Big three take aim at Videotron customers

BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. are trying to lure customers of Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron with targeted promotions, following a similar offer from Videotron. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

Telecoms pooh-pooh affordability fund

Establishing a dedicated fund to tackle service affordability for low-income Canadians as part of the CRTC’s basic telecom services objective is not the right way to handle the issue, according to the majority of service providers who responded to an application to review and vary the regulator’s December decision. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Quebecor has tools to combat Bell fibre push: Pruneau

Jean-Francois Pruneau, Quebecor Inc.’s senior vice-president and chief financial officer, told an investor’s conference Thursday that his company’s quad-play strategy in Quebec will limit the impact of BCE Inc.’s recently-announced fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) build out in Montreal. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

CBC, Netflix jump in brand trust ranking

Both CBC/Radio-Canada and Netflix Inc. saw dramatic improvements in how Canadians view their brands over the past year, according to the latest edition of the Gustavson Brand Trust Index. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

ISED PS Lametti hot property for April lobbying

The parliamentary secretary to the innovation minister was a popular target for lobbyists last month, as representatives from major telecom and Internet companies sought him out, according to the latest statistics from the office of the lobbying commissioner. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

CRTC to review pick-and-pay rollout in Oct.

The CRTC will hold a hearing on a number of broadcast distribution undertakings’ [BDUs] licence renewal applications starting on Oct. 16, which will include looking at how those providers put their pick-and-pay rules in place. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Terrebonne asks CRTC for help with access agreement

Another Canadian municipality is turning to the CRTC after failing to agree on a municipal access agreement with telecoms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The …

Licence decision could devastate Canadian production: WGC

A day after the CRTC released its decision on broadcast licence renewals for large ownership groups, three organizations representing the country’s production sector said they are concerned the new expenditure minimums could harm production of Canadian content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Bell’s Alt TV can ‘turn the tide’ against competitors: Canaccord

While the primary goal of BCE Inc.’s new television product is to tackle TV sub losses, it could also be used as an “offensive tool” against its cable competitors, according to Canaccord Genuity. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Alt TV managed service, doesn’t violate CRTC rules: Cope

MONTREAL — BCE Inc. has launched a new TV product hoping to appeal to a segment of the market that’s less likely to subscribe to traditional TV, which independent consultant Peter Miller says could face regulatory challenges over tied selling and its classification as an IPTV service. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Rogers’ OMNI gets temporary mandatory distribution

Rogers Communications Inc. will get a three-year window to run its new national ethnic channel before having to compete with other proposals for its mandatory carriage, the CRTC announced Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …

Koodo, Virgin Mobile tops in wireless purchase satisfaction: study

Wireless customers are taking advantage of an improved online experience and increasingly making purchases over the Internet, according to the results of a study released Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …

Former Videotron customers returning from Bell: Brouillette

Manon Brouillette, president of Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron, downplayed the effect that BCE Inc.’s recent move to deploy fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to all of Montreal’s homes and businesses would have on the company Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

Bell MTS to cut up to 85 jobs in Manitoba

BCE Inc. is looking to shed up to 85 jobs in Manitoba due to redundancy following its acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.  

“We are offering a voluntary retirement program that provides eligible employees with the opportunity to depart the company if they choose with a financial incentive recognizing their contributions and years of service,” Bell spokesman Marc Choma said in an email Tuesday.  

Bell touts good relationship with PMO: Barclays

BCE Inc. believes the company currently has a “good working relationship” with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), according to a note from Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang, written following meetings last week between CEO George Cope and head of investor relations Thane Fotopoulos in New York.

Partial sale would bring benefits to SaskTel: Desjardins

The sale of a stake in Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. would help the crown corporation when it comes to adopting new technologies, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi.

“The scale of a large telecom player could help SaskTel implement upcoming technologies, such as 5G, more easily,” Yaghi said in a Friday note, pointing to the “technological insight and purchasing power of a potential partner.”

Bell to launch new TV service to combat cord-cutting

BCE Inc. will introduce a new television service aimed at customers who have been turning away from traditional TV to online alternatives, president and CEO George Cope said on a conference call with analysts discussing the company’s first quarter earnings.

“On the IPTV side…[we’re] clearly seeing a maturing, as our footprint expansion is not as aggressive as it has been in the past, and absolutely seeing some of the … [over-the-top] substitution,” Cope said on the call Wednesday.

