GATINEAU – During the final regular season game of the NHL season aired on TVA Sports this past weekend, the Quebecor-owned broadcaster warned viewers they were going to lose access to the channel when the NHL playoffs begin – and that it’s all Bell’s fault.
Currently, Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau is leading a one-man public campaign decrying the state of affairs when it comes to specialty TV and the wholesale rates his TVA channels receive from carriers (please see our feature interview published here), since they are so much lower than Bell Media channels…
Continue Reading
Reiterates push for “granular data”
GATINEAU – The Canadian wireless market reaps $24.5 billion in annual retail sales, accounts for 155,000 jobs and 31.7 million subscribers (2017 figures*) so the stakes are rather high when it comes to another regulatory review of that market.
Old ways (facilities-based competition) may be thrown out with new ones mandated (MVNOs). The questions surrounding the CRTC’s latest review of the wireless market has created much unease and uncertainty inside Canada’s wireless carriers (and a glimmer of hope among those who want to launch new MVNO-based brands and…
Continue Reading
Le président de Québecor sent qu’il est le seul pour se battre pour la culture
C’EST UN PIERRE KARL PÉLADEAU en grande forme à qui nous avons parlé cette semaine lors d’une conversation téléphonique, mardi après-midi. Il venait de prononcer une conférence au CORIM (Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal) dans le cadre de sa dernière campagne d’information sur l’avenir du système de radiodiffusion canadien.
Cette fois, le président et chef de la direction de Québecor, monte aux barricades pour s’attaquer à Netflix, au système de redevances des canaux spécialisés, au CRTC, à Radio-Canada, à Bell et…
Continue Reading
CEO says he feels alone fighting for our culture
IT WAS A PIERRE KARL PÉLADEAU in fine form with whom we had a phone conversation on Tuesday after a speech he gave at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relation. That speech was part of public relations campaign he is leading on the future of the Canadian broadcasting system.
This time the Quebecor CEO is attacking Netflix, the specialty channel affiliation regime, the CRTC, the CBC, Bell and the apathy he feels from so many. While the system is crumbling nobody is being spared, and not enough Canadians…
Continue Reading
New branding reflects a "digital-first, connectivity company"
CALGARY – Shaw Communications is helping customers to manage all aspects of their home WiFi network through new technology known as Shaw BlueCurve.
Available only with the BlueCurve Gateway modem, the Shaw BlueCurve Home app promises total control of the home WiFi, including the ability to control network access, create user profiles, monitor usage, and block content to one device while maintaining connectivity to another.
Thursday’s announcement said that both new and existing customers with the Shaw BlueCurve Gateway modem can download the Shaw BlueCurve Home app for iOS (10.0 or later) and Android (5…
Continue Reading
Seems likely we’ll eventually see it from the Canadian X1 licencees
PHILADELPHIA – This week Comcast launched Xfinity Flex, a new $5/mo. service which provides Xfinity Internet-only customers the ability to stream thousands of free movies and TV shows as well as use their television and voice control to manage all connected devices in their home.
Xfinity Flex comes with an Internet-connected, 4K HDR streaming TV device, Comcast’s award-winning voice remote, one integrated guide for accessing popular streaming video and music choices, as well as Comcast’s home Wi-Fi, mobile, security, and automation services.
Plus, having that extra little box in an Internet-only…
Continue Reading
CALGARY and MONTREAL – Shaw Communications is partnering with the Computers for Success Canada (CFSC) program to donate used computer equipment through the Feds’ Computers for Schools (CFS) program.
CFS has distributed more than $450 million worth of computers to schools, Indigenous communities, non-profits, and low-income families since 1993.
To launch this partnership, Shaw and CFS will distribute more than 300 computers to Pathways to Education, a national, charitable organization working to help youth in low-income communities to graduate from high school and successfully transition to post-secondary education, training, or employment.
The partnership between CFSC and Shaw also includes…
Continue Reading
CANOE VENTURES IS hoping 2019 is the year where it begins to help build video on demand advertising together with BDUs and broadcasters into a $200 million marketplace.
The U.S. company (which is co-owned by MSOs Comcast, Cox Communications and Charter Communications) has been the driver behind huge success Stateside, where the VOD ad business is already a US$1 billion market. Canoe alone delivered 26 billion ad impressions in 2018 on 7,476 ad campaigns. It delivers VOD ads to 36 million American households for broadcast clients such as ABC, A+E, AMC, CBS, Discovery, MTV, NBC, Showtime, Univision and others.
Now,…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Freedom Mobile has arrived in six Eastern Ontario communities as the Shaw-owned service continues to invest in and expand its wireless network.
The carrier said Friday that it is offering residents in Cobourg, Trenton, Belleville, Brockville, Cornwall and Pembroke introductory pricing for 10GB of data along with unlimited Canada-wide talk and text.
Freedom Mobile added that this year’s expansion plans include launching service in new communities across B.C., Alberta and Ontario, providing access to 1.3 million more people.
““We exist because Canadians deserve better, which is why we have compelling voice and data plans available for our customers that challenge…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw Business has cranked up its internet speeds, giving business customers access to up to 1 Gbps download and 125 Mbps upload.
In addition, business customers on eligible Shaw Business Internet and SmartWiFi 150 and 300 plans will see their download speeds doubled to 300 Mbps and 600 Mbps, respectively, at no additional cost.
Shaw said that the speed increases and the launch of 1 Gbps download speeds for business customers is the result of its “significant investments” to improve the quality and capacity of its fibre network, combined with the introduction of the Hitron DOCSIS 3.1 modem.
“As businesses…
Continue Reading