SaskTel chooses company to conduct review

Toronto-based consulting company Mark H. Goldberg and Associates Inc. will conduct the third-party review of Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp., the company announced Friday.

Bell to pay $12M for premium text message charges

The Competition Bureau said Friday it has reached an agreement with BCE Inc. in which the company will rebate customers up to $11.8 million for premium text messaging charges.

It will also donate $800,000 to digital research media and awareness.

The Competition Bureau said in a press release that the “amount of money available for consumer rebates is the most obtained to date under a Bureau agreement.”

Bell-MTS deal weakens Rogers’ ability to compete: academics

In a submission to the Competition Bureau arguing that allowing BCE Inc. to acquire Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.

Four telecoms singled out for skinny-basic hearing

The CRTC said Tuesday it will hold a hearing on the implementation of skinny basic TV packages, though it only asked four companies — BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., and Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron — to appear at the Sept. 7 proceeding.

Since they became available in March, 100,000 Canadians have signed up for the new packages, the commission said in a press release.

Bell, MTS announce Manitoban service improvement

BCE Inc. and Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. made a high-profile overture Friday in their bid to join forces, announcing plans for a proposed merged operation to fill gaps in wireless coverage along a major north-south highway in the prairie province.

CRTC launches review of zero-rating, sponsored data

Net neutrality advocates welcomed the CRTC’s launch of a new consultation on “differential pricing practices” for both wireline and wireless data plans Wednesday, a process that will see a public hearing kick off on Oct. 31.

Tamir Israel, a lawyer with the Samuel-Gloshko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic, said in a phone interview that having “this broader review that’s going to put in place a more-principled framework and look beyond ad-hoc scenarios that have come up so far is a good step.”

Bell aims to settle 911 lawsuit for $1M

BCE Inc. has reached an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit regarding billing for 911 services in the North for $1.02 million.

According to documents posted on the website of law firm Landy Marr Kats LLP, that amount includes interest and court costs. It must still be approved by the court, and a hearing is scheduled for June 6, the website says.

Big-box wireless customers ‘high risk’: study

Consumers who shop at big-box stores are more likely to purchase unlocked phones and are more likely to switch wireless providers, according to results of a study released Thursday.

Small ISPs laud government denial of Bell’s FTTH appeal

Independent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and advocacy groups said Wednesday they’re encouraged by the federal government’s rejection of BCE Inc.’s appeal of the CRTC decision mandating wholesale access to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, which could be the first glimpse into the new Liberal government’s telecom policy.

Small telecoms lobby for access to federal broadband funding

OTTAWA — Representatives from smaller telecommunications companies descended on Parliament Hill Tuesday, pushing for lawmakers to consult with them in the design of the new federal rural broadband program.

“We found in the past, although our members have been able to access some funds, very often there’s a great deal of red tape involved,” Alyson Townsend, Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) president and CEO, said at a morning press conference.

Competition Bureau wants input on Bell-MTS deal

The Competition Bureau is asking for comment on BCE Inc.’s $3.9-billion bid to buy Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., it said in a press release Tuesday.

Shaw offering credit to Fort McMurray evacuees

Shaw Communications Inc. customers in Fort McMurray and other wildfire-affected areas in the region are getting a one-month service credit, the company announced in a Saturday press release.

The credit, retroactive to the city’s mandatory evacuation date of May 3, will ensure all affected customers continue to have access to Shaw Go WiFi, FreeRange TV” and their Shaw domain email accounts, “without needing to worry about their account’s status,” the release said.

SaskTel embarking on review in wake of Bell-MTS deal

Faced with the prospect of becoming “an island in Western Canada” at the conclusion of the proposed Manitoba Telcom Services Inc. sale, Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. is launching a review, according to media reports.

Heritage’s CanCon review could take a decade to play out, panel hears

OTTAWA — The results of the sweeping review of Canadian content in a digital age announced by Heritage Canada last week could take 10 years to materialize, University of Ottawa law professor Jeremy deBeer said Thursday during a panel discussion at the New Developments in Communications Law and Policy conference.

Don’t ‘rubber-stamp’ Bell-MTS deal: NDP

NDP MPs pushed the innovation minister to closely scrutinize BCE Inc.’s proposed $3.9-billion acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. in the House of Commons Wednesday.

No charging after cancellation, CRTC reminds service providers

The CRTC issued a clarification Thursday reminding telecommunications service providers that they can’t charge for services once they’ve been cancelled.

