Cogeco gets CRTC go-ahead for acquisition of RNC stations

The CRTC has approved Cogeco Inc. to purchase 10 radio stations from RNC Media Inc., it said in a decision 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 …

Quebecor focused on convergence with new radio offering: Desjardins

A new online radio service from Quebecor Inc. indicates the company is “putting convergence back at the forefront of its strategy,” Desjardins analyst Maher Yaghi said in a research note on 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 …

CRTC consulting on new radio stations in Northern Ontario

The CRTC has opened up a comment period after it received applications from Vista Radio Ltd. for two new commercial radio stations in North Bay and Timmins, Ont. 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 …

Broadcast, telecom acts review panel kicks off consultation

OTTAWA — The expert panel in charge of reviewing Canada’s communications legislation launched its consultation process Tuesday, on the same day a former CRTC chairman urged a Senate committee to adopt an “internet-centric” approach and completely separate telecom and broadcasting laws and regulators. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Broadcasters slam music industry copyright proposal

OTTAWA — Canada’s private broadcasters are defending Canada’s existing copyright laws and tariff rules and say a proposal to nix a radio royalty exemption in the Copyright Act is an attempt at a cash grab by the recording industry. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Government to respond to e-petition on ‘malicious’ pirate radio

An e-petition concerning a Quebec man who allegedly kept operating an illegal radio station, despite being shut down by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has gathered the necessary amount of signatures to require the government to respond. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

CRTC outlines potential moves on Harnessing Change suggestions

The CRTC said Thursday it is considering taking action on potential changes it outlined in a May report looking at programming distribution models. 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 …

ACTRA appoints Lisa Blanchette as public policy and comms director

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) has appointed Lisa Blanchette as the union’s new director of public policy and communications, it said in a Monday press release. 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 …

A quarter of English-speaking Canadians listen to podcasts

The latest report from CBC/Radio-Canada’s Media Technology Monitor (MTM) project outlined 24 per cent of anglophone Canadians said they have listened to a podcast in the last month. 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 …

Jim Pattison buying 4 radio stations in western Canada

The Jim Pattison Group of Companies is adding to its stable of radio holdings with the acquisition of Fabmar Investments Ltd.’s Fabmar Communications and its four radio stations. 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 …

Bell to overhaul Manitoba public safety comms

BCE Inc. has won the contract to replace Manitoba’s aging public safety communications service, a project that’s expected to cost $380 million and take three years, the provincial government said in a press release. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

CRTC says no tangible benefits necessary in radio station sale

The CRTC has approved the sale of a Fort McMurray, Alta. radio station and granted an exemption to the requirement to pay tangible benefits. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …

CRTC opens consult on Stingray-Newcap, Quebecor-Serdy deals

The CRTC has set Sept. 4 as the deadline for comments in two acquisitions in the broadcasting sector. 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 …

CRTC consulting on capacity of three Que. radio markets

The CRTC is looking for input on whether it should issue a call for applications for three Quebec radio markets. 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 …

Assiniboia, Sask. gets first commercial radio station

The CRTC has granted a radio broadcasting licence for Assiniboia, Sask., which it said in a decision Thursday means the town of of 2,389 people will get its first commercial radio station. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

CRTC says no additional radio stations for Lloydminster market

The radio market in Lloydminster, on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, can’t sustain another radio station, the CRTC said Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …

Newcap buys two radio stations ahead of Stingray acquisition

The CRTC has approved the acquisition of two Nova Scotia radio stations by Newfoundland Capital Corporation Ltd. 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 …

CRTC approves two new oldies radio stations in Ontario

The CRTC has issued new radio licences for stations in Georgina and Grimsby, Ont. that will broadcast classic hits and oldies, according to a pair of decisions 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 …

Canadian broadcasters drawn by ‘ton of momentum’ in podcasting

In early May, the Liberal government faced questions in the House of Commons about a Canadian citizen who had returned to the country after participating in the ongoing conflict in Syria and Iraq on the side of the Islamic State. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Rogers Medicine Hat radio station purchase OKed

The CRTC has approved the purchase of a Medicine Hat radio station by Rogers Communications Inc., it said in a decision released on 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 …

CRTC opens consultation on Cogeco-RNC radio station deal

The CRTC is now accepting interventions in its review of Cogeco Inc.’s plans to buy 10 radio stations from RNC Media 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 …

Corus outlines strategic roadmap, CEO ‘optimistic’ about future

Corus Entertainment Inc. executives delivered a mapped-out vision for the company’s future that includes investing in more technology, better data use and more content in a “longer than usual” conference call Wednesday morning, following greater-than-expected losses in television advertising for the third quarter. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Music Canada asks MPs for action on radio royalties, copy levy