Gatineau says it can’t reach access agreement with telecoms

The city of Gatineau, Que., is turning to the CRTC to approve its municipal access agreement after BCE Inc., Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron, Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp., and Cogeco Inc. refused to accept some clauses of the document.

Bell claims first launch of quad band LTE-A in North America

BCE Inc. said it is now the first carrier on the continent to have the capability of delivering quad band LTE-advanced service. 

“Also known as 4-carrier aggregation, Quad Band technology leverages multiple bands of wireless spectrum to boost top Tri Band LTE-A mobile data speeds” from 335 Mbps (with average download speeds expected to be between 12 to 100 Mbps) to 550 Mbps (expected speeds of 18 to 150 Mbps), the company said in a Thursday press release.

Telecoms shouldn’t be gatekeepers, Blais says ahead of differential pricing decision

The CRTC may very well complete the record on net neutrality policy in Canada when it releases its decision Thursday afternoon on differential pricing practices, chairman Jean-Pierre Blais told a Harvard University audience Tuesday.

Mobile ad spending on the rise: report

Canadian advertisers are catching up to their American counterparts, with the market share of digital ad spending on mobile platforms forecast to hit 77.6 per cent by 2021, according to research firm eMarketer Inc.

Bell says retroactive regulation can’t be basis for simsub ban

The CRTC can’t retroactively apply regulations established almost a year after the fact to justify its prohibition simultaneous substitution during the broadcast of the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl, BCE Inc. argued in court documents filed in its joint appeal of the decision.

CCTS complaints continue downward trend

There were fewer complaints accepted by the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) in the second half of 2016 than in the comparable time period a year earlier, according to the CCTS mid-year report, released Thursday.

The organization accepted 3,995 complaints between August 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017, compared to 4,562 complaints the year before, about a 12.4 per cent decline.

Quebec approves class action over Fibe advertising

The Quebec Superior Court has approved a class-action lawsuit against BCE Inc. for allegedly misrepresenting the type of connections customers receive when subscribing to its Fibe services.

The representative plaintiff, Quebec resident Shay Abicidan, is suing for damages and a permanent injunction on the sale of Bell’s Fibe Internet and TV services due to the connections not being composed entirely of fibre optics, according to the March 30 decision authorizing the action.

Regional telecom disruption on Competition Bureau’s radar: commissioner

The Competition Bureau will be keeping an eye on how regional telecom providers can disrupt the incumbents’ hold on the market, the commissioner said Tuesday.

Karine Moses and Debbie Drutz move up at Bell Media

BCE Inc. has announced two new appointments in its Bell Media division. 

Telus closes deal for 100K MTS subscribers

Telus Corp. has finalized a deal it struck as part of BCE Inc.’s acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. to have 100,000 former MTS subscribers, or about one quarter of its postpaid wireless subscriber base, shift to Telus.

The approximately $300-million deal closed on April 1, Telus said in a press release Monday.

Canada’s VR industry is nascent, but set for growth

Though virtual reality is still in its early days, it holds promise for Canada’s media industry — including for broadcasters as a new way to draw eyes to live events, such as sports, according to Nordicity’s Kristian Roberts.

For example, it could be used to allow a viewer to watch the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup finals from some of the best seats in the house, he suggested.

Big three say conditions for strong wireless continue: Desjardins

BCE Inc., Telus Corp., and Rogers Communications Inc. believe the conditions supporting the wireless growth they have seen in recent quarters will stay in place in 2017, according to a research note from Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi.

Bell accelerates FTTH deployment with $854M plan for Montreal

MONTREAL — BCE Inc. will invest $854 million to bring fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to all of Montreal’s homes and businesses within five years, the company said Monday.

“By the end of the year, 40 per cent of the entire province will actually have fibre, which will make it the most-connected province in the country in terms of fibre penetration today,” Bell CEO George Cope said at an event announcing the investment.

Flanker brands ramped up promos in March: Barclays

Following a quiet first quarter, wireless companies’ flanker brands stepped up the competition in March, ramping up promotional activity through data increases and handset discounts, according to Barclays Capital.

Just ahead of March break, a “growing number” of flanker brands increased activity to “meet subscriber growth targets near quarter-end” by targeting the mid-to-lower end of the market, analyst Phillip Huang said in a Monday note.

