The Disability Screen Office (DSO) on Monday announced a new program, the Accessibility & Disability E-Learning Series (ADLS), a course designed to help industry stakeholders understand and comply with accessibility legislation specific to their work in the Canadian screen industry.
Set to launch in spring 2026, this initiative is made possible with the support of the Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Creative BC and the province of British Columbia, Bell Fund, Telus Originals, and the City of Toronto, according to a DSO press release.
The ADLS will be a fully online, self-paced training program available…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
Rogers says it is being hamstrung by having to set aside money for the $750-million Broadband Fund that it says is not efficiently distributing money to projects.
The cable giant said in a Part 1 application made public Monday that it has to tie-up millions of dollars in “uncalled” contributions – amounts that the telecom must be ready deliver to the National Contribution Fund (NCF) when requested – which is creating large liabilities on its balance sheet.
It is asking the CRTC to change the NCF’s collection practices to prioritize the amounts that are waiting to be collected over…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
An Eastlink executive said Wednesday that the company has experienced challenges getting large streaming platforms to do deals with a smaller distributor like itself, as more Canadians seek bundles with both linear and online options.
“It is extremely key,” Andy Garrett, vice president of product management, said about being able to do package deals with big streamers like Netflix and Apple TV. “I know a lot of the larger streamers are looking for or wanting to do business with a large provider. So they would typically say that we’re too small and we’re not worth their time.
“Not being…
Continue Reading
Appeals on the horizon
By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC ruled Friday that it will continue allowing the three largest internet service providers to use the wholesale access regime, pointing to the “several thousand” Canadian households now on service plans offered by the “dozens of providers” using the final framework from August 2024.
The decision flies in the face of concern from a broad swath of ISPs big and small, who have argued this would be a disastrous decision for investment in networks and for the viability of regional players as the deeper-pocketed, bigger brands will now be able to ride on their…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
Quebecor said Thursday that the CRTC should consider eliminating rules that have no equivalent in the online world, including what it calls micromanaging of commercial relationships under the decade-old Wholesale Code.
Similar to sentiment from Bell on Wednesday, Quebecor executives told the CRTC studying the market dynamics between broadcasters and programmers that the Canadian system is no longer a “walled garden” environment closed off from the myriad of online options, and that more needs to be done to level the playing field.
Quebecor’s recommendations in general include the removal of the Wholesale Code; in particular, it…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
Bell urged the CRTC on Wednesday to loosen the rigid rules surrounding how broadcasters and programmers are allowed to negotiate the packaging and payment of content.
The vertically-integrated company said there are certain commission rules dating back to 2015 that are hampering the ability of both the distributor and programmer to get the best commercial outcome in a system that is now flooded with online options.
“Since the introduction of the Wholesale Code, there’s a lot of prohibitions on specific packaging terms in our negotiations with BDUs,” Ben Keys, Bell Media’s director of content distribution, said Wednesday. “And what…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
If the CRTC mandates information disclosure for wireless services like its 5G home internet, then it could stunt Rogers’s effort to bridge the digital divide, the cable giant said Thursday.
“Introducing what’s being considered here, for something that’s not captured by the legislation, could impose costs and burdens upon Rogers in the infancy of its launch of this product that actually undermine achievement of that critical public policy objective,” Dean Shaikh, Rogers’s senior vice president of regulatory affairs, told the commission studying the implementation of standardized information to make it easier for customers to choose internet services.
“This is…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC should specifically tailor its broadband transparency efforts on certain technologies that have been shown to demonstrate more variation in internet speeds, such as satellite and fixed-wireless services, according to Bell executives.
Otherwise, if the CRTC must impose standardized transparency language to make it easier for consumers to choose services, it can force internet service providers to change their “up-to” or “maximum” language to “typical” because that’s what most service providers are already offering on wireline.
“We’d be well within … the margins by which what we advertise as a maximum speed would be advertised as a typical…
Continue Reading
Bell announced Thursday a new streaming bundle that includes Disney+, Crave, and TSN, which is slated to launch later this year.
“At launch, the new bundles provide savings for viewers when they combine services together, giving customers access to a vast selection of premium content, including HBO and Max Originals, Crave Originals, Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and TSN’s deep and diverse roster of live and on demand sports programming, and much more,” Bell Media said in a press release, adding more details about offers, pricing and launch date will be announced in the “coming weeks.”
“This collaboration with…
Continue Reading
Federal ministers said Thursday they are pleased with the announcements by Bell and Telus to open up artificial intelligence facilities across the country, noting that they show a commitment to building a stronger Canadian economy.
“These forward-looking private sector investments will help create high-quality jobs in Canada, open up new opportunities for workers at home and strengthen Canada’s position as an AI leader. It also supports the responsible development and adoption of AI technologies that can improve prosperity for workers and businesses across Canada,” said the joint statement by Industry Minister Melanie Joly and AI and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon.
“Notwithstanding unjustified tariffs imposed…
Continue Reading
