Safeguards can’t justify Rogers-Shaw merger: Bell to CRTC

No amount of proposed remedies will undo the damage of Rogers Communications Inc. gaining 47 per cent of the English-language broadcast distribution undertaking (BDU) market, according to representatives of BCE Inc., who Thursday asked CRTC commissioners not to approve their chief competitor’s proposed takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers …

CRTC plans to monitor technical surveys for small BDUs,  dismisses CCSA ​​undue preference complaint against Bell

The CRTC will be keeping an eye on technical surveys — which broadcast distribution undertakings (BDUs) are sometimes required to complete to satisfy rights holders that their intellectual property will not be compromised — to ensure that the increasingly common processes are not becoming a barrier for small BDUs. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Court grants CIPPIC, Beanfield intervenor status in dynamic site-blocking case

A Federal Court judge has granted intervenor status to the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy & Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa (CIPPIC), and Beanfield Technologies Inc. in an effort by several broadcasters seeking Canada’s first-ever “dynamic” site-blocking order.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

New ‘dynamic’ site-blocking needs new safeguards: CIPPIC 

The site-blocking order that will block a rolling list of pirate streaming sites during NHL games sought by a trio of hockey broadcasters requires new legal safeguards, given that at least some of the technology used to identify pirate streamers will be  based on automated techniques, according to the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy & Public …

Bell, Telus and PIAC want CRTC to deny Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw’s broadcasting interests

BCE Inc. and Telus Corp., considered to be two of Rogers Communications Inc.’s greatest competitors, have asked the CRTC to deny Rogers’ proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc.’s broadcasting business following a slew of nearly identical interventions submitted in favour of the deal. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

More than a dozen nearly-identical interventions filed with CRTC in favour of Rogers-Shaw broadcasting acquisition

A number of film groups and companies have submitted nearly identical letters to the CRTC in support of Rogers Communications Inc.’s plan to acquire Shaw Communication Inc. as the commission plans for a November hearing into the company’s deal to purchase Shaw’s broadcasting business interests.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Hockey broadcasters seek injunction against pirate streamers

Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc., and Quebecor Inc. are asking a Federal Court for a permanent injunction against a set of unknown users of IP addresses that the companies say are being used to facilitate the illegal streaming of NHL hockey games.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Rogers, Shaw execs mum on spectrum at Industry committee  

On the opening day Monday of hearings into Roger’s proposed acquisition of Shaw, MPs on the House of Commons Industry Committee sought answers from the companies’ executives on whether or not the two companies seek to hold on to Shaw’s discounted spectrum, and how the merger would affect wireless prices in Canada.  On the spectrum …

Regulatory approval of Rogers-Shaw deal will hinge on wireless: Execs, analysts

From the perspective of Rogers Communications Inc. CEO Joe Natale, regulatory approval of his company’s $26.2 billion acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc. will come down to the views of the various regulators on how the deal impacts the wireless market in western Canada.  The wireless business, Natale pointed out on a Monday morning conference call …

Government waives licence fees for broadcasters

Canadian radio and TV broadcasters won’t have to pay licence fees for 2020-21 in a bid to help them navigate declines in advertising revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 …

Videotron buys cable company in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Que.

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron has purchased a local cable company operating in the same area where the CRTC recently ordered Quebecor rival BCE Inc. to provide Quebecor with wholesale internet service. 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 …

English Canadian subs to OTT jumps to 65%: MTM

The number of English-speaking adults in Canada subscribing to over-the-top streaming services continues to rise at a brisk pace, according to newly released results from CBC/Radio-Canada‘s Media Technology Monitor. 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 …

Viewing of U.S. kids’ linear TV channels in a freefall: analyst

Viewership of children’s TV channels in the United States declined by another 20 per cent in the past year, according to Bernstein Research analyst Todd Juenger. 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 …

