MediaTube asking Supreme Court to review Bell Fibe case

Six years after first filing suit alleging BCE Inc. infringed on its patent in the making of the telecom’s Fibe TV — and along the way suffering a number of decisions against it — MediaTube Corp. is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to review its case.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

CRTC has no jurisdiction over site-blocking request, big telecoms argue

BCE Inc., Quebecor Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. are arguing in Federal Court that TekSavvy Solutions Inc. was wrong when it said the request by the large vertically-integrated telecoms to order a pirate “IPTV” site to be blocked is the domain of the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

Telecoms ‘caught off guard’ by allegations piracy promoted at retailers: Super Channel

Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc.’s Super Channel held meetings with “totally surprised” representatives of Canadian telecoms in the weeks before it filed a Federal Court lawsuit against four major retailers, whose employees allegedly peddled the piracy benefits of media boxes they sold in stores.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Helix will keep cord-cutters in Videotron ‘ecosystem,’ CEO says

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron unveiled its new Helix platform Tuesday, and the company is counting on the combined IPTV, WiFi management and smart home platform to position it for a post cord-cutting world, according to CEO Jean-François Pruneau. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Federal Court grants injunction against GoldTV 

OTTAWA — A Federal Court judge has granted an interim ban on what the big telecom companies are calling a “pirate” IPTV provider, which operates under the names GoldTV.ca and GoldTV.biz. 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 …

IPTV coming by December, Cogeco says

Cogeco Inc. will launch its new IPTV service in its entire Canadian footprint by the end of the calendar year, CEO Philippe Jetté said on a call with analysts 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 …

Another MediaTube appeal request against Bell denied

The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal request by MediaTube Corp. to present new evidence in a six-year-old patent infringement case brought against BCE Inc. 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. …

TekSavvy launches IPTV service

TekSavvy Solutions Inc. is now offering IPTV in Chatham, Ont., and the service will become available in other communities over the coming months, the company said Friday. 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. …

Quebecor CFO Pruneau to head Videotron

Jean-François Pruneau, Quebecor Inc.’s chief financial officer, has been appointed the new CEO of its Videotron subsidiary, in a move analysts said Monday was positive for the company. 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 …

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 …

Helix to be ‘superior’ to Bell’s Fibe: Videotron CEO

As CEO Manon Brouillette wrapped up her last quarterly results with Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron Thursday, she said two new offerings developed under her reign will set up the company to take on the competition, both big and small. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Bell hits Videotron with $100M infringement suit

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media is suing Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron for copyright and trademark infringement after a licencing agreement between the two companies expired. 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 …

Distributel goes with MobiTV for IPTV

Distributel Communications Ltd. is partnering with MobiTV Inc. to deliver its IPTV service, it said 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 need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. …

VMedia aims to ‘fast track’ plans with public play: co-founder

George Burger, co-founder of Ontario-based telecom VMedia Inc., says he knows his company can fulfill its objectives, such as expanding into more multi-dwelling units and accelerating its TV product offerings, on its own, but doing that would be faster as a publicly-traded entity. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Rogers plans to advance Ignite at ‘thoughtful pace’ to replace legacy systems  

Rogers Communications Inc. top brass say they expect to see enough long-term growth from the recently-launched IPTV service Ignite TV that the company can eventually sunset legacy TV product sales – but won’t rush the roll-out nor put a timeline on it. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

SaskTel now offers IPTV service

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. (SaskTel) announced the launch of a new TV service using Ericsson AB’s MediaFirst-powered IPTV platform in a press release on 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 …

Cogeco bucks the cableco X1 trend with MediaFirst pick

Cogeco Inc. is going with MediaFirst for its first IPTV platform, a move that is an upgrade over its current TiVo offering but isn’t likely to change much when it comes to its TV service subscriber trends, according to one analyst. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Bell targeting more rural markets with fixed wireless expansion

BCE Inc. will grow its presence in the fixed wireless space to 30 additional rural communities after a successful trial earlier this year, CEO George Cope said Thursday in a call with analysts. 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? …

Live TV streaming services opportunity for Corus, CEO says

U.S.-based video services like Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube TV and Amazon.com Inc.’s Amazon Channels are “looking hard at Canada right now,” said Corus Entertainment Inc. CEO Doug Murphy at a telecom and media investors conference on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Rogers IPTV service live to certain Ont. customers

Rogers Communications Inc. confirmed on Monday it started a targeted roll out of its Ignite TV IPTV service to select customers in Ontario. 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 …

26% of Canadians access pirated content, new report shows

A government-commissioned report is shedding light on the extent of copyright infringement in Canada, with data showing about a quarter of online Canadians consume infringing content, and 10 per cent report having received notice-and-notice letters — which led about a quarter to stop infringing activity. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