Bell’s scale advantage widening after MTS deal: Barclays

The acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. expands the scale at which BCE Inc. operates, which is “becoming one of its most important competitive advantages,” according to Barclays Capital.

Facebook beefs up lobbying squad

Facebook Inc. is increasing its government relations presence in Ottawa, with three new registrations filed with the lobbying commissioner’s office last month.

According to the federal lobbyists’ registry, the social media giant has contracted the services of U.K.-based consulting firm AA Access Partnership Ltd., bringing the number of consultants registered to lobby on behalf of Facebook to nine.

Court dismisses appeal of set-top box sales ban

MONTREAL — The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed Monday a challenge to an injunction on the sale of pre-loaded set-top boxes.

“In our view, in light of the uncontradicted evidence, including the advertisement that these pre-loaded set-top boxes are a way to access free TV content and avoid cable bills, the Federal Court was entitled to draw the inferences that it did,” Justice Johanne Gauthier said in her decision.

Are provinces filling the federal broadband strategy gap?

Nova Scotia may not be formulating its provincial broadband plan as a direct response to federal inaction, but that doesn’t mean the provincial government isn’t acting out of a need to fill a void affecting its residents.

“It’s like a lot of things in that the provincial government is closer to the people than the federal government is, in certain respects,” David MacNeil, senior advisor in the Nova Scotia department of business, said in a phone interview.

Bell-MTS acquisition completed

The purchase of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. by BCE Inc. has officially closed, Bell said in a press release Friday.

“Uniting the local and national strengths of MTS and Bell Canada, the new Bell MTS will bring unprecedented investment and innovation in broadband communications to Manitoba, including the rollout of next-generation Fibe services and Canada's fastest-ranked wireless network,” the release said.

TV subscriber losses steady, wireless adds at record high in 2016

Following a year in which cord-cutting increased sharply, the trend seems to have levelled out somewhat in 2016, with Canada’s publicly traded telecoms losing 220,990 TV subscribers, compared to the 178,910 who eliminated their service the previous year.

Iristel asks CRTC to deny Northwestel’s review-and-vary

The arguments made by BCE Inc. subsidiary Northwestel in its request to the CRTC to review and vary a decision setting rates for Northwestel’s Wholesale Connect service have already been put to the commission in the past and rejected, according to Iristel Inc.

Bell, Hamilton dispute over municipal access agreement continues

The CRTC is asking for comment on an aspect of the municipal access agreement between BCE Inc. and Hamilton, Ont., following a five-year disagreement between the two parties.

Karen Sheriff joins Bell board of directors

Former Bell Aliant president Karen Sheriff has joined the BCE Inc. board of directors, the company said in a Wednesday press release.

“We are delighted that Karen Sheriff has agreed to bring her wealth of strategic and operational leadership experience and her deep knowledge of the Canadian communications sector to the service of our shareholders as a Director of BCE," board chairman Gordon Nixon said in the release

Proposal would give Bell ‘significant and asymmetric powers’: small ISPs

The CRTC should deny a proposal by BCE Inc. for a new regime governing traffic pumping that would allow telecoms to unilaterally put in place penalties that “inflict substantial harm” on other telecom providers, the Canadian Network Operators’ Consortium (CNOC) said.

Blais defends SimSub decision

Canada has one of the “world’s most open cultural markets” and the CRTC’s decision to ban simultaneous substitution during BCE Inc.’s broadcast of the National Football League’s championship game doesn’t raise trade issues, chairman Jean-Pierre Blais told a pair of Canadian politicians who petitioned the CRTC reverse its decision.

Jay Forbes leaving MTS

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.'s president and CEO will leave the company following the closing of its acquisition by BCE Inc.

Telecoms bond over stirring proposals to shake up call spoofing

Technologies identified by the CRTC as potential tools to combat spoofed and nuisance calls have promise, but barriers to their deployment mean they’re not likely to be put in place any time soon, companies told the regulator.

Randy Lennox to head Bell Media as Mary Ann Turcke leaves for NFL

Randy Lennox has been named the new president of BCE Inc.’s media division following the departure of Mary Ann Turcke, the company announced Monday.

In a press release, Bell Media said Turcke, who has been in the role since April 2015 and with the company for a dozen years overall, has accepted a new job with the National Football League as president of digital media and the NFL Network. Turcke will be based in Los Angeles, the release said.

