Netflix to expand in Europe

Netflix Inc. on Tuesday said it is expanding in Europe by adding service in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Luxembourg later this year.

That follows other European launches in countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands in recent years.

Netflix, which said it currently has more than 48 million subscribers in more than 40 countries, said in a press release details will come later on pricing, programming and what devices will be supported in these new European markets.

FCC moves ahead with Internet ‘fast lanes’ proposal

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moved forward Thursday with plans to explicitly allow Internet service providers give select content providers so-called “fast lanes” to end users.

The FCC passed a preliminary plan, led by Chairman Tom Wheeler, with a 3-2 vote, despite criticisms that it undermines the principle of an open Internet that treats all data equally.

Bloomberg reported that the FCC now enters a “comment-and-review period” that will precede a second and final vote later this year. 

Cord-cutters dominate Internet usage: report

North American cord-cutters are dominating Internet network usage market by consuming more than seven times the typical subscriber, according to a report Wednesday from Sandvine Inc.

On average, cord-cutters consume 212 GB over the Internet per month while the typical Internet subscriber will use about 29 GB per month, Sandvine, a Waterloo, Ont.-based provider of broadband network services for fixed and mobile operators, said in a press release.

Canadian ISP speeds faster than U.S.: Netflix

The average speed of video streaming on Netflix is faster in Canada than in the United States, but slower than European countries such as Norway, Finland and the United Kingdom, Netflix Inc. spokesman Joris Evers said in a blog post Monday.

Among Canadian companies, BCE Inc.’s fibre network had the fastest speeds, with an average speed of 3.19 Mbps, while Rogers Communications Inc.’s speeds were the slowest, at 1.67 Mbps.

New Netflix customers to pay $1 more

Netflix Inc. is raising its monthly subscription rates for new customers to a basic cost of $8.99 from $7.99 per month, though existing customers are getting a two-year reprieve from the higher price.

Emails went out to customers on Friday, informing them that the price hike is needed “to continue adding more movies and TV shows,” but that as a “thank you,” existing customers would not pay the higher rate for two years.

Tech giants call for FCC to protect net neutrality

Almost 150 U.S. technology companies, such as Google Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc. and Microsoft Corp., have written a letter to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission calling its proposed net-neutrality rules a “grave threat to the Internet.”

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.

Video-on-demand, pay-per-view revenues fall: CRTC

Television providers earned less from their video-on-demand services last year, according to CRTC data released Wednesday, despite investing in increasing the availability of content.

The CRTC said in the statistical and financial summaries for Canadian specialty, pay, pay-per-view and video-on-demand (VOD) services that revenues for VOD services fell nearly 3.6 per cent in 2013, to $254.5 million. That decline is a change from the revenue increases reported for the previous four years; in 2012, revenues were up 2.5 per cent while they increased 25.3 per cent in 2011.

CTV launches online platform for digital series

BCE Inc.’s CTV network is launching an online platform for digital series, the company’s media division said in a release Tuesday.

It said the platform, called CTV Extend, will be supported by advertising and feature “more than 10 series and 120 episodes.”

The release described the platform as a “first in Canada for a private Canadian broadcaster,” and said that it would feature commissioned series, acquired programs and extensions of CTV shows.

Ending simultaneous substitution could be ‘huge financial hit’: analyst

If the CRTC ends the practice of simultaneous substitution, as it has suggested it could as part of its review of television, conventional broadcasters would be in for a “huge financial hit,” said Barry Kiefl, president of Canadian Media Research Inc.

“This has been estimated to be worth anywhere from $200 to $300 million in additional advertising revenue that private broadcasters receive, and a lot of that would just basically be cut off because the audience would no longer be watching the Canadian ads,” he said.

Netflix to be carried by U.S. TV providers

Netflix Inc.’s video streaming service is poised to be a feature of some providers of television service in the United States, as opposed to just competing with them.

RCN Telecom Services LLC, Grande Communications LLC and Atlantic Broadband said in a joint press release Friday that they will offer Netflix to customers through set-top boxes made by TiVo Inc.

Atlantic Broadband is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada’s Cogeco Cable Inc.