CraveTV price increases to help make up for advertising pressure: analyst

Increasing prices for BCE Inc.’s CraveTV will help improve the performance of Bell’s media division, National Bank analyst Adam Shine said in a Friday note. 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 …

Filipino company asks for set-top box sale shutdown in Ontario

A media company from the Philippines is asking a Canadian court to put an end to sales of pre-loaded set-top boxes in Brampton, Ont. that it alleges are infringing its copyright. 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 …

Videotron says cord-cutting stable, eying IPTV to grow TV ARPU

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron said it won’t force the migration of its cable customers to its new IPTV product, though it expects the new service to grow its television average revenue per user (ARPU), Videotron CEO Manon Brouillette said Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Freedom on new, ‘sustainable’ trajectory after record sub adds: Shaw

On the heels of record wireless subscriber growth in its second quarter, Shaw Communication Inc.’s Freedom is on a path to steady growth, its president said on a conference call Thursday, emboldened by migrations to higher-priced data plans and stronger retention of existing customers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

In telecoms’ year-end, cord-cutting slows, wireline grows

Canada’s publicly-traded telecoms lost fewer TV subscribers in 2017 than in each of the previous two years, while they added enough wireless customers to beat last year’s record high of new wireless adds. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Radio-Canada asks broadcasters ‘to pool our strengths’ on OTT, content

CBC/Radio-Canada is in negotiations over opening up its French-language Tou.tv over-the-top (OTT) service “to other broadcasters, producers and creators,” said Michel Bissonnette, executive vice-president of French services, in an open letter. 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 …

Videotron ‘full speed’ ahead on IPTV: Brouillette

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron is working on deploying its new IPTV service as quickly as possible, Manon Brouillette, CEO of the company’s telecom division, told analysts in a conference call 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 …

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, …

As TiVo targets Telus, three telecoms now all fighting TV patent claims

Telus Corp. is now the third Canadian telecom to be sued by TiVo Corp. over patents related to the operation of its TV services. 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 …

Bell, Telus sign on to Ericsson’s TV platform

BCE Inc. said Thursday it has signed a deal with Ericsson AB to use its TV platform, following a similar announcement from Telus Corp. in December. 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 …

Bell mulling advantages in prepaid wireless segment: CFO

When it comes to the wireless industry’s torrid run of late, much of the focus has been on postpaid plans, though BCE Inc. is looking to turn the discussion to the relatively underlooked prepaid segment, which executive vice-president and chief financial officer Glen LeBlanc said could potentially bolster the company’s postpaid sub base in the …

Videotron reaches 1M wireless subscribers as it reports Q3 results

Quebecor Inc. said its wireless division has eclipsed one million subscribers since posting higher revenues and profits in its third-quarter earnings 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 free trial or subscribe to The Wire …

Telus revenue, profit up 4 per cent each

Telus Corp. reported revenue of $3.36 billion, up four per cent from the same quarter last year, in its third-quarter results released Thursday, while net income also increased 4.2 per cent to $370 million over that time. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Bell’s $166M AlarmForce acquisition small but strategic buy: analysts

BCE Inc. is making a bigger play for the home-security arena with the $166 million acquisition of security company AlarmForce Industries Inc. 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 …

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 …

Distributel buying Zazeen, adds to exec team

Distributel Communications Inc. has received the OK from the CRTC to acquire IPTV service provider Zazeen Inc., the company said in a press release 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 free …

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 …

Rogers, Shaw indicate different plans for IPTV, internet bundling

On the final day of the CRTC’s broadcast distribution licence hearing, Shaw Communications Inc. told commissioners it’s not planning to sell its IPTV service without a subscription to its internet service, while Rogers Communications Inc. said it would eventually be willing to do so. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

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 …

Videotron latest to announce X1-based IPTV

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron will launch its IPTV service using the X1 platform from Comcast Corp., the company said in a press release 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 media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe …

BlueSky patent infringement suit dropped

A Swiss corporation and its subsidiaries have dropped a patent infringement case against Shaw Communications Inc. 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 …

Cord-cutting trend slows in first half of year: Boon Dog

Fewer people cut their TV subscriptions in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, according to new research by research and consulting firm Boon Dog Professional Services Inc., effectively “bucking the trend of accelerating TV cord-cutting in recent years.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

23% of Canadians say they’re likely to cut the cord: MTM

The percentage of Canadians who reported being either likely or very likely to get rid of their TV service stood at 23 per cent in the spring of this year, according to a Media Technology Monitor (MTM) report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Bell subs feel impact of ‘aggressive’ cable competition in Q2

