SOME FILED REAMS of digital paper with the Commission (Rogers Communications’ submission was 132 pdf pages and a few appendices), while others were more concise (Shaw’s was just nine pages, plus a couple of research reports)
Anyway, we’ve read more than a few thousand words and identified what appear to be the primary issues facing the CRTC with its review of the policies governing broadcast distribution undertakings (all licensed video providers) and specialty services. The hearing is set for February 4 in Gatineau.
Below is a bit of a synopsis of what the BDUs are asking for and what…
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TORONTO – Just as new rival Super Channel is launching EastLink, Bell ExpressVu, Cogeco, and Rogers digital customers will be able to see a free preview of The Movie Network November 9 to 11, the broadcaster announced today.
And out west, Bell, MTS, SaskTel and Telus will be offering Movie Central for free.
The free preview weekend will include Hollywood movies such as The Last King of Scotland, Invincible, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Clerks II and School for Scoundrels; acclaimed HBO series including Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Big Love and Flight of the Conchords; and hit Showtime programming including Dexter,…
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MONTREAL – As was expected, Bell Canada’s incoming owners have selected George Cope as the new chief executive officer of the company.
Less than a month ago, current CEO Michael Sabia told investors he intended to step down once the sale of the company was complete. According to a memo sent to employees this afternoon, completion of the transaction is expected “toward the end of the first quarter of 2008.”
The new investors group led by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Providence Equity Partners and Madison Dearborn Partners have selected existing president and COO George Cope to be CEO.
“I…
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TORONTO – A pair of independent analyst reports published to investors last week both identified Shaw Communications and Videotron ltée as the two companies best-prepared to bid for wireless spectrum during the advanced wireless spectrum auction in early 2008.
Of course, the rules surrounding the auction have not yet been released (the best we can tell you is that they’ll be out before Christmas) and both sides are busily lobbying. Companies who want AWS to possibly build their own networks like Quebecor (owners of Videotron) or expand nationally like MTS Allstream, want some special breaks in the auction…
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TORONTO – Telehop Communications Inc. on Tuesday announced its 10-10-100 long distance calling service was available on the Rogers Network.
Rogers Home Phone and Rogers circuit-switched (formerly Sprint Canada) subscribers in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta can subscribe to the service that offers a 25 cent per-call rate for calls up to 15 minutes across Canada. Previously, only Bell and Telus landline customers in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta were able to use the Telehop 10-10-100 service.
The Telehop service also offers calls for an average of just a cent and a half a minute to 30…
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WATERLOO — Research In Motion on Monday unveiled the BlackBerry Pearl 8130, the first BlackBerry Pearl smartphone to run on CDMA networks. The development means that Bell and Telus can offer the product in Canada, along with Sprint in the United States.
Previous versions of the Blackberry, based on GSM, could only be offered by Rogers.
The latest model comes with new features including a new software interface, rich multimedia capabilities, built-in GPS and support for high-speed EV-DO networks.
“With its unique blend of functionality and design, the BlackBerry Pearl smartphone has been turning heads and winning praise from business…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Ian Scott, vice-president of government affairs at Telus, has agreed to participate, for a two year period, in an executive interchange with the Commission, the CRTC announced Friday.
Effective October 1st, Ian will become Chief Policy Advisor to the Chairman on strategic issues such as the CRTC’s role on the international scene and its new approach to regulatory convergence. Scott’s agreement with the Commission is governed by the terms of the Interchange Canada Program and the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service.
Scott had been with the Commission from 1990 to 1994, where he was…
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TORONTO – Starting this month, third-year industrial design students at the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) will get to work shaping Canada’s booming wireless industry with an innovative new design course, OCAD and Telus announced Wednesday.
The OCAD/Telus Handset Project, part of the curriculum of OCAD’s Industrial Design program course “Emerging Technologies” will teach students how to design handsets for wireless phones that will meet the future needs of Canadian mobile users.
This collaboration, a first for both OCAD and Telus, will draw upon the students’ and the university’s vast design experience, while educating about the intricacies…
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TORONTO – A day after Ted Rogers called him out as a possible “corporate welfare bum”, Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau swung back at Rogers (albeit not as colourfully) using one of the niftiest bits of technology we have on the planet – that isn’t available in Canada.
After proclaiming himself “speechless” over Rogers’ comments, Peladeau began his speech to the Empire Club of Toronto by holding aloft an Apple iPhone, and scolded the big three incumbent wireless players (Rogers, Bell Canada and Telus) for not yet having the device in Canada. (The iPhone is a GSM device, however,…
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OTTAWA – As Industry Canada ponders the rules that will surround next year’s advanced wireless spectrum auction, Rogers Communications CEO Ted Rogers was in Ottawa today to reiterate just where he and his company stand, while saying the company might be looking to spend between $500 million and $1 billion.
While potential national newcomers like Quebecor and MTS Allstream are demanding spectrum set asides, or caps on how much the incumbents can buy and other favours like mandated tower sharing/roaming in order to get into the wireless business cheaper than they would in an open auction and open…
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