HBO signs first online-only streaming deal with Amazon

Time Warner Inc.'s HBO pay-TV service has signed a multi-year licensing deal with online retailer Amazon.com Inc. to bring its back catalog of shows, including critically acclaimed hits such as The Sopranos and The Wire, to the Prime Instant Video streaming service, available only in the United States.

Netflix to raise prices by ‘one or two’ dollars

Netflix Inc. will put in place “a one- or two-dollar increase” for new members later this quarter, the company said in a letter to shareholders Monday.

It said that existing members would keep their current pricing “for a generous time period,” while the changes “will enable us to acquire more content and deliver an even better streaming experience.”

VMedia offers cloudy version of IPTV

George Burger wants to give Canadians a more streamlined television experience, yet analysts say the high-tech Internet-protocol TV offerings from his VMedia Inc. might have limited appeal.

The IPTV service from VMedia now includes a cloud-based PVR, the company announced last week.

OMNI troubles could be ominous sign for other conventional TV: Pelley

GATINEAU, Que. — Other conventional television stations in Canada could soon be affected by the same factors that have led to a “financial crisis” for Rogers Communications Inc.’s OMNI multilingual ethnic television stations, Rogers Media president Keith Pelley said at a CRTC hearing Tuesday.

Pelley told commissioners that both Rogers’ City TV and OMNI stations are facing “very serious financial challenges” due to “rapidly” falling advertising on conventional television.

Anglos more likely to cut cords than francophones: study

Anglophone Canadian are more likely than francophones to be considering cutting the cord from paid-television services, and the availability of pick-and-pay services in Quebec could be a factor, said a study released Tuesday.

A report from Media Technology Monitor, a project of CBC/Radio-Canada, said 16 per cent of respondents to surveys last fall who subscribe to TV service are thinking of giving it up. Among anglophones that figure was 19 per cent, compared to eight per cent among francophones, the report said.

TV cord cutting on the rise: report

An annual report from Convergence Consulting Group Ltd. says Canadians are increasingly moving away from television subscriptions, and the trend is accelerating this year.

The report’s summary, on the company’s website, said that TV subscriptions in Canada were up by about 2,000 in 2013, down from a gain of 37,000 the year before.

Amazon releases set-top streaming box

Online retail giant Amazon.com Inc. announced a new television set-top box at an event in New York on Tuesday, pledging to improve the over-the-top (OTT) experience for customers frustrated by the limitations of rival offerings from Apple Inc. and others, according to media reports.

"We need to invent and simplify on behalf of customers," said Amazon's Peter Larsen, according to tech website the Verge.

Videotron launches Illico iPhone streaming app

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron unit said Thursday it has launched a new app that allows users of Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4 or 5 access content through its Illico program for online video content.

It noted in a press release that this launch coincides with the recent availability of iPhones on Videotron’s mobile network, though the Illico app works on phones with any carrier.

Blue Ant Media partners with YouTube-focused music network

Blue Ant Media Inc., a Toronto-based media group, said Tuesday it has struck a partnership with Omnia Media, which it said is the third-largest largest music-focused network on Google Inc.’s YouTube platform.

Blue Ant said in a press release that it has become Omnia’s “exclusive sales representative” and “the preferred production partner for original content creation and brand integrations.”

Online video watched by 3 in 4 anglo adults: MTM

More than three out of every four anglophone Canadian adults are consumers of online video, according to report released Thursday.

Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada, said 76 per cent of respondents in a survey last fall indicated they had watched video online within the previous month. That was up from 73 per cent who answered this way a year earlier and 69 per cent two years before.

Rivals must collaborate on ‘TV everywhere’ offerings: Bell exec

As Canadian television providers have rolled out their TV-everywhere strategies, aimed at fighting off over-the-top (OTT) competition by making content easier to access online, customers can be forgiven if they’re left somewhat confused.

Viacom, Google settle copyright lawsuit

Google Inc. and Viacom Inc. have settled a copyright lawsuit relating the uploading of content owned by the latter on Google’s YouTube platform, the company’s said in a joint news release issued last week.

Terms of settlement were not disclosed.

“This settlement reflects the growing collaborative dialogue between our two companies on important opportunities, and we look forward to working more closely together,” the companies said in the release issued on March 18.