BCE Inc. is hoping the second half of the year results in a boost for its internet business, after a second quarter that analysts called “surprisingly weak” and “softer than expected.” 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 …

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 …

Rogers aims to improve churn, ‘reset’ enterprise division

Joe Natale, president and CEO of Rogers Communications Inc., reiterated his focus on the customer experience after the release of the company’s second-quarter earnings Thursday, suggesting it will be part of a formula that can help drive its postpaid wireless churn rate below one per cent. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

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 …

Plan comes together for TV subs boost in Shaw Q3: Mehr

Shaw Communications Inc.’s increased TV and Internet subscription numbers in the year’s third fiscal quarter reflect a team effort to increase the company’s wireline business, president and chief operating officer Jay Mehr 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 …

New TV, streaming offerings eyed to help stem piracy

TORONTO — Products like new streaming TV services and sports-focused TV-everywhere offerings will help the industry curb piracy, according to Stewart Johnston, president of BCE Inc.’s Bell Media studios and TSN. 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 …

NorthVu drops Bell IPTV patent case

NorthVu Inc. has abandoned an appeal it filed with MediaTube Corp. in a dispute with BCE Inc. 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 …

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 …

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 …

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 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.

Telus intros $20, no contract IPTV service

Telus Corp. has quietly launched an IPTV service that will allow subscribers to watch live TV and on-demand content for $20 a month with no contract.

The box itself, which is powered by Alphabet Inc.’s Android, will cost $100 and is currently available to subscribers in seven communities in British Columbia and Alberta, according to an email from Telus spokesperson Richard Gilhooley.

Gilhooley said the service will officially launch in Alberta and B.C. “in the coming months.”

Anglophone TV subs drop to 75 per cent: MTM

Analog and digital cable’s share of the TV market declined from 40 per cent to 36 per cent in 2016, while IPTV subscriptions picked up among English-speaking Canadians, according to new research from Media Technology Monitor (MTM).

“The decrease can be attributed partly to the increase of competition in many markets across Canada, and the increasing availability of Fibre Optic (IPTV) services,” said a report released Wednesday by the CBC/Radio-Canada research project.

5G wireless substitution ‘not in the cards,’ says Cogeco’s Audet

Cogeco Inc. CEO Louis Audet said Friday that he’s not concerned about customers substituting wireline Internet service with wireless with the advent of 5G, and that the company has no significant plans to integrate 5G into its services.

It’s a technology that will be “extremely expensive to deploy,” he said in a conference call with analysts discussing the company’s second-quarter results.

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.

Shaw expands BlueSky availability, marketing

Shaw Communications Inc. has made its new IPTV platform available across Western Canada and will launch an “extensive mass marketing campaign” to promote the service, it said in a press release.

Too soon to see benefits of BlueSky TV: Barclays

Despite being well received in some western markets, it’s too early to determine how Shaw Communications Inc.’s BlueSky TV is working out for the company, according to Barclays Capital.

“We expect it will take more time before we see the benefits of the new TV platform on [average revenue per user] and churn, as it will require greater consumer awareness and deeper penetration of the product,” analyst Phillip Huang said in a Monday note.

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.

Patent infringement claim made against Shaw’s BlueSky TV

A Swiss corporation and two of its subsidiaries are alleging that Shaw Communications Inc.’s new IPTV service is infringing on a handful of its patents, according to a statement of claim filed in federal court Friday.

Péladeau’s return to Quebecor shouldn’t affect business: analysts

The man who led Quebecor Inc. for 14 years but left to join provincial politics will return as head of the company Thursday, though despite the change in leadership, analysts expect business to continue as usual.

Effective immediately, Pierre Karl Péladeau will return to the company his father founded in 1965 and he headed from 1999 to 2013. National Bank Financial analyst Adam Shine said in a research note that “Mr. Péladeau is back. Figuratively, we’re not sure he ever really left.”

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.

Natale to take Rogers’ top job in July: interim CEO

Rogers Communications Inc. incoming president and CEO Joe Natale will take the helm in July, the company announced as it reported fourth-quarter numbers that showed continuing growth in data usage among its wireless customers.

Shaw launches IPTV platform

Shaw Communications Inc. has made its IPTV service, called BlueSky, available in Calgary, and plans to launch it in additional markets “in the coming months.”

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Telus launches 4K Netflix set-top viewing

Telus Corp. announced Monday that is making Netflix Inc.’s app available on its Optik 4K set-top box, allowing subscribers to stream Netflix in 4K resolution.