Less government interference not positive for Shaw: Barclays

Greater flexibility allowed by the federal government for market forces to shape the wireless industry would benefit most of the big players but negatively affect Shaw Communications Inc.'s Freedom Mobile, according to Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang.

CBC ‘dimmer star’ in media landscape, conservative event hears

OTTAWA — When talking about CBC/Radio-Canada’s role in the media landscape, the public broadcaster is a “pygmy amongst giants,” and more focus should be aimed at large telecom companies, Dwayne Winseck argued Saturday during a debate about whether to “pull the plug” on the CBC.

Northwestel ‘gaming’ regulatory system with Part 1: SSi Micro

SSi Micro Ltd. is claiming a BCE Inc. subsidiary is engaging in delay tactics with its recent request for the CRTC to revise a decision setting rates for its Wholesale Connect service, while Northwestel is arguing the CRTC’s decision last fall was based on faulty information.

In a Wednesday press release, SSi said it asked the CRTC “to end Northwestel’s ongoing attempts to delay complying with Commission orders” and that “these delays thwart competition and cause consumers harm.”

Iristel, EBox, DHX among new lobby registrations

The start of the new year was marked by new registrations for new and not-so-new companies and groups in the federal lobbyists’ registry.

Iristel Inc. registered to lobby the federal government as of Jan. 13 with consultant Eric Rothschild, who, according to the registry filing “will discuss with CRTC staff & Commissioners and staff at Innovation, Science and Economic Development potential funding available for telecommunications infrastructure.”

Bell phone activation policy violated Human Rights Act: tribunal

BCE Inc. must pay $10,000 in compensation and put in place an accommodation policy for disabled customers who can’t come to a store to activate a new phone, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ruled.

Michael Neuman joins Telna-KnowRoaming

Toronto-based KnowRoaming has appointed a former BCE Inc. executive as the executive chair of its Telna-KnowRoaming subsidiary.

“This addition to the executive team will help Telna-KnowRoaming deliver on its mandate to become the global standard for 'SIM free' Multi-IMSI wireless networks, providing low cost, SIM-free connectivity for any wireless device to every wireless network, worldwide,” Thursday’s press release said.

Bell-MTS deal receives final approval, includes Xplornet in ‘surprise twist’

The introduction of Xplornet Communications Inc. into Manitoba’s wireless market was a “surprise twist” to the story of BCE Inc.’s $3.9-billion acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., analysts said Wednesday in reaction to the proposal receiving final regulatory approval from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Competition Bureau.

Highlight data as ‘key contract term’ in Wireless Code: CCTS

The Wireless Code should be amended so that it codifies data as a “key contract term” in wireless contracts, the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) argued on the final day of the CRTC’s public hearing examining the three-year-old regulations, since that wouldn’t change a customer’s ability to adjust their allotment.

Eliminate locked phones in Canada, Freedom Mobile tells CRTC

In a departure from the positions of its fellow wireless providers, Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile suggested Wednesday the CRTC should forbid carriers from charging fees for unlocking phones, and direct them to stop ordering locked devices from equipment manufacturers.

Don’t divorce handset, service pricing: wireless providers

GATINEAU, Que. — Changing the rules so that the cost of a wireless device is divorced from a monthly service payment on a customer’s bill would take a considerable amount of work to implement, a CRTC panel heard Tuesday as the regulator continued its review of the three-year-old Wireless Code.

Appeal filed in Bell IPTV case

A lengthy legal battle between BCE Inc. and two companies that claim Bell infringed on their IPTV patent has been extended, one month after a Federal Court judge dismissed the case.

Super Bowl viewership falls 39% on Bell channels

The CRTC’s decision to ban simultaneous substitution for the National Football League’s Super Bowl has had a significant effect on viewership, as BCE Inc.'s media division reported an audience drop-off of 39 per cent on its channels compared to last year’s game.

Bell Media partners with country music record label

BCE Inc.’s media division has entered into an agreement with Nashville, Tenn.- based record label Big Machine Label Group (BMLG).

Bell Media said in a press release Monday BMLG is the world’s top independent record label “based on sales and radio airplay,” whose roster includes musicians like Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw.

Bell continues wireless trend, expects MTS to close end of Q1

Blais calls out demands for ‘political interference’ with CRTC

OTTAWA — CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais used his opening remarks at a panel discussion Thursday to criticize individuals who are calling for “political interference” in the commission’s decisions.

