A FEW YEARS AGO, when digital video recorders first appeared on the scene, many predicted big trouble for the TV industry. Broadcasters sued or threatened to.
After all, if people could record their favourite shows and zip through commercials when watching them hours or even days later how long would it take advertisers who want their messages to be seen and acted on rightnow to lose faith in television's all-encompassing power?
But while many feared the power of the DVR (or PVR), those on the sports side almost welcomed it as an affirmation of the drawing power of that content. They…
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OTTAWA – The Competition Bureau has officially sanctioned Telus’ proposed acquisition of Public Mobile.
The Bureau said Friday in a statement that it has issued a No Action Letter (NAL) with respect to the acquisition after determining that “the proposed transaction is unlikely to substantially lessen or prevent competition in the sale of mobile wireless telecommunications services in Southern Ontario and Greater Montreal." Such a letter confirms that the Bureau has reviewed a specific proposed transaction and concluded that it will not, at this time, challenge that proposed transaction before the Competition Tribunal under the merger provisions of the Competition…
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TORONTO – Telus is partnering with Ericsson on the development and deployment of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the foundation for communication services over LTE and other accesses.
The implementation of Ericsson's IMS technology will enable Telus to offer advanced, convergent services in voice, data and video calling over both wireline and wireless networks to its customers across Canada. The contract includes comprehensive systems integration services and technology based on Rich Communication Services (RCS) and Voice over LTE (VoLTE).
"We have a relentless focus on delivering to Canadians world-class entertainment and communication experiences”, said Eros Spadotto, Telus’ EVP of technology strategy…
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TORONTO – Rogers’ new 12-year $5.2 billion broadcast and multimedia deal with the NHL may have grabbed headlines across the country, but will likely have little impact on the company’s bottom line, say industry analysts.
Rogers Communications executives said Tuesday the deal will be immediately EBITDA-accretive to its Media division, predicting an influx of $25 – $35 million in the first year, rising to more than $60 million per year after that. But Dvai Ghose, managing director/head of research for Canaccord Genuity, pointed out that Rogers Media only accounted for 4% of the parent company’s 2013 third quarter adjusted EBITDA.
In…
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TORONTO – Ethnic Channels Group said today it has launched ProSiebenSat1. Welt on Telus on November 4, 2013. This is the first west coast launch of the German-language channel.
ProSiebenSat.1 Welt offers a wide program selection to German-speaking viewers with content from around the globe featuring top general entertainment programming, 24 hours a day, selected from the most popular programs of SAT.1, ProSieben, and Kabel Eins.
"We are very excited to add another great service and build on our current partnership with Telus. The addition of ProSiebenSat.1 Welt will help Telus continue to grow their subscriber base by…
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DID THAT HEADLINE get your attention? I can already hear irritated e-mails disputing that claim being tapped out in response, but bear with us for a few paragraphs.
“What!?” some of those running popular specialty video brands might be asking, “Isn’t Galaxie just that group of sleepy music channels which are a throw-in with everyone’s digital cable box?” Well, they may be a value-add which come automatically with most digital TV subscriptions, but some comprehensive recent measurement shows the suite of music channels (anywhere from 40 to 100, depending on the BDU) is anything but sleepy. This is…
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TORONTO – Telus said Monday that it is on track to implement all necessary requirements of the CRTC’s new Wireless Code of Conduct by the end of the month.
The code, which comes into effect on December 2nd, establishes a common set of rights for all wireless consumers in Canada.
Telus said that it adopted many of these customer-friendly provisions long before the Code was drafted. It is currently modifying policies and procedures to add domestic and international data caps and notifications at $50 and $100 respectively; and, customers who purchase a device outright…
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OTTAWA – Industry analysts and a journalist duked it out over wireless pricing and government policy in Canada during a session at the annual International Institute of Canada conference on Monday.
Jeff Fan, research analyst at Scotia Capital, presented some figures that countered many of the arguments which have been made by the federal government and others who say that competition in Canada’s wireless market is lacking. Fan noted that the elimination of three-year contracts as mandated by the CRTC earlier this year in its Wireless Code of Conduct has actually made things worse for consumers by leading…
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TORONTO – Under creditor protection since September, wireless carrier Mobilicity has won Ontario Superior Court of Justice approval to pursue the formal sale of the company.
On Wednesday, the company’s debtors received a sale procedure order from the court approving the sale of “substantially all of the business and assets or shares” of the company (known legally as Data & Audio Visual Enterprises, or DAVE).
Click here for all the documents related to the Mobilicity creditor protection and sale process.
Any parties interested must formally declare their intentions to the sellers by December 2,…
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OTTAWA – Use it or lose it. That was the gist of Industry Minister James Moore’s message to Canadian spectrum holders on Thursday.
Following up on a Throne Speech promise that Canadians living in rural areas have greater access to high-speed Internet services, Minister Moore said that Industry Canada will begin renewing 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz spectrum licences next March, but will deny extension requests from holders whose licence conditions – especially deployment – have not been met.
"Our government will only renew spectrum licences for those holders that have met all conditions of licence. Those that have not used the…
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