The federal government should remove a 20-year-old radio royalty exception, allow royalties for music used in soundtracks, and extend copyright terms and the private copying levy, Music Canada told MPs 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 …

Copyright Act review shifts gears to radio, TV

The ongoing review of the Copyright Act will begin focusing on the music, radio, television and film sectors next month. 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 …

Radio listening drops, very slightly: MTM

A new Media Technology Monitor (MTM) report says 87 per cent of anglophone Canadians reported listening to AM/FM radio content on various platforms in the past year, down one per cent from last year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

CRTC approves two new Christian radio stations

The CRTC has issued broadcast licences for new FM radio stations in Regina, Sask. and the Sydney, Nova Scotia area, it said in a pair of decisions 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 …

Stingray to move into radio with NewCap parent buy

Stingray Digital Group Inc. will enter the radio business with the purchase of Newfoundland Capital Corporation Ltd. (NCC), the second-largest private radio player in the country, it said in a Wednesday release. 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 …

Cogeco picking up 10 RNC radio stations for $18.5M

Cogeco Inc. has reached a deal with RNC Media Inc. to acquire 10 of RNC’s radio stations. 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 …

Non-compliant radio stations summoned by CRTC

The CRTC has ordered four radio stations to a public hearing on June 18 in Gatineau, Que. to answer to commissioners for “repeated” non-compliance of its radio regulations, licence conditions and/or the regulator’s mandatory orders,  according to a notice of hearing on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

CRTC denies ‘self-serving’ Sirius XM fund proposal

The CRTC has denied a proposal by Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. to create a new fund for its discretionary tangible benefits, directing most of the money to existing funds and a smaller portion to the Broadcast Participation Fund (BPF). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

iHeartRadio files for bankruptcy in U.S.

The owner of iHeartRadio Media Inc., the company that aggregates radio content through its app, has filed for bankruptcy in the United States, though the Canadian telecom that brought it north of the border says its radio operations won’t be affected. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Don’t allow white space devices above 608 MHz, ISED hears

Innovation Canada (ISED) is hearing from both telecoms and broadcasters that it should go ahead with its proposal to limit white space devices to bands below 608 MHz, though for very different reasons. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Bell to pay $1M in tangible benefits for Larche stations

The CRTC has approved the purchase of four Ontario radio stations by BCE Inc.’s Bell Media from Larche 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 …

Rogers to buy Alberta station CJCY-FM

Rogers Communications Inc. said it will buy an Alberta radio station after coming to an agreement with Clear Sky Radio Inc. to acquire the licence of the station. 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 …

CRTC OKs ownership change for two Ont. radio stations

The CRTC has approved the acquisition of two Ontario radio stations by Byrnes Communications Inc. from Vista Radio Ltd. 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 …

Samsung to unlock FM chip in new smartphones

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. will unlock FM chips in its newer smartphones, according to a press release issued 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 to The …

Five new directors named to CBC board

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly named five new members to the CBC/Radio-Canada board of directors for five-year terms, said a Tuesday press release. 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 …

CRTC reprimands Orangeville radio station for targeting GTA market

The CRTC has renewed the licence of Orangeville, Ont. top 40 radio station Z103.5 for a shorter licence term after it said the station had targeted audiences in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) instead of the town located outside the GTA boundary.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

BPF registers to lobby amidst consumer group funding concerns

A few months after the emergence of a proposal asking the CRTC to shift funding away from the Broadcast Participation Fund (BPF), the organization that helps bring consumer interests in front of the commission has filed its first registrations to lobby the regulator and the government. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Radio app iHeartRadio grows number of stations

A partnership between BCE Inc. and iHeartMedia Inc., iHeartRadio Canada announced Monday an update to its app that will allow listeners to access over 1,000 live North American radio stations and content like podcasts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

CRTC approves radio station licences in Quebec and Manitoba

The CRTC has given the green light for three licences to operate radio stations in Quebec and Manitoba. 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 …

FCC loosens local media ownership rules

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to eliminate the boundaries that traditionally limited ownership of a combination of local media properties, including television, radio and newspaper, by a single entity. 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 …

Need to be proactive, can’t be reactive on radio trends: Bell, Rogers

TORONTO — If there’s one thing radio players can do to be successful in an industry that has faced new competition in recent years, it is to start putting more time and energy into discovering how audiences will consume radio, especially on digital, in the future, according to representatives from some of Canada’s largest broadcasters. …

Corus’ Sylvie Courtemanche appointed CBSC chair

Sylvie Courtemanche is leaving her post as Corus Entertainment Inc.’s vice-president of government relations and compliance to become the new chairwoman of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC). 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 …