Bell asks CRTC for ‘holistic’ rules on traffic pumping

BCE Inc. wants the CRTC to implement new rules governing traffic pumping, which would put the onus on any telecom accused of artificially inflating traffic to prove they’re not engaged in the practice.

“Much like in the United States, our proposed solution has the benefit of shifting the burden to the person who knows best why traffic is increasing and allows them to justify the increase,” Bell said in a Part 1 application filed Monday.

Telecoms to challenge Calgary bylaw in court

BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., Telus Corp., and Zayo Group Holdings Inc. plan to challenge the constitutional validity of Calgary’s municipal rights-of-way bylaw.

75% of anglophones subscribe to TV service: MTM

New data shows that the number of anglophone Canadians with TV subscriptions has continued to fall, reaching 75 per cent in the fall of 2016 — a 14-per-cent decline over the past five years.

That number is down two per cent from a year earlier, according to a report released Tuesday by Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

The report also showed technologies like streaming, wearable devices and 4K are growing.

Bell Media cutting jobs

BCE Inc.’s media division is “reducing a number of positions” across the country, spokesman Scott Henderson confirmed Tuesday, though he declined to specify the number of people that will be affected.

The job cuts are part of a “restructuring that includes local radio and TV stations,” he said in an email, adding that the positions affected “are from all areas of the business.”

Trump raising concerns about Internet traffic passing U.S.: advocates

In November 2016, a group of Internet experts met in Toronto to discuss how to address the issue of Canadian Internet traffic travelling to the United States, which some say raises data privacy concerns that have now been amplified with the election of U.S. president Donald Trump.

Bell plans viewer contests, Letterkenny broadcast for Super Bowl

BCE Inc. has given more details about its broadcast plans for the upcoming National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl, including pointing fans to a resource where they can watch American ads in advance of the game.

It said in a press release Thursday that Canadian fans can visit a website that “directs visitors to the best new ads as they are released in advance of the game, as well as fan-favourite ads from previous seasons.”

Big three show similar wireless performance: OpenSignal

A new report has found that BCE Inc., Telus Corp. and Rogers Communications Inc. are essentially tied when it comes to the performance of their wireless networks, concluding that the big three “all have more in common than not.”

Thursday’s report from OpenSignal said that all three “are fast and offer excellent access to LTE signals to the point that no single operator dominated any of OpenSignal’s metrics.”

Marie Ginette Lepage takes SVP role at Stingray

Marie Ginette Lepage is leaving Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron to join the team at Stingray Digital Group Inc., Stingray announced.

In a press release, the company said Lepage would take on the role of senior vice-president of global sales and mobile solutions, where she will “lead Stingray’s Canadian and international sales operations, drive revenue growth and business development partnerships, as well as oversee mobile sales and relationships with mobile operators.”

Mandating co-location would be a barrier to competition: CNOC

An application by BCE Inc. asking the CRTC not to require the implementation of meet-me points through which smaller companies could connect to the telco’s network, if granted, would harm competition, small ISPs are arguing.

“Bell’s application is an attempt to slow competition that would also generate an unnecessary windfall for Bell at the expense of competitors and consumers,” the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) said in a Jan. 23 intervention.

Telus rolls out welcome mat to lead Dec. lobbying numbers

Telus Corp. led the telecom pack in December for government relations activity, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry, logging 14 monthly communication reports.

In addition to getting in touch with the policy advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Justin To, Telus also bent the ears of members of the prime minister’s cabinet.

Build voice and data support at same time in NG911 system: Freedom

GATINEAU, Que. — There are unique considerations for wireless carriers when contemplating the switch to next-generation 911 (NG911) services, a CRTC panel was told on the penultimate day of a public hearing on improvements to the 911 network, including the fact they can offer more services for 911 users more quickly.

Bell offering IBM enterprise apps

BCE Inc.’s business customers now have access to IBM Corp.’s MobileFirst enterprise apps for devices running on Apple Inc.’s iOS operating system.

Cogeco shifting data centre strategy due to Amazon, Microsoft: Audet

MONTREAL — Moves by Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. into the Canadian data centre business won’t compete directly with Cogeco Inc., which is changing its data centre strategy by focusing on a different type of client, CEO Louis Audet told reporters Thursday.

As online video, data transmissions grow, need for CDNs expanding

Last month, Amazon.com Inc. announced that its data centre business was expanding into Canada, a move that illustrates what some say is the need for more data points as an increasing amount of digital content is consumed and emerging technologies like 4K and virtual reality grow.

