GATINEAU – There are always some interesting figures which emerge with the publishing of the annual aggregate returns of the large carriers and broadcasters by the CRTC.
Below are a few highlights from the data filed by Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV companies (we’ll look at the conventional TV, pay and specialty and radio numbers later) for the broadcast year ended August 31, 2014.
Of the subscriber losses suffered by the large, established TV carriers (cable and satellite brands Rogers Cable, Shaw Cable, Shaw Direct, Videotron, Bell Satellite TV, Cogeco Cable and Eastlink) almost all went to…
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TORONTO – Alek Krstajic has been named the new CEO of Wind Mobile, and founder Anthony Lacavera is stepping away from the company’s day-to-day operations to take on the role of honorary chairman, the company announced Monday.
Krstajic replaces former CEO Pietro Cordova who “has transitioned away” to rejoin the Vimpelcom group, according to the announcement. No stranger to the Canadian wireless industry, Krstajic was founder and CEO of fellow new wireless entrant Public Mobile, bought by Telus in 2013, plus was previously president of Bell Mobility and SVP at Rogers Cable.
"We are very happy to welcome Alek as…
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OTTAWA – While some have yet to react and others have decried the CRTC’s decisions today on the carriage portion of the Commission’s TV Policy Review, the overall reaction has ranged from generally positive to indifferent. Bell Canada and Quebecor Media have chosen not to respond as yet.
Shaw Communications president and CEO Brad Shaw:
“We support the Government’s direction and the Commission’s commitment to maximize choice for Canadians – as citizens, producers, and consumers. We are pleased that the Commission has built on the foundation of previous Talk TV decisions to support a bold yet balanced and orderly policy framework…
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MONTREAL – Telus Health said Thursday that it has completed its acquisition of Medesync, a certified electronic medical records (EMR) product, which will bring a web-based interface to Telus' EMR portfolio in Quebec. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Medesync uses the latest cloud-based and mobile technologies to bring physicians anywhere, anytime, access to EMRs from any computer or mobile device. Its EMR technology includes tools for managing and accessing all aspects of a clinic's operations, including scheduling, clinical encounters, prescribing, billing and electronic lab results. Additionally, it provides reporting capabilities and dashboards to assist medical professionals and…
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TORONTO – Bell Media’s CraveTV subscription video on-demand streaming service is now available to more TV subscribers in Ontario after Bell signed up four more distributors in the province for the service.
The four new CraveTV distributors are Hay Communications, with customers in Zurich, Grand Bend, and Exeter; Mitchell Seaforth Cable TV, serving communities throughout Huron and Perth County; Huron County-based Tuckersmith Communications; and Wightman Telecom in Clifford, ON. These new distribution partners join the list of providers that also includes Bell Fibe TV, Bell Satellite TV, and Bell Aliant FibreOp TV, Telus Optik TV, Eastlink, Northwestel, Nexicom, Access Communications,…
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TORONTO – Telus has joined forces with RingCentral on Telus Business Connect, an advanced suite of cloud-based communications tools designed for small businesses.
Telus Business Connect includes local and toll-free numbers, an automated attendant and call routing, unlimited Canadian and U.S. calling, audio and video conferencing, plus wireless back-up for office internet access. For employees on the go, the solution offers a single number that can be used across a mobile phone, tablet, IP desk phone or PC, as well as mobile apps that help them stay connected to business tools like voicemail, fax and conferencing, no matter where they…
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TORONTO – CBC/Radio-Canada has named Catherine Patry as director, marketing and business-to-business communications for its Media Solutions Group.
Patry, pictured, previously held various management roles in marketing and communications at Telus for nearly eight years. Prior to that, she worked for the advertising agencies Bleublancrouge and Taxi.
Reporting directly to Media Solutions’ general manager and chief revenue officer Jean Mongeau, Patry’s mandate is to elaborate marketing, commercialization and B2B communications strategies aimed at CBC/Radio-Canada’s clients and business partners in the advertising sales and distribution areas.
“Catherine is a seasoned marketer with a strong knowledge of our business environment,” said Mongeau in Tuesday’s…
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TORONTO – Rogers has reached an agreement with the Competition Bureau to credit or refund its customers who were charged for premium text messages that they did not ask for.
Premium texts provide information like quizzes and fun facts, horoscopes and ringtones for which customers pay a transaction or monthly fee. In the past, Rogers acted as the billing agent for the third parties who provided the premium texts, much like charging a purchase to a credit card.
The move comes as a result of a Competition Bureau investigation of Rogers, Bell, Telus and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) launched in 2012…
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MONTREAL – Stingray Music is offering a channel featuring music from the 2015 Juno Award nominees that will be available through March 31.
Stingray Juno Music is available now in over 2.3 million homes through Telus (channel 7925), Telus QC (channel 6626), Videotron (channel 546), MTS (TV App) and SaskTel (channel 798) as well as on the Stingray Music mobile app. A free customized Stingray Music videos playlist entitled Top Picks JUNOS 2015 is also available through all TV operators that offer VOD.
Stingray Music is also the official sponsor of the Juno for the best Blues Album of the year, and,…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC unveiled sweeping changes to the Canadian TV broadcasting system earlier today. The Regulator has eliminated genre protection rules, shifted from Canadian content exhibition quotas to spending requirements and created a new class of online video-on-demand (VOD) services.
In a speech to the Canadian Club of Ottawa, Commission chair Jean-Pierre Blais underscored the need to adapt the broadcasting system to meet the realities of today where “people watch content in the ways, on the devices and at the times that most suit them.” He acknowledged that content is still king, but added that the viewer is now…
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