“Furthermore, service providers must offer individuals and small business customers a refund upon cancellation, based on the number of days remaining in the billing cycle, if the service fees are billed in advance,” the commission said in a press release.

Bell Media buys Gusto TV

BCE Inc.’s media division has acquired Canadian rights to Gusto Worldwide Media’s Gusto brand in Canada, including its food and cooking channel.

Bell’s MTS purchase to boost competition: MEI

The $3.9-billion acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. by BCE Inc. would increase competition in Manitoba’s wireless market, according to the authors of a new report from the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI).

Bell Media reps face grilling on MTS at House committee

OTTAWA — Parliamentarians hoping for answers to outstanding questions about Monday’s news that BCE Inc. had struck a deal to acquire Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. were left disappointed when representatives from Bell’s media division appeared on Parliament Hill Tuesday morning.

Experts say approval of Bell’s MTS acquisition likely

BCE Inc. announced Monday morning that it will purchase Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. in a $3.9 billion transaction that, if approved, will see the number of players in Manitoba’s telecom market fall from four to three.

CraveTV gained 100,000 subs after launching as standalone

BCE Inc.’s CraveTV streaming service gained more than 100,000 “direct to consumer” subscribers in 90 days after launching as a stand-alone service in January, the company said in its quarterly results Thursday.

Koodo leads in customer-service satisfaction: study

Millennial wireless customers are pushing the trend to online, self-serve options for customer service, according to a new J.D. Power study released Thursday.

Bell revenues, profits up in Q1

BCE Inc. reported a 0.6 per cent increase in revenues, rising to $5.27 billion in its first quarter of 2016 compared to the same three-month period a year earlier.

The company said in a press release Thursday that reflected a 1.3 per cent “year-over-year increase in total service revenues driven by solid wireless, wireline residential and media growth.”

CBC’s Olympics coverage to include virtual reality

CBC/Radio-Canada’s coverage of the summer Olympics in Brazil will incorporate some virtual reality content.

The broadcaster said in a press release Wednesday that “it will provide viewers with both a 360-degree motion-sensitive stream as well as an immersive virtual reality stream for use with compatible headset technology.”

Copyright infringement notices being used for advertising, ISPs say

In recent weeks,  BCE Inc.  and HBO have begun using copyright infringement notices to steer recipients toward legal sources of TV content — but some of the Internet service providers (ISPs) that are required to forward the letters to customers are crying foul, saying the practice amounts to advertising.

Simsub legal action not premature: Bell, NFL

Lawyers for BCE Inc. and the National Football League (NFL) fired back at the claim their legal action against the CRTC’s simultaneous substitution decision is premature in new legal documents filed with the Appeal Court.

As streaming services grow, is TV-everywhere still relevant?

When companies launched TV-everywhere products a few years ago, they did so as part of an effort to compete with then-new streaming services — but now that many of those same companies have their own subscription OTT products, TV everywhere seems to be stuck in something of a holding pattern.

Despite companies continuing to push TV-everywhere products, people aren’t using them any more than when they were first introduced. And while awareness of individual platforms remains steady, the general idea of TV everywhere is falling off the radar.

Lawsuit over expiry of prepaid services dismissed on appeal

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has upheld a previous dismissal of a lawsuit against BCE Inc. over expiry dates on its prepaid wireless services. 

Bell selling unlimited access to on-demand movies

BCE Inc. said in a press release Friday it has begun allowing customers to buy ongoing access to on-demand movies.

The Own with Bell service is available to its IPTV customers, who can access it through their on-demand menus.

The first movie available will be Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which will cost $24.99, the release added.

Rogers customer complaints down by 65%: CCTS

Rogers Communications Inc. experienced a nearly 65-per-cent drop in complaints accepted by the Commissioner of Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS), according to the commissioner's mid-year report.

Released Wednesday morning, the report said Rogers was the subject of 437 complaints during the six-month period of Aug. 1, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2016, down from 1,240 complaints during the same period a year earlier.

Rob Farina to advise on iHeartRadio launch

BCE Inc. is bringing in a new face to help lead the launch of iHeartMedia Inc.'s free digital radio and music streaming service in Canada.

As of May 1, Rob Farina will be Bell Media's senior advisor for the "development, launch, and overall execution" of the iHeartRadio service in Canada, Bell said in a press release.

TV subscription rate down to 77%: MTM

The percentage of Canadians subscribing to TV service in Canada fell to 77 per cent in the fall of 2015, according to a new report released Tuesday by Media Technology Monitor, a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

Simsub order should wait until after court challenge, says Bell

The CRTC shouldn't be moving forward with its plan to end simultaneous substitution of the Super Bowl next year until related court challenges are settled, according to BCE Inc.