Federal Court tosses patent suit against Bell for IPTV technology

What began more than three years ago as a $350-million claim of patent infringement against BCE Inc. devolved into a pale imitation of its former self and will lead to plaintiffs MediaTube Corp. and NorthVu Inc. paying for the whole affair, according to a decision from a Federal Court judge.

Amazon little threat to Netflix, Crave for now: analyst

A tepid launch of Amazon.com Inc.’s Prime video streaming service in Canada doesn’t seem likely to pose a challenge to existing players in the Canadian streaming market — for the time being, at least, given Amazon’s global clout could make it a formidable challenger in the future.

Bell, NFL file appeal of Super Bowl simsub rules

BCE Inc. and the National Football League (NFL) have filed appeals in federal court arguing that the CRTC lacks the authority to ban the use of simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl.

Bell asks gov’t for 600 MHz revenue fund for OTA

BCE Inc. is asking the federal government to use part of the proceeds from its upcoming 600 MHz spectrum auction for a revenue fund to support local television.

Amid political push for SimSub ruling reversal, Bell yet to file appeal

Despite having less than two months until the Feb. 5 kick off at the 51st Super Bowl, BCE Inc. has yet to start the process with the courts to put a stop to a decision prohibiting the broadcaster from replacing American advertisements with Canadian ones during the game.

At the beginning of November, the federal Appeals Court granted Bell leave to appeal the CRTC’s decision to ban simultaneous substitution during the broadcast of the National Football League’s championship game, beginning in February.

CRTC gives go-ahead to Bell-MTS BDU licence transfer

The CRTC has granted approval for Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. to transfer its broadcast distribution licences to BCE Inc. as part of an overall $3.9-billion acquisition of the provincial provider.

In a notice on its website Tuesday, the regulator said the transaction “does not raise concerns with resect to applicable Commission policies and regulations and that it does not trigger the payment of tangible benefits.”

Avoid ISP tax, tweak CanCon rules, companies say in Heritage review

There isn’t much disagreement between some of the country’s biggest media and telecom service providers over whether foreign entities, such as over-the-top providers like Netflix Inc., should be making a contribution to the country’s cultural sector.

Bell to test AT&T software platform for wireless traffic management

BCE Inc. has signed on to test a platform developed by AT&T Inc. that would allow it to carry more, and better manage, traffic on its network.

The software — called ECOMP or Enhanced Control, Orchestration, Management and Policy — was built to power AT&T's new network, Bell said in a Thursday release. Bell joins France-based Orange SA as the first telecom companies to test the platform.

Canadian politicians follow U.S. in call to reverse SimSub ban: report

Two MPs are asking the CRTC to reverse its decision on simultaneous substitution for the National Football League's (NFL) Super Bowl, a week after four United States congressmen demanded the same, according to a report by the Canadian Press Thursday.

Rogers killing of in-house IPTV good move in long term, analysts say

Rogers Communications Inc. has abandoned the development of its own IPTV platform and will instead launch an IPTV service using a platform from Comcast Corp., a plan analysts said Friday would benefit BCE Inc. in the short term but is a good decision for Rogers down the road.

Rob Farina named head of iHeartRadio

BCE Inc. has named Rob Farina head of iHeartRadio, syndication and strategic initiatives at Bell Media Radio.

Bell targets second small IPTV provider over copyright claim

Zazeen Inc. is facing legal action from BCE Inc. over its Internet protocol TV (IPTV) service, with the incumbent calling the small provider’s service copyright infringement.

In a statement of claim filed with the Federal Court last month, Bell said Zazeen is currently operating “an unlicensed Internet delivered service… that is exempt from licensing by the CRTC.”

U.S. politicians asking Canadian gov’t to reverse SimSub ban

Canada is violating its trade obligations by banning simultaneous substitution for the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl, four United States politicians said in a letter to the Canadian government Thursday, which follows another letter by the NFL condemning the decision.

Bell asks CRTC to reconsider aspects of disaggregated regime

BCE Inc. is asking the CRTC to hold off on requiring the company to build new infrastructure as part of the regulator’s new disaggregated wholesale wireline regime, something small Internet Service Providers (ISPs) say they are concerned could further delay the implementation of a system the CRTC decided to establish in 2015.