Quebecor, cultural groups praise Que. budget digital sales tax

The Quebec government’s 2018 budget, unveiled Tuesday, includes a measure to impose sales tax on digital services sold in the province. 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 …

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 …

Cybersecurity, LEO satellites, data on OTT services in federal budget

OTTAWA — The 2018 federal budget, released Tuesday afternoon, includes half a billion dollars in funding for cybersecurity initiatives, in addition to smaller investments in looking at the potential of low-earth orbit satellites for internet service in remote areas and for Statistics Canada to collect data on streaming services. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Data, programmatic ads benefit in telecoms’ media ownership: Moody’s

Data insights and programmatic advertising that could disrupt digital media’s dominance are factors that could reap longer-term benefits for Canadian telecoms that own media properties, according to a report from Moody’s Corp. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

CBS All Access coming to Canada in June

CBS Corp.’s All Access streaming service is coming to Canada in June, the company’s president and CEO said on a conference call 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 …

Get rid of digital media exemption, CUPE asks CRTC

CUPE’s Provincial Council for Communications (CPSC) in Quebec is calling on the CRTC to drop the rules that exempt digital over-the-top (OTT) services from the same regulations as traditional broadcasters, in a news release on Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Britbox officially launches in Canada

After hints Britbox was coming to Canada but with no specific date, the British television streaming service officially launched 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 trial or subscribe to …

Bell’s Snackable TV officially on the menu

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media has officially launched a free, ad-supported mobile app featuring video content in “snack-sized” portions, calling it a “growing new area” in a release on 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 …

Ad-supported VOD rising as OTT grips TV market

OTTAWA — More competition in the over-the-top (OTT) space is driving a trend of more ad-supported video-on-demand (VOD) services, panelists told a media conference on 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. Take …

Joly cites confidentiality for redactions in Netflix ATIP request

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly faced questions this week about why a 700-page access to information request containing emails between the federal government and Netflix Inc. was published with the majority of the text redacted. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Canadian media industry still behind on data, conference hears

OTTAWA — The Canadian television industry is behind the curve when it comes to using data to tailor content to audiences and drive ad revenue, panelists at a media conference 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 and …

Cross-industry coalition calls for website-blocking

A broad coalition made up of Canada’s largest telecoms and broadcasters, as well as groups representing content creators, is asking the CRTC to put in place a system to block pirated content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Bell Media signs deal with Lionsgate, TMN Encore to become Starz

  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 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 …

BBC-ITV streaming service coming to Canada

Britbox, a streaming service showcasing British television, will be “coming soon to Canada,” according to its website. 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 …

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? …

Rogers, CBC ink 7-year deal for HNIC NHL broadcast

Rogers Communications Inc. and CBC/Radio-Canada signed a seven-year sub-licensing deal for the broadcasting rights of Hockey Night in Canada’s Saturday night hockey game and the Stanley Cup playoffs, Rogers said in a press release on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

CBC launches $5 a month premium OTT service

In a memo to its employees on Monday, CBC/Radio-Canada announced it has improved its over-the-top (OTT) app, which will introduce live TV streaming and a new ad-free, subscription-based content streaming service at $5 a month.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

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 …

Canadian classics released on YouTube

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) last week announced the release of hundreds of Canadian television and feature films to the Encore+ channel on Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube. 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 …

Amazon Fire TV stick launches in Canada

Amazon.com Inc. is making available its Fire TV Stick Basic Edition plug-in streaming device available worldwide, including in Canada. 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 …

Cell phone only households predict modern behaviour: MTM

Cell phone only households, meaning those that use only mobile phones and no landline, are growing across Canada and are a good indication of a series of modern habits, said a report published Thursday from the Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

Live TV piracy to grow: Sandvine

Piracy of live TV is expected to increase, according to Sandvine Corp., which says it poses “enormous” risks to TV providers. 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 …

Broadcast lobbying jumped ahead of Creative Canada release

Creative organizations stepped up and added to a surge in lobbying activity in the broadcast sector leading up to the release of the results in the Heritage Minister’s review of Canadian content in the digital age last month. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

57% of anglophones subscribe to OTT services: MTM

Fifty-seven per cent of Canadian anglophones subscribe to over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, with Netflix Inc. as the strong leader, according to the latest report from Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Government repeats no ISP tax in Heritage report review

