OTTAWA – Various parties continued to question the level to which Rogers Media will use its recently acquired NHL hockey content as a component of its Canadian programming expenditures (CPE) commitments at the company’s licence renewal hearing before the CRTC while Rogers said they need not worry.
The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA), in its opening remarks on Wednesday fretted that Canadian content will suffer because Rogers will use the NHL to account for its CPE commitments, particularly if the Commission approves Rogers request to be treated under the group licensing framework (GLF).
“We have to wonder if hockey fans will…
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TORONTO – Reducing churn through much-improved customer service should be the top priority for newly minted Rogers Communications CEO Guy Laurence, according to a recent analysts report circulated on Bay Street.
“We believe improving customer service is an important strategic priority at Rogers, perhaps the most important priority,” wrote BMO Capital Markets telecom and media analyst Tim Casey. “Among the national wireless incumbents, Rogers’ operating metrics have been underwhelming. Specifically, it has the highest churn rates and a declining ARPU profile. Combined, they translate to deteriorating customer lifetime revenues and value at Rogers. We expect new CEO Guy Laurence will…
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TORONTO – An increasing number of Canadian households are opting to cut the cords from their television services providers and landline telephones, according to two new reports from Convergence Consulting.
The Battle for the North American (US/Canada) Couch Potato: Online & Traditional TV and Movie Distribution predicts that Canadian TV cord cutter households will reach 665,000 (5.7%) by year-end 2014, a significant jump from the 380,000 estimated at the end of 2013. Based on its ‘TV Cord Cutting Model’, which takes into account annual subscriber additions, economic conditions, and the digital transition, the report estimated that 458,000 (3.9%) Canadian…
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ROGERS MEDIA SPENT MUCH of Tuesday playing defence during its licence renewal hearings before the CRTC, deflecting criticism over the company’s desire to have its hockey broadcasts considered programming of national interest (PNI), or be part of the company’s Canadian programming expenditures (CPE).
CRTC vice-chair of broadcasting Tom Pentefountas took the first shot by questioning whether hockey programming should be included in Canadian content or PNI commitments. After a series of questions on whether this type of sports programming needs regulatory help from the commission, he wondered why hockey should account for CPE or fall under PNI programming.
Keith Pelley, president…
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AN INTERESTING DECEMBER 2012 paper from the Australian Government's Department of Finance and Deregulation, Offices of Best Practices Regulation entitled "Influencing Consumer Behaviour: Improving Regulatory Design" is an instructive piece of research when viewed through the lens of our own TV business.
The paper explores two broad frameworks that influence consumer behaviour – Rational Choice theory and Behavioural Economics. Rational Choice theory holds that consumers maximize utility subject to their budgetary limitations. Behavioural Economics assumes choice is affected by social, economic, emotional and other factors. Examples from the health, finance and other sectors are used to…
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THE RECENT SPORTS CONTENT AND SPECTRUM acquisitions made by Rogers Communications falls squarely into the category of “they had better be right”.
Adding up the $3.3 billion it paid for 700 MHz spectrum in the just-finished auction, last fall’s $5.2 billion NHL rights deal and the $650 million for its portion of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment in 2012, that’s nearly $9.2 billion spent or committed in less than 24 months – largely due to the belief that delivering live sports (especially hockey and baseball) to any and every electronic device, any and everywhere in Canada, is the key to…
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DENVER, CO – Anglers take note: World Fishing Network will be available on a free preview to cable, satellite and telco subscribers in North America for the month of April.
Dedicated to the angling lifestyle, the network’s programming includes instruction, tips, travel, tournaments, cooking, boating and outdoor recreation with exclusive series and original productions like Bill Boyce’s Baja, FORCE on FORCE, Guided with Mark Melnyk, Hookin’ Up with Nick & Mariko, JP DeRose Breaking Boundaries and World Fishing Journal.
Participating TV providers in Canada include Access, Bell, Cablevision du Nord du Quebec, Cogeco, Eastlink, MTS, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw Cable, Shaw Direct,…
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TORONTO – Allstream announced the continued evolution of its SIP portfolio with its new SIP Gateway service that promises to help Canadian businesses save as much as 40% compared to traditional voice services.
By using its cloud-based IP voice environment, SIP Gateway offers the features and functionality of a Primary Rate Interface (PRI) for significantly less cost. Previously, Canadian businesses with non-IP Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems were prevented from achieving the savings of a PRI without updating their PBX. Allstream's SIP Gateway allows Canadian businesses to take advantage of the benefits of IP telephony services without the cost and…
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TORONTO – This week marks both the arrival of spring, and a jump in the price of most voice and data plans offered by the country’s wireless incumbents and their respective flanker brands.
Bell matched Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility this week by increasing the price of the majority of its plans by $5 per month. Virgin, Fido and Koodo, owned by Bell, Rogers and Telus, respectively, all increased prices by about $5 per month earlier this month.
The price hike will help to offset the introduction of unlimited voice and text plans by all three incumbents last year, plans that include…
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DALLAS, TX – Approximately one-fifth or 20% of Canadian television service subscribers downgraded their service over the last 12 months, with many opting for an Internet video option instead, according to a new research report from Parks Associates.
The report, Video in Canadian Households, analysed the market for subscription home video services via an online survey of 1,500 Canadian broadband households in the last quarter of 2013.
Among Canada’s nine largest TV service providers, nearly one-third (29%) of Telus Optik TV subscribers said that they had downgraded to a less expensive TV package with fewer channels or features in the last year. …
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