Most content pirates have TV subscriptions: MTM

More than half, or 59 per cent, of Canadians who pirate TV and movie content also have a TV subscription, according to a new report from Media Technology Monitor (MTM). 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 …

Comms law review panel extends comment period

The comment period for the government-appointed, blue-ribbon panel that’s reviewing Canada’s communications laws is being extended into next year. 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 …

Videotron losing its CEO as Brouillette announces departure

Manon Brouillette, who has been at the helm of Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron for the past five years, is leaving the company in what National Bank analyst Adam Shine said is a surprise move. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Broadcast revenue bleeding got worse in 2017: CRTC

According to the latest data from the CRTC, the Canadian broadcasting and broadcast distribution industry’s loss of revenue continues to accelerate, mostly due to ongoing “significant” declines in TV provider revenue in the broadcast year ending Aug. 31, 2017. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Bains mum on if telecom concerns led to Aecon takeover denial

OTTAWA — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains wouldn’t say Thursday whether concerns about the security of telecom networks played a part in the reason the federal government decided to block the acquisition of Aecon Group Inc. by a Chinese company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Anglophone TV subs down slightly to 73%: MTM

The percentage of anglophones subscribing to TV service fell to 73 per cent in 2017 from 75 per cent a year earlier, according to the latest numbers from CBC/Radio-Canada’s Media Technology Monitor (MTM) project. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

CCSA says Rogers violating the rules in affiliation agreement dispute

  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 Wire Report now. FREE TRIAL Two weeks free access to thewirereport.ca and our exlusive newsletters. Register for free …

Bell, Telus report wireless sub gains from December promos

BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. both reported quarterly results for the three months ending on Dec. 31 Wednesday, and while both had significant increases in wireless customer additions, Bell especially appeared to benefit from December’s week of heightened competition. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

‘Technical issue’ hurt Rogers churn during Dec. wireless promos: CEO

Rogers Communications Inc.’s systems had a technical glitch that negatively affected the company as it dealt with a high number of customer requests during an industry-wide promotional frenzy in December, executives said Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

As its TV ad revenue drops, Corus says ad tech is the future

Corus Entertainment Inc. executives emphasized their optimism about future plans in the advertising technology and programmatic ad space as the company reported quarterly results Wednesday that showed its television advertising revenues fell to the tune of four per cent in the first quarter of 2018. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Jim Shaw, former Shaw CEO, dies at 60

Shaw Communications Inc. said on Wednesday evening that its former CEO, Jim Shaw, has died. 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 Wire Report now. FREE …

Bell needs to do more with ad tech, CEO says

BCE Inc. CEO George Cope said the company needs to do a better job of finding opportunities in emerging advertising technology, as the company seeks additional revenue growth for its media division. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Freedom set to support older iPhones with spectrum rejig, deployment

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Thursday that it would move to redeploy existing spectrum in addition to deploying new spectrum to allow it to support older Apple Inc. iPhones — addressing a shortcoming analysts have pointed to as a limiting factor for the company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Corus focuses on content over broadcast with Historia, Séries+ sale

Corus Entertainment Inc. announced Tuesday it is selling two French-language specialty channels, Historia and Séries+, to BCE Inc.’s Bell Media in a deal valued at approximately $200 million that prompted favourable reactions from financial analysts.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Look at high cost of à la carte channels, PIAC tells CRTC

GATINEAU, Que. — There are still some problems with the implementation of the CRTC’s skinny basic and pick-and-pay rules, consumer groups told the regulator during the second day of a licence hearing Tuesday. 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 …

No business case, no set-top box measurement system: Cablecos

GATINEAU, QUE. — Some companies in a working group crafted to measure how audiences consume content on set-top boxes (STB) told a panel of CRTC commissioners Monday that if there isn’t a business case for the system, it may fail. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Lori Rosenberg to join CCSA as VP of contracts

The Canadian Cable System Alliance (CCSA) said Thursday that Lori Rosenberg will join its executive team as vice president of contracts, effective Oct. 10. 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 …

