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Search Results for: telus

Cable / Telecom News January 30, 2012 14 years ago

Commission can’t regulate NFL contract, says Bell

GATINEAU – Bell Canada says there is nothing it can do to make content from the National Football League available to other mobile network providers in Canada, no matter what the CRTC wants. Back in December, thanks to an original complaint by Telus, the Commission ruled that Bell Mobility gave itself a “significant competitive advantage” by entering into exclusive agreements for the mobile rights to popular National Hockey League (NHL) and National Football League (NFL) content. It gave Bell until the end of January to say what it plans to do to make the content available to other mobile carriers…. Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News January 19, 2012 14 years ago

ANALYSIS: Canadian cablecos, specialty channels, under growth pressure as media preferences shift

AS THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY, indeed as the whole media world, continues to change, Canadian cable companies and specialty channels are going to struggle to find growth, according to a report from BMO Capital Markets. Telco IPTV services, such as Telus’ Optik and Bell’s Fibe along with the myriad online video options available to Canadians to view their favourite shows will keep pressure on Canadian cable companies and specialty channel owners. While about 62% of Canadian households subscribe to cable, as Telus and Bell’s IPTV options gain strength cable’s level of penetration will decline by a percent a year says the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News January 19, 2012 14 years ago

Shaw moves popular sports channels to HD basic

CALGARY – Shaw Cable has added the HD versions of Sportsnet, Sportsnet One and TSN to its basic HD offering as part of some recent packaging changes. The move comes amid cable subscriber losses at the Calgary-based company, many to its Western-based rival Telus’ Optik TV service. "As a Canadian company, Shaw understands the importance of national and regional sports across our country and in the communities we serve," said president Peter Bissonnette, in the announcement. "We are excited to expand access to these popular sports channels to our cable customers through their availability in our basic High-Definition TV… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News January 16, 2012 14 years ago

Deaf push CRTC for video relay services in Canada

REGINA – Members and supporters of the deaf community gathered in front of the CRTC building in Regina on Friday as part of nine rallies across the country in support bringing Video Relay Services (VRS) to Canada. VRS makes it easier for deaf individuals to communicate using the telephone by allowing them to use sign language via video to an interpreter, who translates and speaks to the person on the other line. When the person on the other line responds, the interpreter uses sign language to communicate back to the deaf person. According to a report, despite ordering Bell to test it VRS… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News January 11, 2012 14 years ago

Consumer group OpenMedia.ca joins call for set asides in 700 MHz auction

VANCOUVER – The new wireless companies in Canada appear to have an ally in OpenMedia.ca after the consumer group kicked off a new campaign Wednesday dubbed 'Stop the Cell Phone Squeeze'.
 
The campaign includes an on-line petition that encourages Canadians to ask Industry Minister Christian Paradis and Prime Minister Harper to set aside wireless spectrum for “independent competitors” in the upcoming 700 MHz auction.
 
OpenMedia.ca says that its efforts were spurred in part by Rogers’ LTE marketing campaign which the group claims mimics its grassroots campaign tactics to convince the government that “Big Telecom” should be able to control… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News January 11, 2012 14 years ago

Wanted: new CRTC chairperson

OTTAWA – The process to find the new chairperson of the CRTC is officially underway today, less than two weeks before outgoing chair Konrad von Finckenstein’s term expires on January 24. The chair, "Chief Executive Officer of the CRTC… establishes the corporate vision and values, defines the strategic priorities and plans and sets up the organization structure and operational systems and processes to guide the work of members and staff. This includes assigning members to panels and providing strong functional direction and expertise to members to enhance their conduct of delegated panel responsibilities and other areas of activity and to ensure… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News December 12, 2011 14 years ago

CRTC says Bell’s mobile content sports deals are out-of-bounds

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Bell Mobility gave itself a “significant competitive advantage” by entering into exclusive agreements for the mobile rights to popular National Hockey League (NHL) and National Football League (NFL) content, the CRTC ruled Monday. The decision comes as a result of a complaint filed by Telus last January after it attempted to negotiate with Bell and the two leagues, without success, for the rights to the content. Telus said that “to the extent that bundling of services plays an important role in delivering value to consumers, the effect of ‘carriage of content’ (Bell’s content) exclusives on mobile platforms may… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News December 8, 2011 14 years ago

Hollywood Suite launches with free preview through February

TORONTO – Hollywood Suite has kicked off a two month free preview of its four HD movie channels. The independent broadcaster confirmed Thursday that its new services launched on EastLink on November 23, Telus Optik TV on December 5, SaskTel MAX on December 7 and on MTS TV on December 8. Featuring 450 commercial-free HD movies 24/7 per month, uncut and unedited, Hollywood Suite’s services include studio movie channels WarnerFilms, MGM Channel, action adventure channel Hollywood Storm and romance and relationship channel Hollywood Festival. "Hollywood Suite has received overwhelming support from EastLink, Telus, SaskTel and MTS and we're excited to be working with… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News December 8, 2011 14 years ago

Vertical Integration fallout: Independent BDUs refusing to sign Bell deal

OTTAWA – A number of Canada’s independent cable operators have balked at signing a new omnibus carriage agreement for the up-to 30 specialty channels owned by Bell Media and instead are demanding the CRTC step in and decide who’s right. According to sources with direct knowledge of the agreement and the ongoing battle, both Cogeco Cable and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance have been through a few rounds of official CRTC staff mediation, which hasn’t yielded much in the way of results. It now looks like the disputes are headed towards binding, final offer arbitration in front of a CRTC… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News December 7, 2011 14 years ago

CBC brings back Punjabi hockey broadcasts

TORONTO – CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada in Punjabi is returning for its third season starting December 10. Thanks to sponsorship support from Chevrolet Canada, two games will be available every Saturday night during the regular season, as well as one series per round during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Punjabi play-by-play voice Harnarayan Singh will once again call the action. “We’re thrilled to bring back our Punjabi broadcasts with Harnarayan Singh for another season as a part of CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada thanks to our new presenting sponsor, Chevrolet,” said Julie Bristow, CBC’s executive director of studio and unscripted programming,… Continue Reading
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