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. …

Rogers requests extension for Wireless Code changes

Rogers Communications Inc. is asking for more time to implement updates to its bill management systems in order to fulfill requirements in the Wireless Code. 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 …

ISED approves Rogers and Ecotel spectrum sharing

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) approved on Friday the issuing of four subordinate licences from Rogers Communications Inc. to Ecotel Inc. 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 …

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 …

Rogers launches LTE-A service in Manitoba

Rogers Communications Inc. has enabled LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network access in “many” Manitoban communities, the company announced 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 you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …

Rogers, Shaw indicate different plans for IPTV, internet bundling

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

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 …

Rogers unfazed by Freedom ‘Big Gig’ offer: CEO

Joe Natale isn’t worried about Shaw Communications Inc.’s move to offer its Freedom customers 10 gigabytes for $50, effectively turning away the idea that the move is a game changer in the industry. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Part 1 applications filed against Rogers’ OMNI production

The union representing Chinese-speaking media workers at properties owned by Rogers Communications Inc. and two other organizations have formalized complaints in two Part 1 applications that allege the company is offside of its licence requirements by outsourcing production of its Chinese-language news. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

CRTC consulting on mandatory carriage renewals

The CRTC will consider mandatory distribution licence renewals for nine television channels when it holds a hearing next year, the regulator said in a Tuesday 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 …

Court issues no-cost orders for customer IDs of multiple ISPs

The Federal Court has made its first major disclosure orders for subscriber information since internet service providers (ISPs) were temporarily barred from charging for that information. 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 …

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? …

Gatineau access agreement case continues

The Attorney General of Quebec is appealing an August decision which ruled that a municipal access agreement between the city of Gatineau and telecom providers is invalid. 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. …

Bell ARPU to drop after winning gov’t cellphone contract: Barclays

BCE Inc. could see its average revenue per user (ARPU) fall after winning a $432.1 million contract for mobile services with the federal government, according to an estimate by Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Videotron takes Wholesale Code dispute with Rogers to CRTC

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron has filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC over a disagreement with Rogers Communications Inc. concerning carriage of some sports-focused TV channels. 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 …

U.S. cloud-based office phone provider coming to Canada

United States cloud-based phone company Dialpad Inc. has launched in Canada, aiming to take over Canadians’ office desk phones, 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. …

Government signs $432.1M deal for mobile services with Bell, Rogers

Shared Services Canada (SSC) announced a $432.1 million, six-year deal with BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. for mobile devices and service contracts 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 Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

Telus offering connected car device

Telus Corp. has become the second Canadian telecom to launch a service that allows customers to track their car’s location and speed and monitor diagnostics. 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 …

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 …

Rogers expands LTE coverage in Manitoba

Rogers Communications Inc. is growing its wireless service and making improvements to its networks in parts of 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 Report …

Bell ‘heartened’ by CRTC chair statements, CEO says

BCE Inc.’s top man George Cope said the company likes new CRTC head Ian Scott’s approach to balancing consumer and business interests. 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 …

Rogers expands wireless data controls

Rogers Communications Inc. said it will begin allowing the manager of shared wireless plans to control the quality of video streamed by members of the share plan. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …

Bell copyright ask draws criticism, as others point to precedent

BCE Inc. has said it thinks Canada can tackle piracy by mandating that internet service providers (ISP) block websites with pirated material from being seen by subscribers through an administrative agency. 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 …

Telus leads in end-of-summer lobbying activity

Telus Corp. was far and away the busiest industry stakeholder when it came to reportable lobbying activity with the federal government last month, filing a total of 16 communication reports in August — twice as many as lobbying runner-up Rogers Communications Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Bell buys rights to Vice News Tonight

BCE Inc.’s media division has obtained the exclusive rights to a Vice Media Inc. property. 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 …

VMedia obtains refund on QVC decision

The CRTC will have to review a decision to not allow VMedia Inc. to carry a U.S. shopping channel, following a successful contest by the independent provider in the Federal Court of Appeal. 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 …

Regional players shouldn’t qualify for spectrum set asides: Bell, Rogers

Two of Canada’s largest telecom companies aren’t overly enthusiastic about the government’s proposal to set aside spectrum in the upcoming 600 MHz auction, indicating that the suggested boost for new entrants is being afforded to companies that aren’t all that new. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Telus outpaces Bell in PCMag speed ranking

