TV industry at odds on future of over-the-air

BCE Inc. wants to see over-the-air (OTA) transmitters shut down and local stations move to a model it called “local specialty,” under which they would negotiate wholesale fees with cable, IPTV and satellite-TV providers.

Bell asks CRTC to push Cogeco on customer-transfer system

BCE Inc. has asked the CRTC to force Cogeco Cable Inc. to implement an automated system for facilitating the transfer of customers between different telecommunications companies by the start of next year.

Service providers support TV choice, but not to extent suggested

In interventions submitted as part of the CRTC’s review of the future of the television, both BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. said they supported a pick-and-pay television system, though details of their submissions showed they did not favour going as far as the CRTC has suggested.

Shaw sees earnings decline in Q3

Shaw Communications Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter earnings took a hit as its television subscriber base continued to decline and its media division took in less money.

The company said in a press release that net income for the three months ending May 31 was $228 million, down from $250 million a year earlier. Revenue was up 1.2 per cent to $1.34 billion, the company said.

1 in 5 households using cellphones only: StatsCan

The proportion of Canadian households using cellphones exclusively for their telephone service was 21 per cent last year, and a clear majority of households where all members are younger than 35 were using mobile only, Statistics Canada said Monday.

The overall proportion of cellphone-exclusive households was up from 12.8 per cent in 2010 and eight per cent in 2008, the federal agency said in a report.

Ottawa company brings PVR capability to over-the-air TV

Amid the many challenges television service providers were already facing, along came an Ottawa company making devices with digital recording capabilities and electronic-guide functionality for those who rely on over-the-air signals for their TV.

Public backs heavy CRTC hand in TV service: survey

The CRTC has the backing of the general public if it decides to get into regulating the prices people pay for television service, according to a new survey.

A poll done by Forum Research, released in advance to The Wire Report, shows that 79 per cent of respondents agree with the idea of the CRTC getting back into the practice of regulating cable and satellite fees, while 60 per cent "strongly" agree.

CRTC drops Bell complaint about condo access

The CRTC has closed an undue preference complaint by BCE Inc. against Rogers Communications Inc. regarding access to a Toronto condo building.

Cogeco Cable looks to enter wireless market

Internet- and television-service provider Cogeco Cable Inc. is looking to enter the wireless market if the CRTC paves the way with new rules as part of its ongoing review of the wholesale wireless sector, the company’s director of regulatory affairs said in a phone interview this week.

Michel Messier said Tuesday that Montreal-based Cogeco will not build its own wireless infrastructure but is interested in becoming a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), buying services from Canada’s incumbent carriers and re-selling them to its customers.

Canadian TV packages more flexible than in U.S.: study

A report appearing on the CRTC's website Friday indicated that Canadian television service providers are offering more choice and flexibility than ones in the United States in selected markets.

The study, done by Ottawa-based business consultant David Keeble, studied TV offerings in three markets in Canada, which he contrasted with three comparable markets in the U.S.

"On the evidence gathered in this report, Canadian BDUs offer the consumer more flexibility than their American counterparts," the report said.

Rogers announces new direction to combat customer flight

Rogers Communications Inc. on Friday released a “comprehensive” plan to overhaul its customer service and restructure its corporate hierarchy.

Rogers’ Boynton, Stoneham depart as corporate revamp set

Rogers Communications Inc. said two senior officials in its marketing operations have left the company in advance of CEO Guy Laurence announcing a new corporate strategy to employees on Friday.

In an email to The Wire Report, Rogers spokeswoman Patricia Trott said John Boynton, chief marketing officer, and Shelagh Stoneham, senior vice-president of brands and marketing communications, “have left the company. We’re doing some restructuring of the marketing organization. The company thanks them for their years of service.”

AT&T reaches deal to buy DirecTV

AT&T announced on Sunday it has reached a deal to buy cable- and satellite-TV provider DirecTV for a total consideration of $67.1 billion US.

The direct purchase price of about $48.5 billion US is about a third in cash and two-thirds in stock, AT&T said in a press release. AT&T is also assuming around $20 billion US in debt from DirecTV, AT&T said.

Quebecor earnings up as wireless revenue surges

Quebecor Inc. improved its bottom line in this year’s first quarter as its telecommunications segment saw a revenue boost of 4.8 per cent, featuring some strong gains in its wireless business.