NFL intervenes in CRTC SimSub proceeding

The National Football League (NFL) is repeating its opposition to the CRTC's plan to end simultaneous substitution of the Super Bowl next year.

Shaw partners with Bell to offer CraveTV discount

Shaw Communications Inc. has partnered with BCE Inc. to provide Bell’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming service, CraveTV, at a discount to its cable and satellite customers.

The companies said in a joint press release that “greatly expands the distribution reach of CraveTV and enhances the value of television services available to Shaw customers.”

Bell expands TMN to West

BCE Inc.’s media division announced Tuesday it has expanded The Movie Network (TMN) and TMN Encore to Western Canada.

With no network infrastructure, towns opting to build their own

Among the arguments from BCE Inc. and those supporting its appeal to federal cabinet of the CRTC decision mandating wholesale access to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks is that the ruling will slow development of high-speed Internet infrastructure in outlying areas.

But the high costs involved with getting that infrastructure into rural and more-remote communities means they already weren't high on the priority list, which leaves it up to smaller, home-grown companies and government to fill the void, said independent telecom analyst Bill St. Arnaud.

As skinny basic arrives, experts doubt consumer appeal

On the day Canadian TV providers were required to make their skinny basic options available to consumers, experts expressed skepticism about how many Canadians will sign up for the new offers and their ability to improve the trend toward cord-cutting.

Drew McReynolds, an analyst with RBC Dominion Securities, said in a research note Tuesday that the new options launched by the TV providers “are designed to protect profitability and/or incentivize households to largely stick with existing channel bundles, which in some cases have been improved.”

Bell releases skinny basic offer, no U.S. networks included

A day before the March 1 deadline, BCE Inc. is advertising its skinny basic offer, a $24.95 Starter package.

Bell introducing smartphone accessibility tools

BCE Inc. is rolling out a suite of products designed to help make mobile communications more accessible.

In a Monday press release, the company said new screen readers, hearing aid compatibility, video conferencing, assisted messaging and voice calling services would assist customers with speech, cognitive, physical, hearing and vision-related disabilities in taking "full advantage of their smart devices."

Deferral account-funded broadband expansion complete

A $422 million expansion of broadband Internet services to underserved communities has been completed, the CRTC confirmed Thursday.

In 2010, the regulator approved plans by BCE Inc., Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. and Telus Corp. to connect more than 280 rural and remote communities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, the regulator said in a press release.

Rogers to offer $3-$18 theme packs with skinny basic

Rogers Communications Inc.’s $24.99 skinny basic offer will include the U.S. "4+1” networks ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and PBS, and its theme packages will cost between $3 and $18.

Rogers spokeswoman Jennifer Kett sent details of the new offer, which will be available as of March 1, in an email Wednesday.

Sugar Mobile subs have no ‘right’ to roaming: Rogers

Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. told the CRTC that Rogers has the right to disconnect Ice Wireless from its network because its affiliate Sugar Mobile is selling service outside of Ice Wireless' operating territory.

Canadian Super Bowl ads get biggest response: Bell

Commercials aimed at Canadians had the biggest impact during this month's Super Bowl, according to a study commissioned by BCE Inc.

According to a Bell press release issued Wednesday, 14 out of the 20 most-engaging ads in the Feb. 7 CTV broadcast came from "advertisers exclusive to the Canadian broadcast, while another four had a unique ad targeted to Canadians."

CRTC won’t change course despite appeals, criticism: Blais

CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said Wednesday the CRTC will stick to the course of action it has set despite disapproval by those who feel the CRTC’s direction “upsets their entitlements and threatens their livelihoods.”

Supreme Court denies wireless fee lawsuit

A British Columbia man has failed in his bid to bring a class-action suit against Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp. and BCE Inc. on the basis that the $6.95 system access fee charged to legacy wireless customers was misleading.

How could the Netflix proxy ban affect Canadian OTT?

The Netflix Inc. crackdown on virtual-private-network (VPN) use could provide an opportunity for Canadian providers to carve out more of the over-the-top (OTT) market, though a lack of firm figures makes predictions difficult.

Shaw to keep Wind’s current strategy in place: exec

As it takes ownership of Wind Mobile, Shaw Communications Inc. will continue positioning Wind as a cheaper option compared to the big three national wireless carriers, according to the company’s chief operating officer.