The federal government reiterated a previously held position that it will not implement taxes on internet service providers (ISP) in favour of Canadian content in a review of an earlier Heritage report that recommended just that. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

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 …

Mobile video viewing at 70%: Ericsson report

Today, approximately 70 per cent of consumers watch TV and video content on their smartphone devices, double the number from 2012, according to the eighth edition of Ericsson AB’s annual ConsumerLab TV and Media report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

NFL Sunday Ticket returns to broadcast TV with Dazn partnership

Perform Group’s over-the-top (OTT) sports service Dazn is partnering with Shaw Communications Inc. and Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Co. to broadcast some of its football content previously available exclusively online. 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 …

How big a threat are OTT sports services?

Sports remains one of the last bastions of defence for traditional TV against a wave of over-the-top (OTT) services that continue to push audiences toward cord-cutting, though for now at least, they appear to form a stronger barrier in Canada than south of the border. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Quebec legislature votes to tax Netflix

The Quebec national assembly voted Tuesday to impose provincial sales tax on foreign digital services, including Netflix Inc.’s over-the-top (OTT) 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 news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe …

Netflix in 33% Que. households, Illico at 19%: report

Just over half, or 53 per cent, of Quebec households with internet access watch streaming video services, according to new research from the Centre francophone de recherche en informatisation des organisations (CEFRIO). 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 …

Joly’s cultural policy continues drawing mixed reaction

Various groups praised the promised investment in production and promotion included in the federal government’s new cultural strategy, while opposition MPs criticized it in question period and financial analysts pointed out the new strategy won’t affect the declining traditional TV sector. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Future reviews to determine much of DigiCanCon strategy: experts

OTTAWA — While the response to the long-awaited results of Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly’s Canadian content consultation included praise for some elements — such as a $500 million deal for Netflix Inc. to spend on content in Canada — many also pointed out that it’s a strategy that pushes off any substantive legislative and regulatory changes. This content …

Dazn to refund customers after streaming issues

After a rough first week, Perform Group’s sports streaming service Dazn will partially refund customers and offer a month of service for free. 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 …

Quebec ready to tax Netflix: culture minister

If the federal government isn’t willing to impose taxes on foreign over-the-top (OTT) services, Quebec is willing to do so itself, Le Devoir quoted Quebec culture minister Luc Fortin as saying 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 …

MHz Choice launches in Canada

Streaming service MHz Choice, which exclusively features international productions, is now available in Canada. 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 …

BQ criticizes Joly over OTT tax policy

The Bloc Québécois has accused Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly of favouritism toward the likes of Netflix Inc. and Spotify AB for not imposing sales tax on foreign digital platforms. 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 …

Regulatory rejigs, cultural changes in store as Parliament resumes

Everything old is new again when it comes to telecom and media issues percolating in Ottawa this fall, from reviews and renegotiations of old legislation and trade agreements, to court battles litigating long-simmering personnel disputes and CRTC decisions. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Dazn admits launch ‘did not go as planned’

Following problems streaming games on the first weekend of the National Football League (NFL) season that elicited complaints from subscribers on social media, Perform Group’s Dazn has issued a statement acknowledging the debut “did not go as planned.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Cultural groups team up in push for Cancon regulations

More than 30 cultural organizations have teamed up to call for the Canadian and Quebec governments to take action to “help the industry overcome the current difficulties” wrought by the digital age. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Specialty film OTT service launches in Canada

Filmatique, an over-the-top (OTT) service featuring international films, became available in Canada Friday, founder Lorenzo Fiuzzi confirmed in an email. 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 …

Canadian cities interested in hosting 2nd Amazon HQ

Amazon.com Inc. issued a request for proposals Thursday for North American cities interested in hosting its second headquarters, and some of Canada’s biggest cities are planning to throw their hat into the ring. 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 …

House of Cards arrives on Canadian TV

Netflix Inc. original series House of Cards will broadcast on Channel Zero Inc.’s CHCH this fall, the company said in a press release Wednesday, calling the broadcast “a first for conventional television in North America.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Smartphone streaming flat from last year: MTM

More than half of anglophones who own smartphones use the devices to stream audio content, according to a new report from Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada. 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 …

