Bell did unduly disadvantage TVA Sports: CRTC

The CRTC has ruled on two applications in which rivals BCE Inc. and Quebecor Inc. accused each other of an undue preference when it came to the packaging of the other company’s TV content, concluding that Bell unduly disadvantaged Quebecor’s TVA Sports. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

SCC simsub ban rejection a boon for Canadian performers: ACTRA

The nation’s highest court has quashed a 2016 decision by the CRTC to ban the substitution of Canadian advertising on American networks for the Super Bowl, which will mean more work opportunities for Canadian performers, a labour union says. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Telus says Bell in no position to defend CRTC jurisdiction on standstill rule

The CRTC is within its jurisdiction to order companies to keep carrying each other’s TV signals even in the middle of a dispute, Telus Corp. told Federal Court, but the company also argued BCE Inc. isn’t the right entity to defend such an argument.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

CRTC tells Federal Court TVA info request akin to ‘fishing’

The CRTC is objecting to a document-collection request Quebecor Inc. is making in Federal Court as part of its appeal of a decision by the regulator to force the company to continue to allow BCE Inc. to broadcast its sports channel.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Bell’s Walker moves from sports to esports

Alyson Walker, vice-president of brand partnerships and client strategy at BCE Inc.’s media division, is going into the esports world, it was announced earlier this 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 …

Péladeau asks Quebec to block Bell’s V network buy

Quebecor Inc. CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau is vowing to oppose BCE Inc.’s acquisition of a French-language conventional TV network, announced earlier this week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …

Raptors finals run a ‘massive drain’ on viewership, Corus says

Executives at Corus Entertainment Inc., historically proud of not being in the sports content business, admitted on Wednesday that the Toronto Raptors’ NBA finals route pulled viewers away from its lifestyle, family and children’s content — on a bigger scale than normal.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Court will hear Quebecor appeal in TVA Sports signal case

The Federal Court of Appeal has granted Quebecor Inc.’s application to challenge the CRTC’s ruling that it must continue to provide its TVA Sports signal to BCE Inc. customers following a tiff earlier this year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Bell-Videotron fight widens to permanent roaming

The conflict between BCE Inc. and Quebecor Inc. that has been simmering since April has again reached the CRTC, this time with the threat of Bell cutting off some Videotron wireless customers. 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 hardware malfunction causes Raptors fans to miss out

BCE Inc. confirmed today that several thousand of its Fibe TV and Alt TV IPTV customers lost access to the game during the crucial final 30 seconds of last night’s NBA Finals Game 5 between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

No Super Bowl simsub reversal without USMCA: gov’t to Bell

The federal government isn’t interested in helping ensure BCE Inc. sees a reversal of the CRTC’s Super Bowl simultaneous substitution ban outside of the new free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico, internal documents indicate. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

GoT glitches show challenge in streaming high-viewership events

When the Game of Thrones series premiere aired in 2011, streaming services were still in their infancy. Now, as the HBO ratings juggernaut wraps up its final few episodes, it draws the kind of massive live audiences that are becoming increasingly rare in an over-the-top world. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

CRTC issues mandatory order to keep TVA Sports available

The CRTC will register a mandatory order with the Federal Court forbidding Quebecor Inc. from withholding the signal for TVA Sports from BCE Inc. subscribers — meaning that if Quebecor chooses to pull the signal again, it would be in contempt of court. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Bell calls for revocation of TVA Sports licence at tense CRTC hearing

Gatineau, Que. — Quebecor Inc. CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau was unrepentant as he justified his decision to pull the TVA Sports signal from BCE Inc. TV subscribers Wednesday, indicating to CRTC commissioners he wouldn’t rule out doing so again once a court injunction expires next week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Bell gets court injunction on TV signal fight ahead of CRTC hearing

The Quebec Superior Court on Friday forced Quebecor Inc. to restore a TV signal for customers of BCE Inc. after it was pulled in the midst of a carriage fight, according to a Friday press release.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Péladeau willing to pull TVA Sports signal in fight with Bell

OTTAWA — Quebecor Inc. president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau said Monday that he would yank TVA Sports from BCE Inc.’s TV service over carriage fees — and denied that doing so would violate CRTC rules. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Quebecor asks CRTC to make Bell include TVA Sports in its Bon TV package

Quebecor Inc. has filed a complaint with the CRTC against BCE Inc., alleging undue preference against its sports channel because it’s been excluded from a popular Bell TV package 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 …

Bart Yabsley to head up Rogers’ Sportsnet property

Bart Yabsley has been appointed as the new president of Sportsnet, filling a role left vacant when Scott Moore stepped down from that position last 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 …

TekSavvy launches IPTV service

TekSavvy Solutions Inc. is now offering IPTV in Chatham, Ont., and the service will become available in other communities over the coming months, the company said Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

Bell offering day access to TSN/RDS for $5

BCE Inc. is now selling one-day subscriptions to its TSN and RDS streaming service for $5, the company said Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …

Karine Moses to head Bell Media Quebec

Karine Moses has been named president of the Quebec division of BCE Inc.’s media subsidiary, the company 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 need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The …

CBC’s head of sports Greg Stremlaw to leave

CBC/Radio-Canada’s head of sports Greg Stremlaw is leaving the public broadcaster at the end of the month to become president and CEO of a professional sports franchise, according to an internal note sent to employees. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

CRTC has no jurisdiction over content on single programs, SCC hears

OTTAWA — The CRTC can’t decide what commercials broadcasters can show on individual programs, as that authority lies beyond the jurisdictional boundaries the commission is confined to, the Supreme Court heard 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 …