In a wide-ranging phone interview with The Wire Report, Jay Mehr said Shaw plans to keep the same “strategy that Wind has been executing over the course of last year.”

Bell partners with IBM to expand cloud services

BCE Inc. announced Monday it is partnering with IBM Corp. in order to expand its cloud computing services.

It said in a press release that the partnership will give Bell Business Cloud customers access to the IBM Cloud “via a secure, high-speed private connection from Bell.”

TVA, Bell Media take down illegal sports streaming website

Quebecor Inc.’s TVA division and BCE Inc.’s media subsidiary have shut down a website that was pirating the TVA Sports and RDS sports channels.

The companies said in a press release Friday that they seized computer equipment from those that were operating an illegal streaming site whose pirated streams included content from the two channels.

Business as usual for last simsub Super Bowl: Bell

There hasn’t been an increase in ad sales for Sunday’s upcoming Super Bowl, Perry MacDonald, senior vice-president of English television and local sales at BCE Inc.’s media division, said in a phone interview.

There is “no difference in sales volumes considering this could be the last year for simsub,” he said. “We’re still seeing a high level of interest overall from advertising."

Toronto council stands with CRTC on FTTH decision

Toronto city council is backing the CRTC's decision to mandate wholesale access to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, breaking with Toronto mayor John Tory who has already registered his support of BCE Inc.'s appeal of the ruling to the federal cabinet.

Videotron to stream 4K sports content

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron announced Thursday it will be offering live sports in 4K quality to its Illico ultra-high-definition set-top-box customers.

The company said in a press release that it will stream 12 games in total – four upcoming Ottawa Senators NHL games and eight Toronto Raptors NBA games.

Videotron said in an email that these are the only games that will stream "for the moment," and will be produced by BCE Inc.’s TSN on channel 910.

TV advertising needs better metrics, execs say

While advertising will remain a key part of the TV ecosystem, the television industry will have to provide better audience data in order to keep up with digital competition, said Barbara Williams, president of Shaw Communications Inc.’s media division.

“The future is not ad-free,” Williams said during a panel discussion on Thursday at the annual conference of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), formerly known as the Canadian Media Production Association.

Bell profits down 8.8 per cent in Q4

BCE Inc. reported net earnings of $542 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, down 8.8 per cent from the same time a year earlier.

It said Thursday that final quarter revenues were up 1.4 per cent to $5.60 billion, up from $5.53 billion a year earlier.

Bell added that profits fell because of higher severance payouts, acquisitions and other costs, "of which $120 million related mainly to workforce restructuring initiatives.”

Stornoway withdraws complaint over Bell’s iChannel downgrade

Stornoway Communications LP has withdrawn a Part 1 complaint to the CRTC against BCE Inc. stemming from the removal of its iChannel offering from a Bell TV theme package.

The CRTC confirmed it has now closed the file in a Jan. 28 letter posted on its website. The letter did not specify the reason behind the withdrawal, and Stornoway CEO Sandy Baptist declined to comment in a phone call with the Wire Report, citing a confidentiality agreement.

Court hears mobile-TV case

BCE Inc.'s appeal against a CRTC decision banning the provision of mobile-TV services that are not subject to regular data charges was heard by the Federal Court of Appeal in Toronto on Tuesday, and the court is expected to render a decision some time in the coming months.

Telecoms to feel economic headwinds: analyst

Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang said Monday that providers of telecommunications services in Canada will feel the effects of the struggling economy.

He said in a research note that most of repercussions from things such as the collapsing price of oil will be seen in services provided to business customers, as opposed to the consumer market where Internet and wireless services have become "more utility than discretionary."   

Bell denied requests to switch Category A channels to B

The CRTC has denied BCE Inc. applications to have eight Category A channels changed to Category B channels, which would have reduced the requirements for Canadian content on these channels.

The channels Bell Media requested this change for were Bravo, the Comedy Network, Discovery Channel, E, MTV Canada, Much, M3 and Space.

CraveTV now available without strings for $8

BCE Inc. said Thursday that its CraveTV streaming service is now available online to Canadians without TV subscriptions, but they will pay about twice what subscribers to Bell TV and other TV services have been putting out for CraveTV so far.

Its Bell Media division said in a press release that CraveTV is now available on an over-the-top basis for $7.99 a month, with one-month free trials being offered to new customers.

CRTC proposes fund for local TV news

The CRTC is proposing a new fund to support local TV news programming, which would be funded by existing financial resources within the broadcasting system.