Revenue was up 1.1 per cent from a year earlier to $1.04 billion, the company said in a press release Thursday. Net income rose to $40.7 million from $35.6 million in last year’s first quarter, it added.

Uncertain future for targeted TV ads in Canada

One of television’s strengths as a vehicle for advertising has always been its ability to reach a lot of people with the same message at the same time. The industry has the technological capability to move in a different direction now and already has, to some degree, in the United States.

Possibilities exist that can allow TV advertisers to reach smaller groups of individuals with their commercials that target households in specific locations and in particular demographic groups.

Another U.S. cableco offers Netflix

Another U.S. cable company said it will provide the services of Netflix Inc. to its customers through set-top boxes made by TiVo Inc.

Suddenlink Communications announced the arrangement in a press release on Tuesday, saying it’s the largest U.S. cable operator to date, with 1.2 million TV-service subscribers, “to provide its customers seamless access to Netflix through the same set-top box they already use to watch television.”

Suddenlink said the arrangement with Netflix will take effect in the summer.

Rogers’ Phil Lind to retire at year’s end

Rogers Communications Inc. said Phil Lind, the company’s executive vice-president of regulatory affairs, is retiring after this year.

In an email to The Wire Report, Rogers spokeswoman Jennifer Kett said Lind has been with the company 45 years. She said he has agreed to stay on in an advisory role and maintain his position on the board of directors.

Lind was among 16 individuals re-elected to seats on Rogers’ board of directors at its annual general meeting Tuesday, the company announced in a press release, as was CEO Guy Laurence.

Rogers’ quarterly financials show decline

Rogers Communications Inc. took a hit in this year’s first quarter in both revenue and profit numbers, according to results released Monday.

The company said it had $3.02 billion in operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, down slightly from $3.03 billion a year earlier. Net income was at $307 million in the quarter, down from $353 million in the same quarter a year before, it said in a press release.

Rogers paid almost $40 million to CEOs last year

The incoming and outgoing CEOs of Rogers Communications Inc. racked up almost $40 million in total compensation last year, according to an information circular filed ahead of its annual general meeting next week.

That included a retirement package worth more than $17 million in cash and stock for Nadir Mohamed, who was replaced by Guy Laurence on Dec. 2. Added to that was about $1.1 million in salary for Mohamed, $5 million in shares and options, $1.5 million in annual incentive plans and $1.9 million in pension for total payments worth $26.8 million.

Canadian TV subs to start rising again in 2015: study

The number of Canadian TV subscribers will fall 0.31 per cent this year, and then begin increasing in 2015 at an average rate of 0.25 per cent annually until 2019, according to a new study by research company Strategy Analytics.

Eric Smith, an analyst in the digital consumer practice of the company, said in a phone interview that this rise will be driven by Internet-protocol TV.  Canadian IPTV services include BCE Inc.’s Bell Fibe TV service and Telus Corp.’s OptikTV.

Shaw reorganizes with units for consumers, businesses

Shaw Communications Inc. said Monday it is reorganizing the company’s telecommunications businesses into two units that will focus on either consumer or business services.

It said in a press release it would consolidate its residential cable, satellite, Internet and home-phone services into a single consumer unit. Meanwhile, its enterprise cable, phone, satellite and tracking services will be merged into a unit for business services. Its media division will remain as a stand-alone unit, Shaw added.

Acquisition helps boost Cogeco Cable numbers

Cogeco Cable Inc. on Wednesday reported higher second-quarter numbers for both profit and revenue, helped along by an acquisition that took effect about a year earlier.

The company said in a press release that revenue for the period ended Feb. 28 was up 13.1 per cent from a year earlier to $486 million. It credited the acquisition of Peer 1 Network Enterprises Inc. in January 2013, a favourable effect of foreign-exchange fluctuations and organic growth in all units.

Shaw earnings rise, TV subs decline

Shaw Communications Inc.’s second quarter earnings released Thursday showed gains in both overall revenue and profit, though a decline in TV subscribers was noted, as was a dip in revenue from its media business.

The company said in a press release that net income for the three months ended Feb. 28 was $222 million, up from $182 million one year earlier. Revenue for the quarter was up two per cent to $1.27 million.