Netflix CEO attacks ISPs that demand payment for connectivity

Netflix Inc. CEO Reed Hastings said in a blog post on the company’s website Thursday that a stronger sense of net neutrality is needed to prevent situations like the one that has his company paying Comcast Corp. to ensure customers get a more reliable connection to Netflix content.

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.

Shaw introduces online closed captioning

Shaw Communications Inc.’s media division on Wednesday said it has become the first private-sector Canadian broadcaster to offer closed captioning for television programming accessed online.

It said in a press release that closed captioning is available for more than 1,300 online episodes of its shows that air on Global and its specialty channels. It said the function can be turned on by clicking the CC button during video playback.

Google brings Chromecast to Canada, launches Android Wear

Google Inc.’s Chromecast device — which allows users to play video and audio files on their televisions while controlling the content and playing options through their mobile devices or computers — is now available in Canada, Google said Tuesday.

Mobile TV not undue preference, promotes Canadian content: Rogers

Rogers Communications Inc.’s mobile-TV service upholds the Broadcasting Act by making Canadian content available and is not an undue preference, the company told the CRTC Wednesday.

CTV averages 6.12M viewers for Oscars

The Canadian broadcast of the Academy Awards Sunday night attracted an average of 6.12 million television viewers, said BCE Inc.’s CTV network, which had the broadcast rights to the awards show.

In a press release put out Monday, CTV said it was the most watched entertainment show since the 2011 Oscars, and that a total of 14 million people tuned into at least part of this year’s awards show. 

Disney signs first major OTT deal with Dish Network

Dish Network Corp. announced a deal with Walt Disney Co. that will bring content from some of the most popular channels in United States, including worldwide sports leader ESPN, to over-the-top streaming services for the first time.

Bell Media makes Oscars free on CTV Go app

BCE Inc.’s media subsidiary will make the live broadcast of the Oscars free on its CTV Go service.

It normally requires viewers to have an account with a participating TV service provider, Bell Media said in a release Thursday, adding it would lift that requirement “as a special showcase of the app and its content.”

Shaw launches on-demand viewing of History

Shaw Communications Inc. said Thursday it has launched a mobile app and upgraded the website for its History channel to allow its subscribers on-demand viewing of almost 300 hours of programming.

Shaw said in a press release the History Go application is available for users of Apple Inc.’s iPhones and smartphones powered by Google Inc.’s Android software. The on-demand service can also be accessed at history.ca.

Disney launches cloud-based movie service in U.S.

Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday announced the launch of a cloud-based movie service called Disney Movies Everywhere to consumers in the United States.

It’s available as an free application for Apple Inc.’s iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches, or by signing up online.

Disney said in a press release that the service “enables consumers to discover, purchase, manage and watch movies from Disney, Pixar and Marvel at home and on the go.”

Netflix to pay Comcast for faster streaming: report

Netflix Inc. will pay Comcast Corp. for access to its network in order to be able to provide its streaming video customers with faster speeds and improved reliability, Bloomberg reported Monday, quoting anonymous sources.

Based on information from one source, the news service said Netflix would pay Comcast millions of dollars each year in order “to deliver its content more efficiently,” in the wake of “complaints about quality and speed.”

Bell not licensing content to OTT service is undue preference: complaint

Leiacomm, a company that plans to launch an over-the-top TV service in Canada, has filed a complaint against BCE Inc.’s Bell Media subsidiary for refusing to license its content to the service.

In a Part 1 application submitted to the CRTC Feb. 9 and made available on its website Friday, Leiacomm owner Howard Rabb said that the company has been attempting to reach an affiliate agreement with Bell Media in order to distribute its networks, specialty channels and on-demand programming on Leiacomm’s OTT service.

Cancon should be on all screens: Blais

In response to a question on Twitter about whether the CRTC will regulate Canadian content on all screens, CRTC Chair Jean-Pierre Blais said that “it’s important for Canadian content to be on all screens.”

Blais made the statement on Wednesday during live chat about the CRTC’s ongoing review of the television system.

Phase 2 of CRTC TV review asks about OTT regulation

The CRTC is asking Canadians for feedback about Canadian content in online television services and their adherence to programming standards in an online questionnaire released Tuesday as part of Phase 2 of its review of television services in Canada.

