TORONTO – Astral Television Networks announced a pair of appointments this week.
Mark Waschulzik has been promoted to the position of Director, Affiliate Marketing. Most recently he has been managing key accounts (such as Rogers, EastLink and Videotron) in addition to his regular duties as Manager, Affiliate Insight & Analysis. “His account experience, analytical background and historical perspective provide him with a unique ability to evaluate new growth opportunities and to ensure they are developed in line with corporate objectives, in tandem with other departments and on budget,” said a company memo from Domenic Vivolo, senior vice-president sales and…
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OTTAWA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR Dr. Michael Geist is Canada’s leading proponent of network neutrality, which, as you’ll read, has many definitions.
Despite the differences in definitions, it’s primarily about treating most bits of data equally so that the free flow of information prospers and opportunities can be available equally to all.
In newspaper columns and on television and in his blog, Geist revisits this issue frequently and believes it’s only a matter of time before it is front and centre in Canadian politics.
The Canada Research Chair of Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa recently sat down with…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC today granted a Telus request to deregulate local phone service in several Quebec regions.
Adding to the larger centres across Canada which have already been deregulated, as we’ve reported, Baie-Comeau (Marquette sector), Baie-Comeau (Hauterive sector), Matane, Mont-Joli, Montmagny, Port Cartier, Sept-Îles, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, and Saint-Lambert are now deregulated exchanges.
It was a quick turnaround as well, as Telus only filed its request in July, said the Commission.
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TORONTO – The Fight Network, which has battled heavyweight after heavyweight on its way from an independent digi-net to growing multiplatform brand, announced this morning a new round of financing and a new leader.
Launched in 2005, just as the ultimate fighting/mixed martial arts craze began to go mainstream, The Fight Network is available on most Canadian cable systems either as the linear channel or on demand.
Content from the channel is also available to wireless subscribers of Telus, Bell, Verizon, Sprint and AT&T. It also has a syndicated radio show, "The LAW" (Live Audio Wrestling), a broadband player,…
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TORONTO – Rogers Wireless customers can now find their wireless handsets work in 200 countries.
The company reached this 200-country milestone on July 24th, with a newly-signed roaming agreement between Rogers Wireless and the mobile operator, Comium Liberia Inc. in the African nation of Liberia. Rogers has over 500 roaming partners worldwide.
As Canada’s only GSM carrier, Rogers is leading the way among Canadian wireless carriers when it comes to offering the most international voice and data roaming destinations with a selection of 52 world phones. (With the notable exception of Apple’s iPhone, where rumour-mongers are predicting Rogers will…
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IF THERE HAS BEEN a Canadian television channel that has struggled more with its programming, carriage, ownership and identity than OUTtv, which began its life in September 2001 as Pridevision, we don’t know of it.
The original category one digital specialty service license went to a surprising place to begin with. The CRTC, preoccupied at the time with trying to uplift smaller broadcasters, gave the must-carry digital license to what then was Headline Media, the owners of what has become The Score, a straight-male all-sports station where no one had experience in the gay community.
Granted, Headline did partner…
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VANCOUVER – A new Angus Reid survey shows Canadians are pretty split when it comes to their opinions on their telecom service and the effects of recently announced deregulation of many local markets.
The survey, done between August 10 and 13th says 52% of Canadians think deregulation will drive cost of phone services up and 46% think deregulation will not mean improved local phone services.
Canadians are split over whether deregulation will ultimately benefit consumers in the end (41% agree it will, 42% disagree), says the company’s press release. Instead, half of respondents (50%) agree that it is best…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Ten-digit dialing will come to the 418 area code on in 13 months, the CRTC announced today.
The transition to 10-digit dialing will be gradually implemented beginning on June 21, 2008, and become mandatory by September 12, 2008.
Also, effective September 19, 2008, a new area code will be introduced in the region currently served by area code 418. Customers seeking new numbers in this area code could be given a number starting with area code 581.
"These measures are being taken to prevent the exhaustion of telephone numbers in the area code 418 region. The Canadian…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canada’s major phone markets will soon be free from most local residential phone service controls as the CRTC has opened the floodgates to more deregulation.
The commission has approved applications from the ILECs to forbear Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa-Gatineau, Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Victoria, Winnipeg, Quebec City, London, Rimouski, and many other cities.
They join Halifax, Charlottetown, Fredericton, and Fort McMurray, announced recently, as markets where the incumbent telcos will no longer need to get the commission’s approval to set local phone rates or introduce new services and packages because the regulator has deemed there is enough…
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TORONTO – BCE Inc. posted modest growth in the second quarter of 2007, posting revenues of $4.438 million, up 1.5% compared with the same period last year.
BCE’s operating income was up just 0.4% to $898 million, as higher EBITDA offset higher amortization and restructuring expenses.
The parent company experienced higher revenues at Bell Canada, Bell Aliant, and Telesat. However, Bell’s operating income declined 1.0% from Q2 of 2006, to $681 million.
There’s better news on the earnings per share front, as BCE’s net EPS was $0.83 for the second quarter, compared with $0.53 for the same period last…
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