TORONTO – Edward Rogers announced yesterday he intends to replace five members of the board of directors of Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI).
A press release issued late last night says Mr. Rogers “is disappointed with recent events and commentary regarding the governance of RCI and has lost confidence in the Board of RCI as currently constituted.”
Earlier yesterday evening, RCI announced its board had voted out Mr. Rogers as chair and that John MacDonald was taking over. (You can catch up on the ongoing power struggle at RCI here, here and here.)
However, Mr. Rogers remains on RCI’s…
Continue Reading
Executive oversight committee created to deal with ongoing conflict
TORONTO – Rogers Communications reported its third quarter financial results this morning as the company attempts to put its house back in order after reports made an ongoing power struggle public.
Overall, for the quarter ending Sept. 30, Rogers reported adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was down 2% to $1.6 billion from Q3 2020 and net income was down 4% to $490 million. Revenue was virtually unchanged from Q3 2020, at $3.6 billion.
Wireless performed well during Q3.
Rogers reported 175,000 wireless postpaid net subscriber additions, “our best result…
Continue Reading
TORONTO — Rogers Communications announced today the launch of a new certified phone repair service now available at select Rogers and Fido stores in 15 cities across Ontario.
The service allows customers to book an appointment with a certified repair expert and have their phones repaired within hours, “offering customers more convenience, flexibility and reliability when seeking to repair their device,” reads a press release.
Rogers and Fido certified repair experts can help fix battery issues, screen breaks, cameras, audio, software malfunctions and other smartphone problems. Customers can keep track of their repair progress with real-time notifications and online tracking, and all…
Continue Reading
Judge zeroes in on the term “wholesale” for Quebecor subsidiary Fibernoire
By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – Arguments before the Federal Court on Tuesday about whether Videotron correctly qualified for 3.5 GHz spectrum for wireless services in western Canada pivoted on what kind of impact this decision could have on the market – and whether unfair advantages would be given based on a specific interpretation of the auction rules.
In July, Quebecor’s Videotron was awarded 294 licences for nearly $830 million in the set-aside portion of the 3.5 GHz auction that began in June. This includes licences in Manitoba, Alberta and British…
Continue Reading
Government will not publish submissions received
By Amanda OYE
GATINEAU, QC – Comments submitted to the federal government’s consultation into harmful content online highlight a multitude of issues with its proposals for addressing the issue as well as with the consultation process itself.
The submissions to the consultation are not easy to come by. The deadline for comments passed in September, but the government decided it would not publish the ones it received.
A spokesperson for Canadian Heritage told Cartt.ca via email the submissions will only be available if an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request is made because the submissions…
Continue Reading
Shaw fastest fixed broadband provider during the quarter
SEATTLE — In its latest quarterly report, released today, Seattle-based mobile and broadband network testing company Ookla says Telus Communications was the fastest mobile operator in Canada in the third quarter of 2021, while Shaw Communications was the fastest fixed broadband provider in the country during Q3.
Using its Speedtest Intelligence data for Q3, Ookla awarded Telus a speed score of 81.93 for its mobile network performance. The next fastest mobile operator was Bell with a speed score of 77.15, according to Ookla’s report. The remaining top mobile providers included in the…
Continue Reading
TORONTO and HAMILTON – Boss & Co, Portfolio Entertainment and CBC today announced production on Homeschooled, a new CBC Gem original YA dramedy series, has begun in Toronto and Hamilton.
“Created, directed, and executive produced by Karen Knox and Gwenlyn Cumyn (Slo Pitch, Barbelle), Homeschooled explores the niche world of home education as mainstream and fringe teen experiences collide in a unique coming-of-age tale,” a press release says.
“Freaks are underrated and “trads” (a student attending a “traditional” education facility) rarely make history – or at least that’s what 16-year-old intellectuals Farzanah (Eman Ayaz, Ghostwriter) and Greta (Veronika Slowikowska, What We Do in the Shadows) set…
Continue Reading
TORONTO — Independent content creator and distributor Epic Story Media Inc. (ESM) announced today it has signed deals with broadcast and licensing partners on a number of series across its slate of children’s programming.
ESM has sold evergreen brand Pocoyo to WarnerMedia Kids & Family U.S. for its Cartoonito preschool block, which was launched on Sept. 13.
In addition, ESM also recently signed a deal with B.C.’s public broadcaster Knowledge Network to air the Pocoyoseries in Canada.
Owned by Zinkia Entertainment, Pocoyo is “a fun and educational series about a little boy who discovers the world around him with his inseparable group…
Continue Reading
Bloomberg says company chairman wanted up to nine senior executives gone
TORONTO – Rogers CFO Tony Staffieri left the company due to “a high-level power struggle” during which the company’s chairman attempted to unseat the company’s CEO, the Globe and Mail reported last Friday.
Staffieri’s abrupt departure from Rogers was announced by the company on Sept. 29. No explanation was given at the time.
The Globe and Mail has since reported unidentified sources said Staffieri had developed a close relationship with Rogers chairman Edward Rogers, had ambitions to be CEO and “frequently butted heads” with Joe Natale, the company’s current…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC is now allowing Cable Public Affairs Channel Inc. (CPAC) to participate in the proceeding dealing with the broadcast side of the proposed Rogers/Shaw transaction as an interested party, thereby granting it several new rights.
In a letter dated Oct. 7, the CRTC authorized CPAC to appear at the upcoming hearing into the matter in its own right and granted CPAC the right for its representatives to participate in any in camera discussions that may be held regarding its governance.
The CRTC also granted CPAC “the right to file a reply to intervenors in accordance with section 27…
Continue Reading
