GATINEAU – Major concerns have been raised about the broadcasting side of the proposed Rogers/Shaw deal, which is currently being reviewed by the CRTC.
Individuals and organizations had until last Monday to send in their submissions in response to the Commission’s call for comments on Rogers’ application to the CRTC on behalf of Shaw to acquire Shaw’s licensed broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs), Shaw Direct, Shaw Broadcast Services and Shaw Pay-Per-View.
Bell, Telus, Independent Broadcasters Group (IBG), Cogeco, Corus, Ethnic Channels Group (ECG) and TLN, Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC) and Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) are…
Continue Reading
By Ken Kelley
Evoking the name of founder Ted Rogers, Rogers CEO Joe Natale said he sees a certain irony in Bell Canada filing its opposition to his company’s impending tie-up with Shaw on broadcast grounds.
“In Rogers’ 60-year history, we’ve always been the challenger, and in many ways, kind of standing up against the larger players in the market, the challenger to Bell on many fronts,” Natale said, speaking at BMO’s virtual Media and Telecom Conference on Tuesday.
“And there’s a high degree of irony in Bell looking at us as being a bigger player. Ted Rogers is probably smiling…
Continue Reading
Meeting notes show pole replacement and refurbishment listed as significant barrier, but it’s about speed
By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – Rogers and Cogeco were among several internet service providers that met with stakeholders in the Ontario government in November 2020 to address wireline pole attachment issues in the province – but the rates to attach equipment were not identified as a significant barrier, according to notes from the meeting obtained by Cartt.ca.
At around $43 per attachment, per pole, Ontario has the country’s highest cost to attach telecommunications equipment on the wood poles, which run along highways and are a primary alternative…
Continue Reading
IGLOOLIK, Nunavut — Inuit-owned TV channel Uvagut TV announced today it will provide live coverage of the Federal Leaders’ Debate in the Inuktitut language this Thursday, starting at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Lucy Tulugarjuk, managing director of Uvagut TV, will host special coverage of the debate and former Nunavut premier and speaker of the Legislative Assembly Paul Quassa (above) will provide pre-debate commentary and insight.
The debate will stream live with an Inuktitut voice-over and will be rebroadcasted on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. ET with additional post-debate comments from Tulugarjuk and Quassa, says a press release.
“Many Inuit will be listening…
Continue Reading
WHITEHORSE — Far north telecom provider Northwestel announced today it has submitted two tariff applications to the CRTC asking for permission to increase the Internet speeds of its most popular residential fibre and cable Internet plans and to also lower the rates of these plans by $10 a month.
A subsidiary of Bell Canada, Northwestel’s Internet packages and rates are regulated by the CRTC and can only be changed with the Commission’s approval.
“The proposed changes would see download and upload speed increases and rate decreases in every residential unlimited Internet plan,” reads a Northwestel press release.
“For example, a residential Internet…
Continue Reading
TORONTO — Little Canada, a new attraction in downtown Toronto that celebrates the country’s sights and stories through miniature models, announced today an exclusive partnership with Shaw Communications’ Freedom Mobile.
“With the support of Freedom Mobile, Little Canada will enable visitors to explore the country’s wonders and diverse stories through a new lens, right in their own backyard,” a press release says.
“We have integrated Freedom naturally into the Little Canada attraction in a surprising and entertaining way,” Joy Evenson, director of marketing, sales and sponsorship at Little Canada told Cartt.ca in an email.
“We believe that these ground-breaking and unique activations…
Continue Reading
Quebecor CEO said it’s “another attempt” to “eliminate real competition”
By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – Bell wants the Federal Court to review whether Innovation Canada made a mistake in awarding Quebecor’s Videotron crucial 5G spectrum licenses outside of its normal operating territories, a move that Pierre Karl Peladeau said is another attempt to “eliminate real competition.”
The Quebecor CEO, who has tweeted his thoughts on the matter, said in a statement Monday: “This is just another attempt from Bell and Telus to eliminate real competition, but Canadians deserve better than today’s overpriced wireless marketplace.” Bell and Telus have a network sharing agreement…
Continue Reading
By Denis Carmel
CARTT.CA HAS LEARNED large Canadian broadcasting and telecommunication enterprises collected significant amounts from the federal government’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) in 2020 and will likely receive more for 2021.
The following companies have, according to the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), received subsidies:
BCE: $122.9 million
Québecor: $3.1 million
Rogers: $90.5 million
Telus: $38.6 million
Stingray: $25.2 million
Corus: $34.9 million
Pelmorex: $6.3 million*
According to the administer these programs, “a Canadian employer who has seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of its…
Continue Reading
Office life unlikely to return to what it was in 2019
By Amanda Oye
AS COMPANIES AROUND the country make plans to bring employees back into offices, and grapple with how to do so safely, Cartt.ca asked a variety of Canadian telecommunications and broadcasting companies about their own plans.
Few companies Cartt.ca reached out to have, at this point, decided to require staff to be fully vaccinated. Fourteen companies responded to our request for information on back to office plans, only three of which indicated they were requiring some or all employees to be vaccinated.
OUTtv is one of those companies. While…
Continue Reading
BRITISH COLUMBIA — Shaw Communications tweeted today its Shaw Go WiFi hotspots are open for all residents in British Columbia to help people during the province’s state of emergency due to wildfires.
“Whether you are a Shaw customer or not, Shaw Go WiFi hotspots can provide you with access to timely news and information and help you stay in touch with friends and loved ones,” reads Shaw’s tweet.
Information on how to access Shaw Go WiFi as a guest is available here.
Continue Reading