In a section about online programming, the CRTC asks respondents whether they would be willing to pay extra to have more Canadian programming available within online services, and in order to have online services provide closed-captioning and adhere to programming standards.

Apple could launch new set-top box this year: report

Apple Inc. is planning to launch a new Apple TV set-top box and is negotiating with Time Warner Cable Inc. as a potential partner, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

Time Warner, as well as other potential partners, would add video content to the set-top box service, the news service reported, quoting anonymous sources.

Bloomberg said that the company aims to have the new Apple TV box for sale by the Christmas holiday season, though it could introduce it as early as April.

Netflix in 3 million Canadian homes: SRG

Three million Canadian households have access to Netflix Inc.’s over-the-top streaming service, according to consulting firm Solutions Research Group.

In a release Thursday, SRG said that number includes paid subscribers, those using a free trial and Canadians who are using Netflix’s U.S. service.

“In a given day, half of Netflix subscribers are streaming some kind of content,” it said, adding that the average user, when they use the service, spends about 1.5 hours a day with it.

Study shows 16% of anglophones considering cord-cutting

In a report released Thursday, Media Technology Monitor said that 16 per cent of anglophones with a TV subscription indicate they are somewhat or very likely to cut the cord, compared to eight per cent of francophones.

Netflix profits rise in Q4

Netflix Inc. reported on Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profit had grown about sixfold from a year earlier.

The over-the-top television service provider said its net earnings for the three months ended Dec. 31 were $48.4 million US, up from $7.9 million US in the same quarter of 2012.

Revenue grew about 24 per cent to $1.18 billion US from $945.2 million US a year before, according to data released by the company.

Broadcasters turn to ‘stacking’ rights to gain edge over OTT competition

If 2013 was the year that the idea of binge-watching as a phenomenon hit the mainstream, then 2014 may be the year that traditional broadcasters seriously get into the game.

Broadcasters in Canada and the U.S. are buying up the rights to offer complete seasons of television shows on their websites, mobile TV and video-on-demand platforms, in an effort to help curb cord-cutting and to open up new advertising opportunities, including targeted ads.

Verizon to buy Intel’s cloud-TV division

Verizon Communications Inc. said Tuesday it has reached a deal to purchase Intel Corp.’s Intel Media division, which is focused on developing cloud-television products and services.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Quoting anonymous sources, Bloomberg reported the sale price is less than $200 million US.

Rogers developing OTT service

Rogers Communications Inc. is spending more than $100 million to buy rights from both American and Canadian content owners in order to launch its own over-the-top video service, Cartt.ca reported Thursday.

In an emailed statement Thursday, Rogers spokeswoman Andrea Goldstein told the Wire Report: “As previously reported, Rogers is looking at opportunities to deliver an over-the-top service. There are no additional details at this time.”

Most people who stream TV binge watch: Netflix

In a survey of 1,500 U.S. viewers who watch TV by streaming it online, 61 per cent “binge watch” TV shows regularly, Netflix Inc. said.

The company said in a release Friday that the majority of respondents defined “binge watching” as viewing two to six episodes of the same TV show in one sitting.

It added 76 per cent of respondents said “watching multiple episodes of a great TV show is a welcome refuge from their busy lives.”

Netflix expands CBC licensing deal

Netflix Inc. and CBC/Radio Canada have expanded their licensing agreement, adding CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries, as well as new seasons of series like Republic of Doyle and Heartland, to Netflix’s streaming service.

“Beginning this December and continuing through 2014, new shows and seasons will be available to Canadian members,” Netflix said in a release Wednesday.

4K TV imposes hurdles on telcos, broadcasters

As the holiday shopping season begins, shoppers in electronics stores might find their eye caught by a new type of television set—one that offers a more detailed, crisper and richer picture than its high-definition brethren.

Bell launches CTV Go

BCE Inc. has launched CTV Go, an online service that allows viewers to watch live and on-demand programming from its CTV and CTV Two channels.

The company said in a release Tuesday that the service includes “livestreams of both networks’ complete schedules,” access to 60 individual program titles and live streams of events like the Super Bowl and the Oscars.

Viewers can access the service using smartphones, tablets and computers, it added.

