OTTAWA – Telus has received a broadcasting licence to operate a national terrestrial pay-per-view (PPV) programming undertaking, just weeks after news broke that PPV service Viewer’s Choice would be shutting down in September.
The CRTC approved Telus’ application on Monday, noting that it was satisfied that the application complied with the revised regulatory framework for PPV services.
According to the application, the service will offer live and tape-delayed professional and amateur sports events, as well as live and tape-delayed special events including programs of comedy sketches, improvisations, unscripted works, stand-up comedy, music and dance, variety, and general entertainment…
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GATINEAU – The quest of both the CRTC and the federal government to ensure consumers have more choice in their TV packages is running into some difficult headwinds. Vertically integrated broadcast distributors as well as content developers acknowledge that Canadians do say they want more channel flexibility, but they don’t want a so-called “skinny basic” tier of TV channels.
In the official TV Policy Review Notice of Consultation (2014-190), the Commission has proposed a basic cable package that only includes local Canadian TV stations, the 9(1)(h) must-carry channels, provincial educational services if they exist, and in some cases, the community…
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GATINEAU – Canadian prices for wireline, wireless and Internet services are generally competitive when compared to other G7 countries and Australia, with the exception of entry level mobile wireless service and high-speed Internet, according to an annual report commissioned by Industry Canada and the CRTC.
Prepared by Ottawa’s Wall Communications, the 2014 update Price Comparisons of Wireline, Wireless and Internet Services in Canada and with Foreign Jurisdictions is an annual telecom services price comparison study that combines and averages wireline, mobile wireless, broadband Internet, and mobile Internet service rates, as well as bundles of these services along with basic digital TV…
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TORONTO – Independent movie channel operator Hollywood Suite announced the launch of Hollywood Suite GO (HSGO) Tuesday, available on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android devices for subscribers through carrier partners Source Cable, Eastlink, Telus Optik TV, and Cogeco Cable.
Customers of each BDU can download the Hollywood Suite GO app immediately and take Hollywood Suite with them. Available at no additional cost for existing subscribers, HSGO gives movie lovers the freedom and the ability to enjoy their favourite movies in high definition with unlimited access whenever and wherever they want, says the company’s press release.
Optimized for Apple iOS and Android Devices,…
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GATINEAU – The place, and prominence, of American specialty networks in Canadian television programming packages may soon be changing as the CRTC grapples with the part that U.S. discretionary services play in our rapidly changing broadcast environment.
When the Commission launched the third phase of Let’s Talk TV: A Conversation with Canadians last April, it also proposed a potential new approach to licensing foreign services for carriage in Canada. That proposal suggested a simple test: a non-Canadian service would be authorized for carriage and distribution unless it would have “an undue negative impact” on the Canadian TV system. Services that…
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TORONTO – HBO Canada wants viewers to binge watch its new Canadian dramedy Sensitive Skin, and is making the entire first season available to subscribers online and on demand following its broadcast debut next Sunday.
The bittersweet comedy stars and is executive produced by Golden Globe Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Kim Cattrall along with Genie and Tony Award winner Don McKellar, who also directs all six episodes. Based on the original British version, Sensitive Skin is about a woman of a certain age and her long-time husband attempting to change their lives.
Sensitive Skin will premiere July 20 at…
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GATINEAU – The press release headlines sound pretty good, but it’s in the conditions, the details, where all this talk of consumer choice and flexibility gets bogged down.
The three largest Canadian vertically integrated media and carriage companies (Bell, Shaw and Rogers) each issued press releases Friday – the day their submissions to the CRTC on its TV Policy Review were due – saying, and we’re paraphrasing here: “boy oh boy, are we consumer friendly and choice leaders!” The big three each said they support more pick and pay, or a-la-carte channel selection, so that Canadians…
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MONTREAL – Stingray Digital has finalized an agreement with Mood Media Corporation for its remaining 8,000 Canadian commercial accounts, and will continue to be Mood’s exclusive partner for the representation of their products and services in Canada.
Through the agreement, announced Friday, Stingray will continue to provide its 72,000 commercial clients with music services, digital signage solutions and other value added services. Clients now serviced by Stingray’s commercial account team include Loblaws, Telus and Mark’s Work Warehouse retail locations.
“We strongly believe in the continued growth of our commercial music services in Canada and as stated in a recent SOCAN…
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TORONTO – Struggling Mobilicity has received another extension to its creditor protection.
After filing materials earlier this week with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the wireless carrier confirmed Wednesday that it has received a further extension under its current CCAA proceedings from June 30 to September 26, 2014. It was initially granted creditor protection last September.
Mobilicity added that it’s previously announced mediation is ongoing and it "continues to be business as usual” for customers.
All things considered, the company is hanging on, with 157,000 customers as of June 16th, according to the Monitor's Report, and "that management expects this number…
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VANCOUVER – The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is officially endorsing Telus WISE (Wise Internet and Smartphone Education), a unique educational program focused on helping Canadian families stay safe online.
The Telus WISE Internet and smartphone safety program has two tailored components – one aimed at adults interested in helping them and their families remain safer online, while the second, Telus WISE footprint, appeals directly to youth. To date, the Telus WISE program has reached more than 300,000 Canadians.
Members of the CACP Board of Directors are encouraging policing services within their jurisdictions to utilise the Telus WISE…
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