The proposal was included a paper released Tuesday, which will be used as a basis for discussion at an eight-day hearing on local and community television that begins Jan. 25.

Bell top in wireless speeds, Rogers in LTE: OpenSignal

A new report analyzing wireless network performance among Canada’s biggest three players says BCE Inc. has the fastest speeds, while Rogers Communications Inc. has the best LTE coverage.

OpenSignal, a U.K.-based company that analyzes mobile performance, said in a report released Monday that Rogers had LTE coverage 80.25 per cent of the time, compared to Bell’s 70.38 per cent and Telus Corp.’s 71.84.

Bell’s claim FTTH investment at risk is ‘fear-mongering’: CNOC

Small Internet service providers (ISPs) are asking the government to reject an appeal, filed by BCE Inc., of a CRTC decision that mandated access by smaller competitors to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, stating Bell’s arguments in the case contradict statements it has made to investors.

CraveTV remains unavailable without TV subscription

CraveTV will be available online to all Canadians some time this month, a spokesman from BCE Inc.'s Bell Media division said Tuesday, and access did not open up on Jan. 1, which had previously been the announced plan.

"CraveTV will launch direct to consumer later this month," Bell Media spokesman Scott Henderson said in an email.

Bell launches another challenge to Super Bowl simsub rules

BCE Inc. has opened up its battle against the CRTC's plan to ban simultaneous substitution during the Super Bowl on another front.

Toronto telecom provider seeks condo access

Beanfield Technologies Inc., an independent provider of fibre-based Internet, TV and phone services in Toronto, is asking the CRTC to help it gain access to one of the few condominium buildings it isn't already connected to in the city's Liberty Village neighbourhood.

Kristie Painting to be Bell Media VP of digital sales

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media said Wednesday that Kristie Painting will be its new vice-president of digital sales as of Jan. 4.

It said in a press release that she was most recently vice-president of sales for Checkout 51, a Toronto-based company that operates a mobile couponing app and was bought this year by News Corp. It added that she has 20 years of experience in media and technology.

Bell denied requests for no quota on independent programming

The CRTC on Friday approved requests from BCE Inc. to delete many genre-related terms on its licences for three different specialty channels, but it was denied in all three instances its requests that the requirement that 25 per cent of Canadian programming, other than news, current affairs and sports, come from independent production companies.

Bell ranked highest in mobile network performance

BCE Inc. was tops in RootMetric’s 2015 Canadian mobile network performance review that was released Wednesday, with Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. not far behind.

Future CraveTV prices unclear for non-Bell customers

Subscribers to BCE Inc.’s TV services will pay more for CraveTV starting in February, though the company isn’t saying how much customers who get the streaming service through other TV-service providers, or those planning to get the service independently over the Internet, will pay.

CRTC says incumbents can’t change terms in interim roaming rates

The CRTC has told Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc., and Telus Corp. that the terms and conditions in interim tariffs the incumbents filed following the CRTC’s move in May to regulate some roaming rates must be consistent with the agreements in place at the time the decision was made.

Broadcasters advised to ‘pick their winners’ as pick-and-pay approaches

As the Canadian TV industry approaches an era where customers have more choice over the channels they subscribe to, large broadcasters should “pick their winners” and consolidate into a smaller number of channels, a new report from RBC Capital Markets says.  

Major mobile providers offer extra gigabyte

The three incumbent mobile-service providers and their flanker brands were all offering Black Friday specials, lasting until the Sunday, Nov. 30, that included an extra gigabyte per month on select plans.

BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp and their discount arms — Virgin Mobile, Fido and Koodo, respectively — all said on their websites Friday certain wireless plans would feature this bonus for new customers and those upgrading before the end of the weekend.

Top 5 entertainment specialty programs belong to Bell

BCE Inc.'s Bell Media division said Thursday that the top five entertainment specialty programs in Canada this fall were all on its channels, according to data from viewership tracker Numeris.

Bell Media said in a press release that the top program was Doctor Who on its Space channel, with average viewership of 727,000. That was followed by Canada's Worst Driver on Discovery, Highway Thru Hell on Discovery, The Librarians on Space and Dancing with the Stars on Bravo.

Forbes downplays potential MTS selloff after Allstream deal

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. CEO Jay Forbes on Monday downplayed the likelihood that the whole company could be sold in the wake of a deal to unload its business communications division, Allstream.

MTS announced Monday that it has an agreement in place to sell Allstream to Boulder, Colo.-based Zayo Group Holdings Inc. for $465 million in cash.

