TORONTO – With the privatization of Bell Canada looking like it’s dead, what with the release last week that KPMG can’t deliver a positive opinion on the solvency of the big telco post-deal, speculation has run rampant that Telus might still be interested in merging with Bell.
Scotia Capital analyst John Henderson issued an investor’s report saying that he believes there’s a 15% chance Of “Belus” happening. Telus did seriously want to kick Bell’s tires back in mid-2007 when the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan and its partners put together its deal to buy Bell, but the western telco Continue Reading
EDMONTON – Super Channel has launched on Telus TV in Alberta and BC.
“We are very pleased that Telus is now offering Super Channel to their customers in western Canada,” said Malcolm Knox, Super Channel president and COO. “Whether viewers are looking for great exclusive series and movie premieres, insightful documentaries, recorded live concerts, anime, or live championship boxing, they are certain to find something of interest on our six channels – two in vibrant HD.”
www.telus.com www.superchannel.ca
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Despite the wild, scary ride the global economy has been taking us all on this year, wireless newcomer Globalive is well-financed and going full speed ahead, said its CEO, Anthony Lacavera, an investors conference in Toronto last week.
Recognizing that “the market would not allow external financing right now,” Lacavera told the Scotia Capital Markets Telecom and Technology investors day that Globalive’s wireless venture is well-funded by co-owner Orascom – a global wireless player based in Egypt with over 77 million wireless subscribers.
Globalive can count on up to $700 million from its corporate partner, said Lacavera,…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Telus will invest $100 million over three years in the healthcare segment under a newly launched brand called Telus Health Solutions.
The company also called upon government and other businesses to invest in upgrading the applications and technology infrastructure that collects, processes, stores, and delivers health information, so that all Canadians will be able to track their medical history electronically, the company said in a statement.
"There is no question eHealth is creating a new era in Canadian healthcare. Today, patient information is scattered across a myriad of different electronic and paper-based systems resulting in decisions being made without…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – Telus reported a 6% increase in operating revenues in the third quarter, but a 30% drop in net income, the company announced Friday.
Wireless saw an 8.7% per cent revenue increase to $1.2 billion thanks to “record” year to date subscriber growth. Telus now has 5,981,200 wireless subscribers, up 10.6% from a year earlier. Wireline revenue grew 3.6% to $1.25 billion, driven by data growth, the release continued, though 43,000 connections were lost during the quarter, bringing the total number of landline connections to 4,282,000.
Telus now has 1,211,600 Internet subscribers, a 58% decrease from a year…
Continue Reading
MISSISSAUGA – Solo Mobile is rolling out new rate plans and have added two more smartphones to their roster in time for the holidays, the company announced today.
The flip smartphone Samsung CLEO will now be exclusive to Solo, and the BlackBerry Pearl is also available. Two new rate plans called “Unbeatable” and “Solo in the City” promise competitive rates and options, says the company release.
"Solo Mobile always offers the very best value in Canadian wireless. Now we’ve sweetened the deal further still with new pricing on our Unbeatable and Solo in the City plans – including waiving…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Shaw Cable must change the way it treats and markets Canada’s gay and lesbian category one digital specialty service Outtv, the CRTC ruled today.
The specialty service and Shaw have had a long and rocky history, dating to its launch in 2001 as Pridevision, back when it was owned by Score Media. Ownership of the channel has changed a couple of times since and the most recent owners, extremely frustrated at how the big western cableco has treated the channel, went to the Commission earlier this year for help.
Tuesday’s decision found that Shaw has subjected the…
Continue Reading
HALIFAX – Bell Aliant grew operating revenue 0.8% to $815.3 million for their third quarter, compared to the same period a year ago, the company said in a release this week.
The growth came primarily from Information Technology (IT) and Internet revenues which offsetting declines in local, long distance and other revenues.
The company press release also announced a long-term agreement with controlling shareholder Bell Canada to provide an enhanced transport network connecting Bell Mobility’s cell sites in Atlantic Canada and regions of Ontario and Quebec. This investment will add "HSPA" technology to the existing network, and support Bell’s…
Continue Reading
SAVE FOR THE CONVENTIONAL broadcasters who wanted their new fee, many in the industry are, if not slapping the Commission heartily on the back, recognizing that coming up with new regulatory frameworks for BDUs and discretionary TV channels wasn’t likely an easy task and that the Regulator has done a decent job in addressing the myriad issues.
Click here for our summary of Thursday’s release.
Sure, cable, satellite and telco TV companies don’t want to divert another 1% of revenue to yet another programming fund, the broadcasters’ bet on fee-for-carriage didn’t come through and many wish advertising in…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – A mini new media hearing took place yesterday at the St. Andrew’s Club and Conference Centre as delegates at Insight Information’s Entertainment Industries Summit practiced advocating their positions in preparation for the real thing when the CRTC’s new media hearing begins in February 2009.
Stakeholders from the arts community predictably called for cultural protections and funding mechanisms in any new media broadcasting legislation, while broadcasters – equally predictably – advocated an industrial strategy for new media that is separate from any arts strategy discussion.
What all delegates seemed to agree on is that a review of new…
Continue Reading