CRTC licence decision sent back to drawing board

A controversial CRTC decision that creative groups said would negatively affect the production of Canadian content will be sent back to the CRTC for reconsideration by the federal cabinet, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

CRTC calls for comments on VOD, discretionary service dispute tool

The CRTC is asking for feedback on whether it should add dispute-resolution provisions to its newly created Discretionary Services Regulations. 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 …

BDU revenue losses accelerate to 2.1%: CRTC

Canadian TV providers’ revenues dropped 2.1 per cent in 2016 — a marked increase from the 0.1 per cent fall a year earlier, which was the first such decline in a decade. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Cogeco’s U.S. cable prospects more promising: Barclays

Cogeco Inc. can look to cable in the United States to see sustained growth compared to a harsher cable market in Canada, according to Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang. 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 …

Cogeco reports higher revenues and profit in Q3

Cogeco Inc. reported stronger revenues and profits for its fiscal third quarter, the first earnings report since its acquisition of Harron Communications LP’s MetroCast assets in the United States earlier this week. 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 …

Alaraby Television Network approved for distribution

The CRTC approved Tuesday an application by sponsor Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. to add Alaraby Television Network to its list of non-Canadian channels authorized for distribution. 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 …

Cogeco expands U.S. biz with MetroCast buy

Cogeco Inc. is again expanding its U.S. footprint, with the announcement Monday that it would purchase the remaining cable assets from Harron Communications LP’s MetroCast. 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 …

STB data measurement complex task, group says

Activity by a working group tasked with studying the implementation of an audience measurement system via set-top boxes is slow, but steady, TV providers told the CRTC, with user privacy coming to bear as a top concern for those involved. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

CTV joins local news expansion parade

An additional nine local CTV stations across the country will begin airing an early evening newscast this fall, BCE Inc.’s media division said Wednesday. 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 …

Rogers Media Sales signs with weather, food brands

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Tuesday its media sales division had signed two deals that “expand reach and deliver brand-safe, premium-content environments to advertisers.” 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 …

CRTC calls for radio, BDU licence renewal applications

The CRTC is asking for holders of both radio and cable and IPTV broadcast distribution undertaking (BDU) licences that expire on Aug. 31, 2018 to apply to renew their licences. 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 …

Cable no substitute in wholesale service gap areas: CNOC

The presence of cable infrastructure in locations where there is no telco option for wholesale Internet service is not a sufficient alternative, small Internet service providers (ISPS) are arguing in a proceeding in front of the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

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 …

Illegal streaming on Kodi boxes in 6% of households: Sandvine

A new report from broadband equipment maker Sandvine Corp. says about six per cent of households in North America “currently have a Kodi device configured to access unlicensed content.”

Overall ownership of the boxes sits at 8.8 per cent, the report said. It noted that because the boxes don’t come with any content, and it is up to the user to configure them, “it’s best to view Kodi as a piece of software in the same way that we think of web browsers and other media players.”

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.

TVO cancels plan to shut down OTA transmitters

Ontario public broadcaster TVO has decided to keep broadcasting over-the-air (OTA), after the provincial government moved to provide $1 million in funding to keep the transmitters operational.

TVO to end OTA broadcasts outside of Toronto

Ontario public broadcaster TVO will shut down eight over-the-air transmitters, keeping one transmitter in Toronto “for the purposes of the CRTC licence and to minimize distribution costs,” it said in a Jan. 25 press release.

Broadcasts will stop on July 31 in a move that will save the broadcaster $1 million per year, it said.

The affected transmitters are in Ottawa, Belleville, Chatham, Cloyne, Kitchener, London, Thunder Bay and Windsor, Ont.

Jay Thomson to head CCSA

The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) has named Jay Thomson as its new CEO.

Thomson, who is currently the vice-president of broadcasting policy and regulatory affairs for the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), will start effective Feb. 1, 2017, the CCSA said in a press release Tuesday.