Telus Corp. has the fastest national wireless network in Canada, according to PCMag.com’s annual study. 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 …

High interim tariffs, logistics still mire disaggregated system

The CRTC’s goal of fuelling wireline competition by jumpstarting the industry’s rollout of the disaggregated wholesale regime Tuesday will be constrained if interim access fees remain high and if the issue of how small providers will connect to fibre facilities is not addressed, representatives of small providers say. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …

CRTC OK’s dropping dual OMNI obligation ahead of Sept. 1 launch

Applications by Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron to allow them to drop duplicate OMNI feeds once the OMNI Regional service begins broadcasting have been approved. 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 …

Small ISPs welcome rollout of disaggregated wholesale regime

The CRTC kickstarted the industry’s move to a disaggregated wholesale wireline regime Tuesday, setting interim rates and giving wholesale fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) access to smaller providers in Ontario and Quebec, a decision that those companies say will allow them to keep pace with bigger competitors and increasing consumer demands. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Rogers boosts wireless service in Alberta

Rogers Communications Inc. has expanded its LTE service in Alberta, improving wireless connectivity in Lethbridge and between Banff and Calgary. 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 …

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 …

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? …

Telecoms at odds on mandatory-roaming licence conditions

The CRTC’s 2015 decision to regulate wholesale wireless roaming has made an Innovation Canada condition of licence unnecessary, BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. told the department — an argument refuted by their competitors, large and small, as companies weigh in on the process for renewing AWS-1 and other spectrum licences. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

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 …

Telecom, broadcasting lobbying hits July lag

July lobbying activity was affected by the expected summer slowdown that comes with Parliament not sitting and politicians being spread out across the country in their ridings — but that didn’t mean groups weren’t active. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

CRTC licence decision sent back to drawing board

A controversial CRTC decision that creative groups said would negatively affect the production of Canadian content will be sent back to the CRTC for reconsideration by the federal cabinet, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Rogers asks SCC to weigh in on notice-and-notice, disclosure costs

Rogers Communications Inc. is looking to the country’s highest court to sort out what exactly internet service providers (ISPs) are obligated to do under Canada’s notice-and-notice regime. 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 …

Court rules in favour of telecoms in Gatineau access agreement dispute

The Quebec Superior Court has ruled that aspects of municipal access agreements between telecom providers and Gatineau, Que., are invalid because they impose on Parliament’s jurisdiction over telecommunications. 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 …

Broadcasters need mandated contributions: CMPA

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is disputing arguments made in an open letter published by three of Canada’s biggest private broadcasters that urged the CRTC not to reconsider its decision on Canadian program spending, This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Transparency reporting in Canada: still opaque?

Without an Edward Snowden-like scandal, exposing inappropriate government access of citizens’ personal information, the current landscape may be as good as it gets for transparency reporting in Canada, a privacy expert says. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Non-profit gives tech leg up to telecoms, smaller businesses

Canada’s big three wireless providers are now cooperating on a not-for-profit initiative that offers small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a networking test bed to experiment with new technologies, such as 5G communications. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

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 …

Guy Laurence joins Veon board

The former CEO of Rogers Communications Inc., Guy Laurence, has been elected to the supervisory board of Veon Ltd., formerly known as VimpelCom. 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 …

Rogers aims to improve churn, ‘reset’ enterprise division

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

Rogers intros connected car monitoring device

Rogers Communications Inc. has launched a device that allows users to monitor vehicle maintenance and safety via connectivity to the network. 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 …

Dirk Woessner leaving Rogers

Rogers Communications Inc.’s president of consumer business, Dirk Woessner, is leaving the company and is headed back to Deutsche Telekom AG (DT). 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 …

Don’t move OMNI in channel line-up: Rogers

Rogers Communications Inc. is asking the CRTC to mandate TV providers keep OMNI in the same space on their channel line-ups when the new OMNI Regional service replaces the existing local 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 …

Ken Whyte appointed fellow at C.D. Howe

Ken Whyte, the former vice-president of public policy at Rogers Communications Inc., is joining the C.D. Howe Institute as a senior fellow. 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 …