International market becoming key for music publishers: panel

OTTAWA — Markets outside of Canada are increasingly important for music publishers, a breakfast panel hosted by the Pearson Centre on Tuesday morning heard as participants discussed issues like copyright, tariffs and the new digital reality from an international perspective. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

CRTC orders radio station to publicize non-compliance

The CRTC has told a radio station it must air a message about non-compliance with its licence. 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 …

CRTC to hold Jan. hearing on radio licence applications

The CRTC said Wednesday that it will consider renewals of new and existing radio licences at a hearing early next year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe …

SiriusXM streaming service adds 75 channels

Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. has added 75 new channels to its SiriusXM Streaming service, it 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 digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …

CRTC OK’s sale of Kelowna radio station

The CRTC has approved the acquisition of a Kelowna, B.C. radio station by Avenue Radio Ltd. from Vista Radio Ltd. 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 …

Gov’t denies aboriginal radio decision appeal

The federal government has denied a petition to the governor-in-council to overturn a June licence decision by the CRTC regarding Indigenous radio stations. 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 …

CRTC role is to ‘regulate in the public interest’: new chairman

CRTC chairman Ian Scott has released his first statement since taking the helm at the regulator, pointing to consumer choice and access to quality content and internet connections as priorities for Canadians. 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 promotes Stewart Johnston as Stuart Garvie departs

BCE Inc.’s media division announced Thursday three of its executives have been named to new positions, as well as the departure of Stuart Garvie. 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 …

CRTC to hold Toronto hearing on broadcasting applications

The CRTC said Thursday that it has scheduled a hearing to take place in Toronto on Nov. 27 to consider 11 broadcasting applications. 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 …

CBC advertising up, specialty channel subs down

In its latest quarterly report, CBC/Radio-Canada said that subscriptions to its specialty channels dropped compared to a year earlier. 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 …

CRTC renews 11 radio stations despite non-compliance

The CRTC has renewed the licences of 11 radio stations after it found them in non-compliance with licence conditions. 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 …

CRTC wants input on Lloydminster radio market

The CRTC is consulting on the radio market capacity in Lloydminster, which straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. 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. …

Martin Tremblay promoted at Bell Media

BCE Inc.’s media division has named Martin Tremblay its regional programming director for Bell Media radio in Quebec. 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 …

Bell Media to buy four FM radio stations

BCE Inc.’s media division said Wednesday it will buy four FM radio stations in Ontario from Larche Communications Inc., bolstering the company’s iHeartRadio offering. 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 …

Advocacy groups ask CRTC to deny Sirius tangible benefits plan

A proposal by Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. to create a new fund instead of allocating the entirety of its $4.79 million in discretionary tangible benefits to the Broadcast Participation Fund (BPF) has the potential to affect the ability of advocacy groups to participate in CRTC proceedings, various groups are telling the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Second petition to reverse aboriginal radio decision filed by VMS

VMS Media Group Ltd. has filed the second petition to cabinet asking the government to overturn the CRTC’s decision on licences for operating urban aboriginal radio stations, following a July appeal by an Ontario-based group. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

CRTC rejects proposed St. John’s radio station

The CRTC has declined an application to establish a new FM radio station in St. John’s, N.L. 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 …

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 …

Gerry MacKrell to head Canadian Broadcast Sales

Gerry MacKrell will be the new head of the country’s biggest radio sales company as of Sept. 1, Canadian Broadcast Sales announced 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 …

Wawatay files appeal over radio licence decision

Wawatay Native Communications Society has submitted a formal petition to Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly seeking to overturn a June decision by the CRTC that handed out licences for Indigenous radio stations. 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 …

Private radio revenues continued decline in 2016: StatsCan

Overall operating revenues for private radio broadcasting across Canada last year fell 3.3 per cent, marking the third consecutive year the sector has experienced such a decline, according to Statistics 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 …

Rogers acquires Ontario radio stations

The CRTC has approved the acquisition by Rogers Communications Inc.’s media division of Tillsonburg Broadcasting Company Ltd. (TBCL), which operates two English-language stations in the small Ontario town. 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 …

Sirius says new fund proposal to fill gaps in CanCon system

As part of its discretionary tangible benefits proposal, Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. is asking to put in place a new fund that “directly benefits musical and spoken word artists and addresses unfulfilled opportunities” in the existing Canadian content development ecosystem. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Bell launches HD radio signals in Toronto

BCE Inc.’s media division announced that high-definition signals for its four Toronto radio stations are now available. 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 …