Thomson has also previously “held senior regulatory and policy positions” at Telus Corp., the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and the Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA), according to the release.

Big Three among biggest spenders on R&D in Canada

Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. are near the top of this year’s list of the 100 companies in Canada that spend the most on research and development.

The list, released annually by Research Infosource, is based on information from “proprietary databases,” the company said in a Nov. 14 press release.

Blue Ant sells 4 shows to Discovery Communications

Blue Ant Media Inc. has sold four reality shows to Discovery Communications Inc., which will be broadcast on Discovery’s channels airing in the United States and Latin America.

Blue Ant said in a Monday press release the announcement involves over "55 hours of content from its expanding catalogue of premium lifestyle and factual entertainment series.”

CCSA board responds to wrongful dismissal suit

The former CEO of the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) could not have been wrongfully dismissed since her employment contract was already up, the board of directors argued in court documents responding to a lawsuit by Alyson Townsend.

CRTC grills telecoms on skinny basic promotion, bundling

GATINEAU — A CRTC panel pressed Canada's largest TV service providers on whether they were doing enough to bring attention to new skinny-basic services, raising concerns that higher-tier services were receiving favourable treatment, on the first day of a hearing on skinny-basic implementation.

Bell’s Wholesale Code appeal, conditions of licence ask face stiff opposition

BCE Inc. has “unclean hands” in its effort to have the Wholesale Code overturned by the federal Appeal Court while simultaneously applying to have removed certain conditions of licence imposed on vertically integrated entities in 2013 by the CRTC during the ongoing licence renewal process, lawyers argued in court documents responding to Bell’s appeal.

Luc Noiseux named Cogeco chief technology officer

Cogeco Inc. said Monday it appointed Luc Noiseux as the company’s new senior vice president and chief technology and strategy officer.

Louise St-Pierre leaving Cogeco Connexion

The head of Cogeco Inc.’s Canadian division is retiring after more than 17 years with the company, the company announced Friday.

Louise St-Pierre, Cogeco Connexion president and CEO, will step down as of Sept. 1, but remain with the company in an advisory role until the end of November, Cogeco said in a press release.

Cogeco reports higher revenues, takes a hit from Peer 1

Cogeco Inc. reported higher overall revenues for the third quarter, but a write-down on its Peer 1 business pulled on the reins.

CCSA sued for wrongful dismissal after Townsend departure

The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) is facing a lawsuit from former president and CEO Alyson Townsend, who is accusing the organization of wrongful dismissal.

In a statement of claim filed in a New Brunswick court on June 30, Townsend is identified as the CCSA’s first employee, who incorporated the company in 1993. It now represents more than 115 independent cable, telephone and Internet television companies across the country.

Anglophone TV subs fall to 73%: MTM

The number of anglophones subscribing to TV service continues to fall, according to a new report by Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

CRTC ‘rebalances’ TV system funds; up to $90M available for local news

The CRTC has established new funding for local television news in a decision on its local and community TV hearing, though advocates expressed concern that the changes won’t happen quickly enough for some stations.

In a summary of the decision, issued Wednesday afternoon, the CRTC said independent stations will be able to tap into a $23.1-million Independent Local News Fund (ILNF), while new flexibility could make available up to $66.9 million for stations operated by vertically-integrated companies.

CCSA president Alyson Townsend leaves post

Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) president and CEO Alyson Townsend has left the organization, vice-president of corporate and regulatory Chris Edwards confirmed Wednesday.

Jenny Bosien, CCSA’s finance director, has stepped in as interim CEO, Edwards said over the phone.

Edwards could not confirm the date when Townsend left the position she has held for at least a decade, but said it was “within the last two weeks.”

Shomi, Crave in fewer than 1M households: SRG

Solutions Research Group Consultants Inc. estimates fewer than one million Canadian households are currently subscribers to BCE Inc.’s CraveTV and Rogers Communications Inc.’s and Shaw Communications Inc.’s Shomi.