Major boxing fight shows PPV target for piracy

Nearly three million viewers around the world watched the much-anticipated boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor Saturday through 239 illegally redistributed streams, shows new data from digital platform security company Irdeto. 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 …

Changes ahead for ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ as terms of trade expires

While online discussion forums are rife with debate — and more often, complaints — about why Canadians can’t access popular American television shows legally online, Canadian content producers are navigating how to ensure their work continues to be seen on digital platforms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

CMF, Germany partner for coproduction fund

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and a German film funding and media business development body are setting up a fund to encourage coproductions of digital media projects between the two countries. 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 immediate impact on Bell, Rogers from decision review: Desjardins

The government’s move to order the CRTC to reconsider its May licence decision should have a neutral effect on BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. in the short to medium term, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Skinny TV has room to grow: Macquarie

Skinny-basic uptake will only grow in Canada and that could spell bad news for broadcasters’ bottom lines in the future, according to Macquarie Capital Markets analyst Greg MacDonald. 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 …

New OTT offerings pose threat to BDUs, opportunity for producers

A proliferation of new streaming TV competition in Canada is set to benefit content producers even as it causes problems for the country’s broadcasters and TV service providers through fragmented audiences and higher content costs — though it doesn’t yet signal an existential crisis for linear TV, experts said. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

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 …

Disney going it alone with planned streaming services

Walt Disney Co. will end its partnership with Netflix Inc. and launch two of its own separate streaming services in the next two years. 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 …

CBS All Access expanding into Canada

CBS Corp. will launch its CBS All Access streaming service in Canada next year, the company said in a press release 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 …

Kodi add-on host prepping for legal battle

A Montreal man connected to a popular repository for Kodi add-ons, who was ordered by the Federal Court to submit to the search and seizure of his property following a claim by a group of telecoms, is fundraising to fight the lawsuit. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

YouTube introducing new CanCon channel

In a company first, Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube will begin specifically highlighting Canadian content on its website. 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 …

Dazn not too big a threat without hockey: Desjardins

Without the digital rights to Canadian hockey teams’ games, there may not be much reason for panic among traditional TV providers with the entry of new over-the-top (OTT) provider Dazn into the Canadian market, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

New sports OTT service launches in Canada

A streaming service focused on sports content, including National Football League (NFL) games, is now available in Canada. 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 …

Protect Canadian culture in new NAFTA: Council of Canadians

The government must protect Canadian culture as it renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Council of Canadians is arguing. 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 …

TMN Go to offer downloads

TMN Go, the TV-everywhere service from BCE Inc.’s media division, will begin allowing viewers to download content for offline viewing. 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 …

Time Warner programming heading to Snapchat

Snap Inc. has teamed up with Time Warner Inc. to develop programming for the picture- and video-sharing app Snapchat, Time Warner 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 …

Canadians watching more movies online: MTM

More anglophone Canadians are watching movies online, as the popularity of over-the-top (OTT) services continues, according to the latest Media Technology Monitor (MTM) report. 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 …

Committee’s ISP tax proposal a non-starter: PM

OTTAWA — A House of Commons committee recommendation to expand the five-per-cent contribution broadcast distribution undertakings (BDUs) are required to make to the Canadian Media Fund to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) was dead on arrival Thursday, with both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly roundly denouncing the suggestion shortly after the committee …

Joly notes creator ‘anxiety’ over CRTC licence renewal decision

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly acknowledged the “anxiety” members of the creative community are experiencing following the CRTC’s licence renewal decision, but didn’t give any hints as to if she might ease that discomfort during a Friday afternoon live-streamed interview with Huffington Post Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

‘Alternative video’ services more satisfying than pay TV: study

Non-traditional TV subscribers, such as those who use over-the-top (OTT) services, are more satisfied than those with traditional pay-TV subscriptions, a new J.D. Power survey suggested. 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 …

Rogers targets gamers with new e-sports content, peering deals

Rogers Communications Inc. has begun marketing itself as the Internet service provider (ISP) of choice for gamers, acquiring exclusive e-sports content for its Sportsnet streaming service and entering into peering agreements with gaming platforms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