CRTC denies new Ottawa-Gatineau radio station

The Ottawa-Gatineau radio market can’t sustain another station, the CRTC said in a Friday decision, and won’t consider an application for a new ethnic station in the area. 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 …

CRTC consulting on radio, TV broadcasting licences

The CRTC is asking for comment on renewals of licences held by 10 broadcasters. 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 …

Corus sees revenue, profit boost in Q3

Corus Entertainment Inc. reported increases in both revenues and profit Tuesday, numbers that reflected its purchase of Shaw Communications Inc.’s media division last year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

Wawatay seeking appeal of Aboriginal radio licence decision

OTTAWA — Wawatay Native Communications Society will ask for an appeal of the CRTC’s recent decision on five licences for Aboriginal radio stations, calling the decision to award the two Ontario licences to First Peoples Radio Inc. (FPR) — a new radio arm of Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) — instead of to Wawatay “unfair.” …

Advisory group named to drive CBC board appointments

OTTAWA — A nine-member panel has been charged with vetting potential appointees to the CBC/Radio-Canada board of directors, led by former TV journalist Tom Clark, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced 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 …

Increase indigenous representation at CRTC, conference hears

OTTAWA — All of the country’s cultural institutions need a rethink when it comes to reflecting the reality of aboriginal people in Canada, an indigenous broadcasting conference heard Saturday, with ideas ranging from creating a dedicated office at the CRTC, to appointing an indigenous CRTC commissioner, to deregulating broadcasters that operate on treaty lands. This content …

Reconciliation to play role in new CRTC chair’s mandate: Joly

OTTAWA — The next chair of the CRTC will have a more explicit focus on furthering reconciliation with Canada’s indigenous people, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly suggested Thursday, referencing the regulator’s decision handed down Wednesday that granted five licences for Aboriginal radio stations across the country. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Aboriginal radio licence decision ‘major disappointment’: Wawatay

The CRTC has approved five urban radio licences in markets across the country to serve Aboriginal peoples, a decision one Ontario Aboriginal radio station said will result in fewer hours, and less diversity, of Aboriginal-language content in Ottawa and Toronto than its application would have provided. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Blais pans, prophesizes in end-of-term speech

CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais used what may prove to be his final address as head of the telecom regulator to issue recriminations for past practice and predictions for the future of the country’s cultural industries and the CRTC itself. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

CRTC rejects Toronto area radio expansion, approves SW Ont. station

Two Ontario markets with prospective applications for broadcasting licences can’t sustain any new radio stations, the CRTC 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. Take a free trial or subscribe to The …

Radio still big among Canadians: MTM

Radio still factors heavily into the daily lives of anglophone Canadians, with local stations providing some of the most popular content, according to a new 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 …

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 …

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 …

Radio will fend of challengers with local content: Simpson

Radio will continue to thrive in a competitive environment because it remains a trusted source of local content, CRTC commissioner Stephen Simpson said in a speech to British Columbia broadcasters 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 …

CRTC grants two new radio licences

The CRTC has approved two applications for new radio broadcasting licences, for a community FM station in Kingston, Ont., and a commercial ethnic FM station in Toronto.

It granted an application for the Toronto station to a numbered company held by Leonard Lobardi and Theresa Lombardi, which already holds a licence for the ethnic AM radio station CHIN Toronto.

Rob Farina given expanded radio role

Rob Farina will take on the role of head of radio content, strategy and iHeartRadio for BCE Inc.’s media division, the company announced in a Thursday press release.

The position, effective May 29, will follow the departure of David Corey, Bell Media’s vice-president of radio programming, who is leaving the company “for a new opportunity in the U.S.,” the release said.

Sirius privatization plan gets final OK from CRTC

Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. received the final nod required in its bid to privatize, with the CRTC granting its approval Wednesday for the transaction it said was worth $479 million.

The deal is in the public interest, the CRTC said in its decision, as Sirius provides service to about 2.7 million Canadian subscribers and distributes about 140,000 hours of Canadian programming every year.

Rogers buying Vancouver station for Sportsnet brand

Rogers Communications Inc. said Tuesday it intends to purchase a Vancouver radio station from Newcap Inc., adding it to its stable of all-sports stations.

In a press release, the company said the transaction to create the new Sportsnet 650 station is expected to close in the fall, though it still requires approval from the CRTC.

Sirius ordered to make up $300K CanCon contribution shortfall

Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. has to pony up more than $300,000 to make up a deficit in its Canadian content development contributions, the CRTC said.

Debate resumes on CBC-privatization bill, vote deferred

OTTAWA — A Conservative backbencher’s bill to privatize CBC/Radio-Canada found a little more support from party colleagues in the House of Commons Monday, but it likely won’t be enough to push it to committee stage.