Telecom told it can’t name and shame subs with unpaid bills

The office of the privacy commissioner has forced a cable provider to censor the names of customers with overdue accounts it made public, according to an incident summary posted on its website Tuesday.

The case, which occurred in December 2015 in the Northwest Territories, involved a cable company, which is not named, that made public on Facebook Inc.’s social network the names of customers who had overdue accounts.

Mobile service gives Quebecor Q1 revenue boost

Quebecor Inc. reported a five-per-cent increase to revenue in the first quarter of 2016, bringing in $975.4 million compared to $929 million the same period a year earlier.

According to quarterly earnings released Thursday, the company also turned a profit of $354.7 million, which according to adjusted figures was up 4.6 per cent in the three months ending March 31, compared to the same period a year earlier.

Charter-Time Warner deal gets FCC approval

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted its approval to the merger of Charter Communications Inc., Time Warner Cable Inc. and Bright House Networks LLC, the regulator said in a press release Friday.

Charter-Time Warner merger moves ahead, with conditions

The U.S. Department of Justice has given its approval for a pair of Charter Communications Inc. acquisitions, which, according to a Monday press release, would create the second-largest cable company in the country.

CRTC starts renewal process for TV provider licences

The CRTC issued a call for Thursday for IPTV and cable providers whose broadcast licences will expire in 2016 and 2017 to submit licence renewal applications.

20% of Canadians don’t subscribe to TV: MTM

The number of Canadians without TV subscriptions is currently 20 per cent, according to a pair of new reports from Media Technology Monitor, a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

MTM noted that “living without a paid TV service is nothing new,” given that 15 per cent of Canadians did not subscribe to TV service in 2002.

23.7% of Canadian households don’t subscribe to TV: report

A new report from Convergence Consulting Group Ltd. estimates 3.43 million Canadian households, or about 23.7 per cent, didn’t have a traditional TV subscription with a cable, satellite, or IPTV provider in 2015.

That’s an increase from 21.7 per cent a year earlier, and lower than the 25.8 per cent the company predicts for 2016.

Corus closes Shaw Media deal, announces new exec slate

Corus Entertainment Inc. has closed its $2.65-billion acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc.’s media division and appointed a team of executive vice-presidents for the combined company.

Barbara Williams, formerly president of Shaw Media, is now chief revenue officer at Corus and will “oversee all strategic and operational aspects of generating audience growth and engagement across Corus’ platforms,” the company said in a press release Friday.

CRTC approves Shaw-Corus deal, with no tangible benefits

The CRTC has approved the acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc.’s media division by Corus Entertainment Inc., and decided not to require Corus to pay any tangible benefits, a contribution which could have amounted to $265 million had the regulator decided otherwise.

The commission said in a press release Wednesday afternoon that both Shaw and Corus have “been effectively controlled by the same person, Mr. JR Shaw,” since Corus was founded in 1999.

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.

CRTC tells CCTS to step up enforcement, ‘naming and shaming’

In addition to expanding the mandate of the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) Thursday to include TV service, the CRTC told the organization to make more use of enforcement tools at its disposal, including “naming and shaming.”

The CRTC said it believes that “promoting and monitoring compliance are necessary first steps in enforcement… it is not clear how much effort the CCTS has put into these activities or into enforcement, but at this point it would appear to be insufficient.”

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.”

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.

FCC opens “unlock the box” proposal to comment

A new proposal from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) aims to free TV subscribers from their leased set-top box agreements with cable and satellite operators.

In a 3-2 decision on Thursday, the U.S. regulator approved starting a process to "create a framework" to provide "innovators, device manufacturers and app developers" with the information necessary to develop new technologies "reflecting the many ways consumers access their subscription video programming today," the FCC said in a press release.

Heritage committee to conduct study on news media

The House of Commons heritage committee will undertake a study on the news media.

The committee will hold at least 10 meetings that will study how Canadians and “especially local communities, are informed about local and regional experiences through” broadcast, digital and print media, it said in a motion passed Tuesday.