Pierre Bonin named Videotron’s IT VP

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron unit said Thursday that Pierre Bonin is its new vice-president of information technology.

It said in a news release that Bonin has almost 30 years of experience in IT and telecommunications including past positions with Microcell Communications Inc., which owned Fido before that wireless service was taken over by Rogers Communications Inc., and BCE Inc.

U.S. TV subs fall for first time: SNL Kagan

Pay-TV subscriptions in the U.S. fell for the first time last year, according to a report by SNL Kagan.

“While seasonally driven quarterly declines have become routine for industry watchers, the annual dip illustrates longer-term downward pressure even as economic conditions gradually improve,” the research firm said in a press release Wednesday.

According to the report, cable, satellite and fibre-TV providers lost a net 251,000 subscribers in 2013.

Rogers lobbied PM Harper in busy February

Rogers Communications Inc. had the ear of some of the highest officials in the federal government in early February, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Harper communicated with Rogers on Feb. 5, according to information in the federal lobbyists’ registry. The registered lobbyist is Rogers CEO Guy Laurence, though the online registry notes that he was not necessarily involved in the communication.

Consumer issues and telecommunications are listed as the topics discussed between Rogers and Harper.

Shaw lobbying activity spikes in recent weeks

There were 18 communications between Shaw Communications Inc. and the federal government within the last month, for which company CEO Brad Shaw was listed as the lobbyist, according to the federal lobbyists registry, including one involving Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The recent filings show 18 communications starting Feb. 13 with officials at Canadian Heritage, including one with Harper on March 5, and the most recent one on Friday with officials from the Department of Finance.

Telco-based TV penetration closing in on satellite: MTM

The market share for television services provided by telephone companies in English Canada has nearly caught up with that of satellite, said a report from CBC/Radio-Canada’s Media Technology Monitor.

MTM said in a report released Tuesday that the proportion of respondents in a fall survey of anglophone Canadians who said they subscribe to a TV service provided by an incumbent, wireline phone company, such as BCE Inc.’s Bell or Telus Corp., is 18 per cent.

Canadian TV subs fall for first time

A compilation of 2013 year-end data from Canada’s major telecommunications companies verifies suspicions that it was the first year on record in which TV subscriptions in Canada declined.

Rogers’ analog customers could lose some channels

Rogers Communications Inc. customers who are on an analog cable service are losing some of their channels as the service provider phases out what remains of analog signals of certain services.

The company said any customers affected can fix the situation by requesting a free digital adapter from Rogers.

Cogeco expands home-phone service in Quebec

Cogeco Cable Inc. said Wednesday that it has launched home-phone service in three Quebec communities.

It said the service is now available in St-Simon-les-Mines, Roxton Falls and Notre-Dame-des-Pins.

The company announced introductory packages costing $4.99 a month for a basic line and $16.99 for a “Freedom Package” that includes, among other features, unlimited long-distance calling to locations in Canada and the United States.

Hockey broadcast costs cut into Rogers’ profit

Rogers Communications Inc. reported lower fourth-quarter profits on Wednesday, and attributed some of the decline to costs associated with broadcasting more hockey games.

The company reported net income, adjusted for non-recurring items, fell to $357 million from $448 million. That was partially due to “incremental costs associated with broadcasting significantly more hockey games compared to last year,” Rogers said in a press release.

Cogeco Cable revenue, profits up, subs down

Cogeco Cable Inc. reported revenue of $474.98 million for the three months ended Nov. 30, a 43.7 per cent increase from $327.91 million at the same time last year, the company said in its first-quarter results Monday.

Shaw earnings increase as TV subs decline

Shaw Communications Inc. reported a gain in first-quarter earnings amid some declines in both its cable and satellite TV-service subscriptions.

The broadcaster and provider of TV, Internet and phone service said in a release Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Nov. 30 was $245 million, up from $235 million a year earlier. It attributed the rise to higher operating profits and lower interest payments, which were somewhat offset by higher income taxes.

Cogeco to launch pick-and-pay TV outside Quebec next year: Audet

MONTREAL—When Cogeco Inc. introduced its pick-and-pay cable-TV offering in Quebec a decade ago, it had to find a balance between profitability and satisfying customers, and the challenge will be the same in English Canada as the company introduces pick-and-pay there, said Louis Audet, Cogeco president and chief executive.