Private over-the-air broadcasters struggle to regain lost advertising revenues

Five years after the 2008 global financial crisis caused a 10 per cent decline in Canada's TV advertising revenues, private conventional broadcasters are still feeling the pain.

“If you look at the conventional numbers, the recovery isn't there,” Theresa Truetler, president and CEO of the Television Bureau of Canada (TVB), said in an interview last week.

“It's not a simple answer. There's a whole bunch of factors at play here.”

Broadcasters still pondering: To license, or not to license, to Netflix

If viewers of Netflix Inc.’s Canadian streaming service are in the mood for a Canadian show, they might find their selections pretty limited.

Not counting children’s content, viewers can choose from CBC/Radio Canada series like Dragons' Den, Mr. D, Cracked, Heartland, Being Erica and Camelot, though not too much more than that.

Million-plus Canadian households don’t pay for TV: SRG

In the second quarter of 2013, the number of Canadian households with no paid TV subscription “who rely solely on Internet for video entertainment” rose to 1.1 million, consulting firm Solutions Research Group said.

That’s an increase from 750,000 four years ago, the company said in a research note Tuesday.

Amazon to release set-top box

Amazon Inc. plans to release a set-top box by the upcoming holiday shopping season, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The newspaper, citing anonymous sources, said the device is similar to the Roku Inc. player and will offer content and applications “from a variety of sources.”

It will also “serve as a delivery vehicle for Amazon's existing streaming video service,” WSJ said.

Roku to launch two new devices

Roku Inc. will roll out two new streaming players in October, the company said.

Online video advertising revenues still a fraction of TV

In a fragmented media market, one thing hasn't changed: advertisers continue to look for eyeballs. And that means following Canadians in their online video viewing.

Online video advertising revenues rose 27 per cent last year, the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada reported last week, reaching $92 million in 2012, and forecasts by companies like Brightroll Inc. and PriceWaterhouseCoopers say the segment will continue growing.

MTM says 21% of Canadians subscribe to Netflix

The number of Canadian subscribers to Netflix Inc.'s online streaming service has almost doubled year-over-year, reaching 21 per cent of Canadian adults this spring, according to polling data by Media Technology Monitor.

MTM, a joint research project between CBC/Radio-Canada and BBM Analytics, said that 21 per cent of Canadian adults say they subscribe to Netflix.

Roku releases new streaming player in Canada

Roku Inc.’s new Roku 3 streaming player is now available in Canada, the company said.

In a post on the company’s blog Wednesday, Roku said the new device is its “fastest and most powerful streaming player to date,” and offers an enhanced remote control that may also be used as a gaming paddle.

“Roku 3 comes fully loaded with more than 450 channels of entertainment, 1080p HD support, dual-band wireless, Ethernet and USB ports, and a microSD slot,” the post added.

Canadian TV subscriptions continue fall in Q2

Overall Canadian TV subscriptions fell by a net 10,810 in the second quarter of 2013, a new report from IHS said.

While Internet protocol television (IPTV) services gained customers, they were not enough to offset losses in cable and satellite services, IHS said in a release Friday.

Canadian TV providers, collectively, have lost subscribers for the last three consecutive quarters with a decline of 27,840 in the first quarter of 2013 and a 11,950 customers in the fourth quarter of 2012, IHS said.

The next battle for OTT? Licensing

Television providers have had a few years now to get used to online competition from over-the-top streaming services, though they should brace for more. As early as this year, they will be facing a new generation of online competition.

Google Inc., Apple Inc., Sony Corp. and Intel Corp. are working on launching new over-the-top television services that may allow the viewer to flip through feeds from paid cable TV channels, including live programming.

A la carte would drop U.S. TV revenues almost 50%: analyst

The American television industry's annual revenues of $150 billion US would be cut nearly in half if broadcast distributors moved to an a la carte model, said a report by research firm Needham & Company.

Laura Martin, an Internet, entertainment and consumer analyst with Needham & Company, said in a July 11 report that a move to unbundled, or a la carte, TV services would cost the industry $70 billion US in annual revenues as advertising dried up and subscriptions for less popular channels fell.

TV providers to fight for smaller share of customers as housing starts fall

Lower housing starts this year will lead to fewer television subscriptions and could trigger pricing wars among TV providers, industry experts said.