The committee will also look at “the unintended consequences of news media concentration and the erosion of local news reporting and the impact of news media.”

CMF, CMPA to help promote Canadian kids’ productions

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) said in a press release Monday that it has teamed up with eight organizations, including the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and the BCE Inc.-supported Bell Fund, to help promote Canadian kids’ content and opportunities for Canadian producers at the Kidscreen Summit.

The conference, which will take place in Miami, Fla. this week, is “one of the world’s leading children’s entertainment content markets,” CMF said.

CRTC asks Bell, Rogers, Shaw, Quebecor to renew TV licences

The CRTC said Monday that BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc. should apply to renew their TV licences that will expire in 2017.

CRTC approves new hybrid VOD service

The CRTC has approved a video-on-demand licence application by Gold Line Telemanagement Inc., a Markham, Ont.-based company that offers over-the-top (OTT) subscriptions to international TV and radio services.

Videotron says original show breaks Illico viewing record

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron said Thursday that its over-the-top (OTT) service Club Illico’s original series Blue Moon reached 100,000 views in less than 48 hours within its launch.

Videotron said in a French press release that Blue Moon was the first show to receive so many views in such a short period of time in the history of Club Illico, and added that this was the first show across all categories of content to break the record.

It noted that the show was available to about 250,000 customers since Jan. 25.

CRTC news fund proposal would ‘gut’ community TV: Cogeco

Cogeco Communications Inc. told a CRTC hearing Wednesday that a plan the commission proposed to create a new fund for local TV news programming, to be funded by existing financial resources within the broadcasting system, would amount to “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Nathalie Dorval, Cogeco’s vice-president of regulatory affairs and copyright, said doing so “particularly when both Peter and Paul are increasingly losing customers and money to Uncle Sam, is neither an effective nor a fair public policy option.”

Bell, Channel Zero tell CRTC local TV needs help

GATINEAU — The first day of the CRTC’s hearing on local and community television painted a picture of traditional TV in flux, as operators of conventional stations said declining ad revenue is making local TV unsustainable, while Vice Media LLC said it’s moving into traditional TV in order to capture a wider range of advertisers.

CACTUS complaints result in 4 CRTC proceedings

The CRTC has grouped 61 complaints by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) into four Part 1 proceedings, giving Shaw Communications Inc., Cogeco Cable Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., and Eastlink until April 15 to respond.

ADR assured Videotron must keep it until dispute resolved

The CRTC has told officials representing ADR.TV and Quebecor Inc.'s Videotron that the latter must maintain distribution of the former as the CRTC sorts through a dispute between the two parties.

Gusto TV sells show to South Korean 4K channel

Canada's Gusto TV on Tuesday announced that has sold one of its original shows to a South Korean 4K channel.

It said in a press release that 30 episodes of A is for Apple — a cooking-challenge program — had been sold UMAX, which is owned by Cable TV VOD Corp.

UMAX is known as becoming the first dedicated 4K channel in the world in 2014.

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."   

Rogers broadcasts first 4K NBA game

Rogers Communications Inc., the National Basketball Association and BT Group PLC’s BT Sport teamed up Thursday to produce the world's first live broadcast of an NBA basketball game in 4K, a Rogers spokesman confirmed Friday.

The game between the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic, played at London's O2 arena, was to be made available to Rogers cable customers in Canada through 4K-capable NetBox set-top boxes on channel 999, according to a press release issued Wednesday.

Cogeco looking to expand in the U.S. cable market: Audet

MONTREAL — Cogeco Inc. CEO Louis Audet said Wednesday that the company will prioritize its U.S. cable and Internet business over a potential wireless initiative in Canada.

Speaking to reporters in Montreal ahead of the company’s annual general meeting, Audet said Cogeco would like to make other cable acquisitions in the U.S. following a positive experience with its Atlantic Broadband subsidiary.