MT/11 a.m. ET.
“Edward Rogers, Brad Shaw and members of their respective executive and regulatory teams will be appearing on next weeks panel,” a Rogers spokesperson confirmed with Cartt.ca via email.
The CRTC announced this morning the hearing will be held in a hybrid format and as such, only parties appearing in person will be allowed in. It will be available to watch on the CRTC’s website.
Throughout the week,…
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TORONTO – Accusations of unfair conduct, cautious optimism and a Ben Affleck meme – the Canadian Telecom Summit’s regulatory blockbuster panel, held Tuesday, had it all.
The panel (pictured above left to right) was moderated by Globe and Mail reporter Alexandra Posadzki, and featured Ceri Howes, head of regulatory at Opensignal, Dennis Béland, vice-president of regulatory affairs, telecommunications at Quebecor, Geoff White, executive director of Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC), Paul Beaudry, vice-president of regulatory affairs at Cogeco, Ted Woodhead, senior vice-president of regulatory at Rogers Communications, Samer Bishay, CEO of Iristel and Stephen Schmidt, vice-president of telecom policy…
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Annual parade returns as nighttime event at Canada’s Wonderland
TORONTO — Bell Media announced today this year’s Original Santa Claus Parade will once again be presented as a two-hour primetime event, filmed at night inside Canada’s Wonderland amusement park north of Toronto and aired exclusively on CTV, CTV2 and CP24 on Saturday, Dec. 4 starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Unlike last year’s event, which was closed to the public due to Covid-19 health concerns, this year a limited number of families will experience the magic of the parade in person at the festively decorated park, while adhering to all local health…
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Natale and board unable to reach “mutually agreeable arrangement.” Search is on for permanent replacement
TORONTO – Joe Natale is out as CEO of Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI) effective immediately, RCI announced Tuesday night.
Tony Staffieri has been appointed interim president and CEO, a press release says. Staffieri is also a candidate for the permanent position, which RCI’s board is now looking to fill, according to the release.
“On behalf of the Rogers family, the Board and our 24,000 team members across the country, I thank Joe for his leadership and contributions to our company, including paving the way for our…
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VANCOUVER — Shaw Communications announced today Shaw Mobile and Freedom Mobile customers can now talk, text and stream when riding through all tunnels of TransLink’s SkyTrain system in Metro Vancouver.
“Beginning today, Shaw Mobile and Freedom Mobile customers can access fast LTE services when travelling through the Evergreen Tunnel between Burquitlam and Moody stations on the Millennium Line as well as the Columbia Station and Millennium Tunnels between New Westminster and Sapperton stations on the Expo Line,” reads a press release.
These network upgrades follow the 2018 expansion of LTE network access throughout the Dunsmuir Tunnel, and make it possible…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – CRTC chairman Ian Scott (above) said Monday the contested acquisition of 5G spectrum licenses by Quebecor’s Videotron in Western Canada is an example of what the regulator envisioned when it made the decision to allow regional competitors to force negotiations for wireless network space from the larger providers.
The regulator’s April decision allows regional carriers to negotiate access to the wireless facilities of the incumbents – Rogers, Bell, Telus and Sasktel – as long as they have spectrum and network facilities in the area they want to provide mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service….
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GATINEAU – The CRTC has officially denied the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and National Pensioners Federation’s (PIAC-NPF) procedural request to delay the hearing into the broadcast side of the deal between Rogers and Shaw.
PIAC-NPF had requested the hearing be delayed because of uncertainty around who was on the company’s board of directors, which arose when Edward Rogers, as chair of the Rogers Control Trust, decided to change five directors by written resolution – a move the company said was not valid. The matter ended up in front of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
In letters sent…
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