“4K is the ultimate way to immerse yourself in your favourite TV shows and introducing hundreds of hours of top-tier 4K Netflix programming is a huge step forward in the evolution of Optik TV,” Blair Miller, Telus’ vice-president of content, said in Monday’s press release.

MTS looking for savings as it awaits Bell takeover

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. will cut about 80 jobs to save about $7 million following a voluntary workforce reduction program “for certain employees who are not in customer-facing roles,” the company announced as it reported its third quarter results Wednesday.

Bell announces 1M+ Crave TV subs, Fibe on Apple TV

BCE Inc. reported Thursday that its over-the-top (OTT) product Crave TV has surpassed one million subscribers, as it announced its Internet protocol TV (IPTV) service Fibe TV is getting distribution through Apple Inc.’s TV service.

Low skinny basic take-up result of content-hungry consumers: Cope

Adoption of skinny-basic television has been low because consumers demand more content, BCE Inc. president and CEO George Cope told an investors’ conference on Tuesday.

“Subscriptions for [skinny basic] have probably met our expectations. It’s been fairly low, but that’s because of the desire of the consumer for [enormous amounts] of content now, so it’s really what’s in it,” Cope told Goldman analyst Jiorden Sanchez at the investment bank’s annual Communacopia Conference.

Wireline competition, pick-and-pay could pressure telecoms in 2017: Canaccord

Certain events leading into 2017 could spell increased pressure on telecommunications companies, but there’s “not much to be excited about” otherwise, according to Canaccord Genuity.

In a note Monday, Canaccord analyst Aravinda Galappatthige said “apart from the fact that the impact of the double cohort should ease,” he does “not see many catalysts that can significantly improve the fundamentals” in the telecom sector.  

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 releases ultra high-def PVR

BCE Inc. customers can now take advantage of the “world’s first fully wireless [Internet protocol TV] service,” the company said Monday.

In a press release, Bell said a wireless 4K Whole Home PVR was now available for Fibe TV customers, offering “up to 150 hours of 4K recording capacity and Bluetooth remote that enables out-of-sight positioning of the PVR.”

10% confused over definition of OTT: MTM

Confusion over what qualifies as watching TV online has led Media Technology Monitor to revise some previously reported data about over-the-top (OTT) services.

In a Thursday report, the CBC/Radio-Canada research project said about 10 per cent of English-speaking Canadians, especially those over the age of 50, “still stated they don’t watch online TV during our survey, even after being prompted that OTT services are a form of online television.”

Dan Beer named You.i TV COO

Burgeoning Ottawa-based TV app maker You.i TV has hired its first chief operating officer, the company announced this week.

In a Tuesday press release, the company said Dan Beer’s appointment was made “in order to fuel the company’s continued rapid growth and global adoption of its enabling technology for transformative user interfaces and applications.”

Some Internet tier upgrades due to bandwidth, not speed: Cope

Some subscribers are climbing Internet service tiers not necessarily for increased speed, but to obtain unlimited bandwidth, George Cope, BCE Inc.’s president and chief executive officer, said Thursday on a second-quarter earnings conference call with analysts.

Cope made the comments while fielding a question on what speeds Bell’s new subscribers are taking.

Telecoms’ TV revenues declined last year: CRTC

The television distribution revenues reported by Canada’s telecommunications companies have fallen for the first time in a decade, driven by a decline in satellite subscribers.

Numbers released by the CRTC Tuesday showed that telecoms — including cable, IPTV and satellite providers — saw a 0.13-per-cent decrease in revenues last year, from $8.93 billion in 2014 to $8.92 billion in 2015.

That’s the first such decline reported by the CRTC since at least 2006.

Bell, MTS promote investment ahead of acquisition approval

BCE Inc. and Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. announced another feature of their proposed merger Thursday morning in Manitoba.

As part of the promised $1 billion investment Bell has said it will make in the province as a result of the $3.9-billion acquisition of MTS, the new company will pump funds into Northern Manitoba, the companies said in a press release.

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.

MTS shareholders back Bell acquisition

The shareholders of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. have nearly unanimously approved its acquisition by BCE Inc.

Of the just over 43 million votes cast, 99.66 per cent were in favour of the acquisition, according to a Thursday press release.

Companies seeking injunction for Bell’s IPTV technology

Whether a patent encompasses technology used by BCE Inc.’s IPTV service will be a central issue as a patent case two-plus years in the making gets its date in court Tuesday.  

The Federal Court in Toronto was scheduled to hear the patent infringement case brought against Bell, and its Atlantic Canada arm Bell Aliant, by television providers MediaTube Corp. and NorthVu Inc. The statement of claim was initially filed on April 23, 2013.