In a data released last week, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation projected that Canadian developers will break ground on about 182,900 new housing units in 2013, a 14.9 per cent drop from 214,827 units last year.

CMHC projected housing starts could “re-gain momentum” in late 2013 or sometime in 2014, forecasting between 166,500 and 211,300 housing starts next year.

Boxee acquisition expected this week

Boxee Inc. has been acquired by an unknown buyer and an announcement about the purchase should take place this week, VentureBeat reported last week, citing “sources familiar with the matter.”

VentureBeat said sources “confirmed that Boxee was seeking an acquisition over the last few months but that there wasn’t much interest among potential buyers,” and that there weren’t many offers for the company, as well as that the “final sale was lower than Boxee had hoped for.”

More TV viewers binge-watching: survey

More Canadian TV viewers are binge-watching television series, according to a new poll commissioned by Rogers Communications Inc., with more than 80 per cent of respondents saying that they watched three or more shows or two or more movies back-to-back this year.

Rogers released the poll results Monday, which said people aged 34 or under are the highest-volume viewers.

Amazon to produce five original shows

Online retailer Amazon Inc. will produce five new original television series, Reuters reported Wednesday.

According to the news report, the five series can be viewed exclusively on Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service, which is available to Amazon Prime subscribers in the United States.

Reuters reported that Amazon chose the shows by posting 14 pilot episodes online in April and analyzing viewer reviews and the length of time people watched the episodes.

Best Buy, Future Shop to sell Roku boxes

New set-top boxes offered by online streaming company Roku Inc. are now available at Best Buy and Future Shop locations in Canada, the company said.

In a release Thursday, Roku said two devices, the Roku 2 XD and Roku 2 XS, are now available at Canadian Future Shop and Best Buy stores. The Roku 2 XD model is available for $90 and the Roku 2 XS sells for $110, the company said.

Hastings says Netflix pushing competitive responses

The future of television in the next 10 to 20 years will be application-based as Netflix Inc. pushes traditional TV providers to innovate with online, on-demand models, Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings said.

In a speech at the Canada 3.0 conference in Toronto on Tuesday, Hastings said companies will move from offering channels to offering apps with tailored content. 

HBO Go may become standalone OTT service: Pepler

HBO’s HBO Go online streaming service, owned by Time Warner Inc., may be made available to Internet customers who do not subscribe to a cable TV service, Reuters reported Thursday.

Richard Pepler, HBO’s chief executive, told Reuters that HBO is looking at expanding its HBO Go service through partnerships with Internet providers.

“Right now we have the right model,” Pepler told Reuters on Wednesday. “Maybe HBO Go, with our broadband partners, could evolve.”

Telco innovation threatened by delayed returns on network investment, ITU says

A “generational gap” between telcos and over-the-top service providers is threatening to stifle innovation in a “radically altered” telco sector, the International Telecommunication Union said in a new report.

YouTube plans new subscription channels: report

YouTube plans to offer paid subscriptions to a new set of online TV channels, Ad Age reported.

YouTube, owned by Google Inc., has approached some content providers and TV channels about the creation of new online YouTube channels for which users would pay $1 to $5 per month for access, Ad age reported on its website Jan. 29, citing anonymous sources familiar with the issue.

Canadians still tuning in to traditional TV, MTM report says

An increasing number of Canadians own media-rich smartphones and tablets as fewer watch television over the Internet exclusively, a new report by Media Technology Monitor (MTM) said.

“Despite the rapid rise in the ability to watch TV on the Internet and widespread talk of cord-cutting, the number of Anglophone Canadians that watch TV exclusively online is still small—only 5%,” MTM, a joint-research project between CBC/Radio-Canada and BBM Analytics, said in its “Media Technology Adoption Fall 2012” report, released Tuesday.

Roku passes 700 apps

The Roku Inc. online TV device and streaming platform now has more than 700 channels, or apps, the company said Monday.

In a release, Roku said the more than 700 channels means it has more television entertainment content than any other streaming device. The company said it added new channels and services, and that the Amazon Cloud Player, Big Fish, Blockbuster On Demand, Fox Now, iHeartRadio, PBS, Spotify and Vevo will also be available this quarter.

Roku did not say in what jurisdictions the apps have been licensed for use.