3Macs telecom analyst Troy Crandall said the deal is positive for MTS, as Allstream has been "an albatross around the neck of Manitoba Tel every since it was acquired."

HBO deal bolsters CraveTV against Shomi, Netflix: experts

BCE Inc.’s move to acquire exclusive rights to HBO programming on all platforms and become the sole operator of HBO Canada will make its CraveTV over-the-top (OTT) service more competitive against rivals, experts said.

Having national HBO rights should “bolster the competitive position of CraveTV relative to other OTT services,” such as Netflix and Shomi, especially when CraveTV launches as a stand-alone service next year, RBC Dominion Securities analyst Drew McReynolds said in a research note.

Rob Farina leaves Rogers after reported record label spat

Rob Farina has resigned as vice-president of content with Rogers Communications Inc.'s media division, the company has confirmed, following a report he called for a boycott of a record company he saw as favouring BCE Inc.

Bell Media wins exclusive HBO rights for Canada

BCE Inc.’s media division said Thursday that it is now the sole operator of HBO Canada, and that it has reached a deal with Time Warner Inc.’s HBO that will give it exclusive Canadian rights to all HBO programming on every subscription platform.

Ottawa anchor loses job in Bell Media cuts

News anchor Carol Anne Meehan, who has been with BCE Inc.’s Ottawa CTV station for 26 years, is among those who lost their job as part of cuts at Bell Media Tuesday.

The Ottawa Citizen reported that Meehan confirmed to the newspaper she was leaving, among a number of staff cut by the station and by Bell Media-owned radio station CFRA.

Liberals’ infrastructure plans could extend to telecom: lawyer

TORONTO — The newly elected Liberal government has indicated infrastructure will be a priority, and that could include telecom infrastructure, said lawyer Chris Tacit during a panel discussion at the Canadian ISP Summit in Toronto on Wednesday.

Tacit, a lawyer for the Canadian Network Operators’ Consortium (CNOC), which organized the conference, said that “there is a likelihood, with this government’s focus on infrastructure, that they might actually turn their focus in a much more meaningful way to broadband infrastructure.”

IPTV, Netflix adoption lower in Ontario: MTM

Ontario residents are not moving as fast toward newer ways of getting TV content, such as IPTV and Netflix, as other parts of the Canada, according to newly released figures.

Bell Media to cut 380 jobs this month

BCE Inc.'s Bell Media will cut 380 jobs in Toronto and Montreal this month, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

There will be 270 jobs axed in Toronto, with 220 in production, editorial and operations, 45 in marketing and sales, and five that are clerical or administrative.

In Montreal, a total of 110 jobs will be cut, including 70 in production, editorial and operations, 35 in marketing and sales, and five administrative or clerical positions.

Bell profits up 12.5% in third quarter

BCE Inc. reported net earnings of $791 million in the three months ending on Sept. 30, up 12.5 per cent from the same time period a year earlier.

Its revenues were up 2.9 per cent, from $5.2 billion to $5.3 billion. The company said in a press release the revenue growth increased “on service revenue growth of 2.6 per cent and a 6.2 per cent increase in product revenue, driven by strong organic wireless, wireline residential and media revenue growth.”

Bell becomes largest TV provider for Canadians

BCE Inc. announced Wednesday that the popularity of its Fibe TV service has made its the largest TV provider in Canada for the first time with more than 2.7 million customers across the country.

Are stars aligning for Shaw sale to Rogers?

The idea of a merger between Canada's two biggest cable providers — Shaw Communications Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. — is on the radar again, with at least two market analysts saying the conditions are right for such a move.

Bell Media asks for CBC disaffiliations in B.C.

BCE Inc.'s Bell Media division has asked the CRTC to approve the disaffiliation of two TV stations it owns in British Columbia from CBC/Radio-Canada.

CRTC hearing on complaints commissioner scheduled for 4 days

The Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) will kick off next week’s CRTC hearing on the structure and mandate of this office, while an appearance by BCE Inc. will close out the four-day hearing.

The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. local time in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday and wrap up the following Friday, the CRTC said in a press release.

Primus to lobby against Bell’s FTTH access appeal

Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. was set to make its case against BCE Inc.’s appeal of the CRTC’s wholesale wireline decision to officials with Industry Canada on Thursday.

Michael Nowlan, CEO of the independent phone and Internet service provider, said in a phone interview that “the entire competitive industry has to be looking into saying, ‘we have to respond,’ so we do need to get our points of view across within Ottawa.”