Cultural diversity improving on Canadian screens: report

The Canadian TV landscape gets poor marks when it comes to the representation and portrayal of Indigenous people and people with disabilities, but is generally better than it was in representing diverse populations, suggests a CRTC-commissioned study on cultural diversity in Canadian media. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

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 …

Five free data hours for Fido customers

Customers of Rogers Communications Inc.’s flanker brand, Fido, are being offered free wireless data five times per month under a new feature called Data Bytes, the company announced 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. …

Rogers increases data overage fees

Rogers Communications Inc. has increased its mobile data overage rates to a cost per gigabyte of $70 for new plans. 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 …

No wholesale obligations for new broadband fund projects: telcos

Mandating wholesale access as a condition of funding for projects under the CRTC’s new broadband funding regime will increase costs while effectively discouraging investment, two of the country’s largest telcos said. 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 …

TNW Wireless files Part 1 over roaming agreements

A Northern mobile wireless provider is asking the CRTC to compel a pair of incumbents to strike roaming agreements with it, arguing that its proposed national Wi-Fi based service is substantially different from one kiboshed by the regulator earlier this year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Shaw, Quebecor OMNI applications expedited

The deadline for interventions in a pair of Part 1 applications to the CRTC from Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc. has been changed from July 31 to July 14. 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 …

STB data measurement complex task, group says

Activity by a working group tasked with studying the implementation of an audience measurement system via set-top boxes is slow, but steady, TV providers told the CRTC, with user privacy coming to bear as a top concern for those involved. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Shaw, Quebecor ask CRTC to drop dual OMNI obligation

Shaw Communications Inc. is asking the CRTC to allow it to take OMNI’s over-the-air (OTA) station out of its basic service package once OMNI Regional begins broadcasting. 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 …

Wireless promos up compared to last year: Barclays

Leading up to Canada’s 150th anniversary, wireless promotions from incumbents and their flanker brands have increased noticeably compared to last year, according to Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang. 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 …

CCSA leads lobbying after Hill visit

Last month’s deluge of Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) members on Parliament Hill for the group’s third annual lobby day pushed the organization to the top of the telecom lobbying list for the second month this year, logging 49 communication reports in May. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Rogers reorganizes consumer unit, two execs leaving

Rogers Communications Inc.’s chief customer officer, Deepak Khandelwal, and chief brand officer Dale Hooper have decided to leave the company, as those two departments get rolled into a single unit, Rogers said. 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 …

AWS-1 sale unlikely to set precedent for 700MHz: Canaccord

The sale last week of Videotron’s AWS-1 spectrum by Quebecor Inc. to Rogers Communications Inc. isn’t likely to have implications for the company’s 700MHz spectrum, according to Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige. 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 …

Quebecor spectrum sale has ‘broad implications’: Barclays

Quebecor Inc. has sold Videotron’s AWS-1 spectrum in the Greater Toronto Area to Rogers Communications Inc., in a move that some analysts say is positive for Quebecor and has implications for future spectrum transfers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Thursday Night Football touches down at Bell Media

BCE Inc.’s properties have scored the broadcast rights to the National Football League’s Thursday Night Football games, Bell Media announced 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 …

CTV joins local news expansion parade

An additional nine local CTV stations across the country will begin airing an early evening newscast this fall, BCE Inc.’s media division 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 …

Incumbents defend wireless prices after Bains criticism

TORONTO — Representatives from the big three were on the defense a day after the innovation minister publicly took issue with wireless prices, pointing to investments they’ve made in their networks and the quality of service that’s available to Canadians. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Rogers Media Sales signs with weather, food brands

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Tuesday its media sales division had signed two deals that “expand reach and deliver brand-safe, premium-content environments to advertisers.” 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 …

Rogers to expand CityNews nationally

Rogers Communications Inc.’s media division will be expanding its CityNews program outside of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area beginning this fall. 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 …

Bains tells CRTC to reconsider MVNO rules

TORONTO — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains is directing the CRTC to reconsider a March decision in which it set rules for regulated wholesale roaming by wireless providers in a move that could change the landscape around mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Big three take aim at Videotron customers

BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. are trying to lure customers of Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron with targeted promotions, following a similar offer from Videotron. 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 …

Telecoms pooh-pooh affordability fund

Establishing a dedicated fund to tackle service affordability for low-income Canadians as part of the CRTC’s basic telecom services objective is not the right way to handle the issue, according to the majority of service providers who responded to an application to review and vary the regulator’s December decision. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

CBC, Netflix jump in brand trust ranking

Both CBC/Radio-Canada and Netflix Inc. saw dramatic improvements in how Canadians view their brands over the past year, according to the latest edition of the Gustavson Brand Trust Index. 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 …

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 …

CRTC to review pick-and-pay rollout in Oct.

The CRTC will hold a hearing on a number of broadcast distribution undertakings’ [BDUs] licence renewal applications starting on Oct. 16, which will include looking at how those providers put their pick-and-pay rules in place. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Terrebonne asks CRTC for help with access agreement

Another Canadian municipality is turning to the CRTC after failing to agree on a municipal access agreement with telecoms. 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 …

Rogers’ OMNI gets temporary mandatory distribution

Rogers Communications Inc. will get a three-year window to run its new national ethnic channel before having to compete with other proposals for its mandatory carriage, the CRTC announced 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 …

Koodo, Virgin Mobile tops in wireless purchase satisfaction: study

Wireless customers are taking advantage of an improved online experience and increasingly making purchases over the Internet, according to the results of a study released 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 …

Appeal court rules ISPs can’t charge for disclosing customer info

The Federal Court of Appeal has granted Voltage Pictures LLC its appeal challenging the costs Rogers Communications Inc. was asking for to disclose customer information in a copyright infringement case, which could increase the incentive copyright holders have for these kinds of cases.

Bell touts good relationship with PMO: Barclays

BCE Inc. believes the company currently has a “good working relationship” with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), according to a note from Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang, written following meetings last week between CEO George Cope and head of investor relations Thane Fotopoulos in New York.

Partial sale would bring benefits to SaskTel: Desjardins

The sale of a stake in Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. would help the crown corporation when it comes to adopting new technologies, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi.

“The scale of a large telecom player could help SaskTel implement upcoming technologies, such as 5G, more easily,” Yaghi said in a Friday note, pointing to the “technological insight and purchasing power of a potential partner.”

Cable sufficient alternative in wholesale service area gaps: incumbents

There is little evidence to suggest there is a lack of competition in so-called wholesale wireline service area gaps, given that cable facilities already exist in those areas, incumbents argued in comments to the CRTC.

Nitin Kawale leaves Rogers

Rogers Communications Inc.’s Nitin Kawale is leaving his position as president of the company’s enterprise business division.

“Nitin Kawale has decided to move on from Rogers and focus on his philanthropic and community activities,” Sarah Schmidt, Rogers’ director of media relations said in an emailed statement. “We thank him for his contributions to our enterprise business.”

Gatineau says it can’t reach access agreement with telecoms

The city of Gatineau, Que., is turning to the CRTC to approve its municipal access agreement after BCE Inc., Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron, Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp., and Cogeco Inc. refused to accept some clauses of the document.

Natale says ‘more work to do’ as he takes the reins at Rogers

In his first day on the job, newly minted Rogers Communications Inc. president and CEO Joe Natale gave few details about his priorities, but said he’ll be working on a strategy in the coming weeks.

“To be clear, it’s not my intention to set up my plan today,” Natale said during the company’s annual general meeting in Toronto on Wednesday. “Over the next few weeks, I want to hear from our team, from our customers and our shareholders to formulate our priorities going forward.”

Joe Natale to join Rogers next week

After a series of high-profile departures from the company, Rogers Communications Inc. announced Thursday that it will welcome its new president and CEO next week.

Rogers-CBC extend HNIC deal to 2019

Rogers Communications Inc. has extended its deal with CBC/Radio-Canada to broadcast its flagship Hockey Night in Canada program for one more year, spokesman Andrew Garas confirmed to The Wire Report.

Mobile ad spending on the rise: report

Canadian advertisers are catching up to their American counterparts, with the market share of digital ad spending on mobile platforms forecast to hit 77.6 per cent by 2021, according to research firm eMarketer Inc.