Lift foreign ownership and control rules for broadcasting, Katz says

Leonard Katz, the CRTC's former vice-chair of telecom, says the federal government should step back from legislating Canadian control of the country's telecom and broadcasting systems.

Boxee releases new device, unlimited cloud PVR service

Boxee Inc. released a new online TV device at half the price of its previous one with the option for an unlimited, cloud-based video recording service for $15 per month, the company said.

Roku-Dish deal, criticized by developers, would pass regulatory scrutiny in Canada

An exclusive distribution deal between online TV provider Roku Inc. and U.S. broadcast distributor Dish Network Corp. for all international content on Roku's system would escape regulatory scrutiny in Canada, industry experts say.

Canadian TV content should compete internationally: Peladeau

Canada’s entertainment industry must better reach international audiences outside of its borders to help compete with online TV services, Pierre Karl Peladeau, president and CEO of Quebecor Media Inc., said at the MIPCOM entertainment conference in Cannes, France.

Peladeau said in a keynote speech Monday that language is no longer a barrier for content and that if a programming format works in Japan, Israel or Mexico, someone will buy it and adapt it.

Shaw releases ‘Shaw Go’ TV service

Shaw Communications Inc. launched a new over-the-top TV service that allows its television subscribers to watch premium TV content on the go over their iPhone and iPad devices, the company said Thursday.

Netgear working on licensing for new OTT devices in Canada

Netgear Inc. rolled out new over-the-top TV devices that will be available in Canada in November, the company said Thursday.

Screens, not scale, key to competing with OTT providers, Rogers says

Consumer-friendly content distribution platforms are more important than scale to Canadian broadcasters and broadcast distributors competing against large, over-the-top (OTT) service providers like Netflix, Ken Engelhart, senior vice-president of regulatory affairs at Rogers Communications Inc., said Wednesday.

More consumers turning to VPN services to access geoblocked video content

Retail Internet encryption services are growing in popularity as a means for average Internet users to bypass “geoblocks” that deny access to online video content outside their national borders, technology industry insiders said.

These virtual private network (VPN) services anonymize online users by encrypting their data transfers and running them through foreign servers.

Apps, simplicity of use, to determine OTT device supremacy, analysts say

The strength of available apps and platform simplicity will be key factors determining the success of Apple Inc., Google Inc., Roku Inc. and Boxee Inc. as they compete for customers in the emerging North American over-the-top TV market, analysts say.

Streaming to be 66.6% of peak traffic in 2015: Sandvine

Online video streaming will account for two-thirds of peak bandwidth usage in in the United States in 2015, Internet technology company Sandvine Corp. predicted.

The company released an analytics chart Wednesday that showed the company forecasts Netflix Inc.'s streaming content to account for more than 36 per cent of peak downstream traffic in July 2015.

Google TV launching in Canada with 150 TV-optimized apps

Canada's over-the-top television landscape will become more competitive this summer as Sony Corp. launches Google Inc.'s Google TV product in the country for the first time.

Sony Canada said in a release Monday it will sell a new device called the NSZ-GS7, or Sony Internet Player with Google TV, for $200 in Canada. It will be available from Canadian retailers in August and pre-orders can be made online starting June 27 on Sony's website, the company said.

TV app development a new opportunity for media companies: Report

Canadian digital media companies tend to be small and face problems finding private-sector financing, but new opportunities like TV app development continue to arise, new consultants’ reports released by the Canada Media Fund said.

Sports leagues to compete directly for online viewers

Online streaming services offered directly by professional sports leagues will increasingly compete for viewers as online and mobile video consumption grows, analysts say.

Quebecor revenues up on telecom services

Sustained growth across Quebecor Media Inc.’s telecommunications services boosted the company’s revenues by $73.5 million in the first quarter to $1.06 billion, the company announced on Wednesday.

CRTC pulls back from spring OTT consultation

The CRTC has pulled back from holding another consultation this spring about the impacts of over-the-top, online services on the Canadian broadcasting system, the commission said this week.

Cord-cutting predicted to register statistically this year, take $1.7B from earnings by 2017

Cord-cutting is expected take a $1.7-billion bite from the Canadian broadcasting industry's annual revenues by 2017, a new report by RBC Capital Markets says.