CBC must collaborate with OTT competition: Lacroix

CBC/Radio-Canada’s president and CEO Hubert Lacroix said the Crown corporation’s competition comes primarily from over-the-top (OTT) services and that it must collaborate with them to bring CBC productions to an international audience. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Joly could reconsider OTT regs over Quebec: Desjardins

Pressure from Quebec could lead Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly to consider imposing taxes on foreign over-the-top (OTT) services, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi. 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 …

Facebook partners with MLB for U.S. live streams

Facebook Inc. will live stream 20 Major League Baseball (MLB) games this season on its social media platform after finalizing a partnership with the league. 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 …

Netflix to have Ont. ‘download zones’ for cottage season: CP

Netflix Inc. is setting up “download zones” in certain areas in Ontario to help the data starved pre-load movies and TV shows onto their devices, according to a Canadian Press report. 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 …

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 …

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 …

Verizon streaming deal for NFL game to include Canada

Canadian viewers will get to watch a National Football League (NFL) game that will be played out of London, England, this fall after Verizon Communications Inc. purchased the streaming rights to the game.

The one-game deal is worth $21 million US, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

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.

OTT revenues north of $970M by 2018: Convergence

Annual subscription revenue from over-the-top (OTT) providers is estimated to be inching toward the billion-dollar mark in Canada, according to a new report from Convergence Consulting Group Ltd., which estimated a 35-per-cent growth in 2016 to $651 million and forecast a high of $972 million by 2018.

Joly to discuss promoting CanCon with Google, Facebook

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly will travel to California later this month to meet with representatives from Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc., her office has confirmed.

Spokesman Pierre-Olivier Herbert said the minister will go to San Francisco and Los Angeles next week and will meet with officials from Google, YouTube and Facebook.

Trudeau meets with YouTube head

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the CEO of Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube Thursday, and used the opportunity to express “his appreciation for Google and YouTube’s continued investment in Canada and looked forward to further collaboration,” according to a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office.

10 web series get $2M from CMF

Canada Media Fund (CMF) is providing $2 million for 10 web series as part of a pilot project.

The organization said in a press release Thursday the funding is “the result of the pilot program the CMF had put in place to exclusively finance Canadian web series in their second or subsequent season.”

All of the 10 series are in the drama genre, and six are in English and four in French.

The press release said the pilot project “was developed to meet the needs in the marketplace for linear content created for online consumption.”

Amazon scores NFL deal, Canadian rights still under negotiation

Amazon.com Inc. has secured the streaming rights to 10 Thursday Night Football games from the National Football League (NFL), according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Verizon planning new online TV service: report

Verizon Communications Inc. is working on delivering an online streaming television package this summer, according to Bloomberg.

The report, published Thursday and citing anonymous sources, said the telecommunications company has been signing streaming rights from TV network owners “in preparation for the nationwide launch of a live online TV service.”

Quebec union ‘disappointed’ budgets didn’t address taxation imbalance

A Quebec union representing communications sector employees said it is disappointed with both the federal and provincial budgets, saying that in “both cases, no action has been taken to counter tax avoidance and unfair competition” by foreign digital companies like Netflix Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc.

Sundance Now launches in Canada

AMC Networks Inc. is making its Sundance Now over-the-top (OTT) service available in Canada.

“Sundance Now launches with hand-selected and award-winning documentary, art-house and independent films from around the globe,” the U.S. company said in a press release Thursday.

The service costs $6.99 a month, or $4.99 a month with a year’s subscription, according to its website.

Affordable Internet carrot, legislation review in federal budget

OTTAWA — With a focus on the digital economy, the federal government will start looking beyond geography to bridge the digital divide in Canada, adding new funding to encourage Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer affordable Internet packages, to improve digital literacy, and by announcing its intention to modernize the Telecom and Broadcasting Acts in Budget 2017.

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.

Video game streaming revenue to double by 2021: Juniper

Global revenue from streaming e-sports and video game content will nearly double four years from now, according to Juniper Research, which projected total revenues from video game streaming content will increase to $3.5 billion US by 2021, compared to $1.8 billion US in 2017. 

CPC leadership contenders outline views on media, telecom issues

On May 27, members of the Conservative Party of Canada will select who will succeed former prime minister Stephen Harper as permanent leader of the party, relieving interim Opposition leader Rona Ambrose of her caretaker duties.