CRTC rejects Bell’s ask to simsub Canadian Super Bowl ads in 2019

The CRTC has rejected a request by BCE Inc. to bring back simultaneous commercial substitution in time for next year’s Super Bowl, pending a ruling by Canada’s top court and implementation of the new free trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Only 3% of anglophones subscribe to sports streaming: MTM

While services like Perform Group’s Dazn and Rogers Communications Inc.’s Sportsnet Now have been emerging in recent years, they “haven’t yet caught on in the Anglophone market,”  Media Technology Monitor said in a new report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

New NAFTA allows Super Bowl simsub ahead of SCC review

The new trade pact forged by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) holds onto a key exemption for Canada’s cultural industries but contains a range of revisions to intellectual property, digital trade and broadcasting policies, including the overturning of a controversial CRTC decision preventing substituting American ads …

Dazn will license NFL Sunday Ticket rights to broadcasters

Perform Group’s Dazn sports streaming service will licence the NFL Sunday Ticket service to most of the major traditional television providers in Canada, according to a 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 …

72% of Canadians watched 2018 World Cup on Bell properties: Numeris

The 2018 World Cup in Russia saw 25.8 million viewers on BCE Inc. networks in Canada, amounting to 72 per cent of the population and 200 million hours of consumed coverage, the company said in a Tuesday press release. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Bell launches TSN/RDS streaming service for $25/month

BCE Inc. has made its TSN and RDS sports channels available without a TV subscription for $24.99 a 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 The …

Supreme Court says it will hear Bell’s simsub appeal

The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) will be the final arbiter in the years-long Super Bowl simsub saga, as the highest court in the land will give BCE Inc. the opportunity to argue its case against the CRTC’s ban on simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Videotron ‘full speed’ ahead on IPTV: Brouillette

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron is working on deploying its new IPTV service as quickly as possible, Manon Brouillette, CEO of the company’s telecom division, told analysts in a conference call Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …

Olympic audiences slightly down from 2014, CBC stats show

CBC/Radio-Canada’s coverage of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games drew 31 million Canadians “across all English and French television network partners and digital streaming simulcasts,” according to 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 …

Quebecor turning to court over TVA Sports wholesale fee

Quebecor Inc. will seek leave to appeal a recent CRTC decision on the wholesale rate for Quebecor’s TVA Sports 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 media news you need. Take a …

CTV Super Bowl viewership steady from last year: Bell

Viewership of the Super Bowl on CTV didn’t change much from last year, when the channel experienced a 39 per cent drop following the elimination of simultaneous substitution for the channel, BCE Inc.’s Bell Media said. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Supreme Court denies Bell’s request for stay on simsub ban

The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has denied BCE Inc.’s request for a stay on the ban of simultaneous substitution of commercials during the 2018 Super Bowl, happening in just a weeks time. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

CRTC gives TVA Sports more flexibility on ad scheduling

The CRTC has given Quebecor Inc.’s TVA Sports fewer restrictions on when it can broadcast ads, saying that the channel can now “average the maximum amount of 12 minutes of advertising material offered in each clock hour over the broadcast day.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Bell asks Supreme Court for stay, reversal of CRTC simsub decision

Weeks ahead of the 2018 Super Bowl, BCE Inc., along with the National Football League (NFL), is turning to the Supreme Court of Canada over the CRTC’s decision to ban simultaneous substitution for the annual football game. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

CRTC sides with Bell in wholesale dispute with Quebecor

The CRTC has settled a disagreement between BCE Inc. and Quebecor Inc. over the wholesale rate Bell pays for Quebecor’s TVA Sports. 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 …

As its TV ad revenue drops, Corus says ad tech is the future

Corus Entertainment Inc. executives emphasized their optimism about future plans in the advertising technology and programmatic ad space as the company reported quarterly results Wednesday that showed its television advertising revenues fell to the tune of four per cent in the first quarter of 2018. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Court denies Bell Super Bowl SimSub appeal

The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed a case brought forward by BCE Inc. challenging the CRTC’s rule forbidding simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl on Monday, putting an end to a nearly three-year court challenge — though the company indicated Tuesday it is still hoping the regulator will rescind the decision. This content is available …

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

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

Rogers potential sale of Blue Jays, other assets could net $4B: Canaccord

The sale of non-core assets Rogers Communications Inc. said it is considering could be worth $4 billion to the company after taxes, 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 …

Amazon releases online video production suite

Amazon.com Inc. announced multiple pieces of Amazon Web Service-based (AWS) video publishing software, which the company claims will “eliminate the need to procure expensive equipment for video data centers,” according to a release on Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

CFO Tom Hearne leaving theScore

Rogers Communications Inc.’s theScore announced Tuesday that chief financial officer Tom Hearne is departing the organization, effective 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 to …

Potential described video costs ‘exorbitant’: TVA Group

Quebecor Inc.’s TVA Group has requested the modification of a condition of license requiring it to provide a certain amount of described video by Sept. 2019, according to a new Part 1 application. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

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 …

NFL Sunday Ticket returns to broadcast TV with Dazn partnership

Perform Group’s over-the-top (OTT) sports service Dazn is partnering with Shaw Communications Inc. and Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Co. to broadcast some of its football content previously available exclusively online. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

How big a threat are OTT sports services?

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

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 …

Dazn to refund customers after streaming issues

After a rough first week, Perform Group’s sports streaming service Dazn will partially refund customers and offer a month of service for free. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

Dazn admits launch ‘did not go as planned’

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

6 channels approved for distribution

The CRTC said Tuesday that it has allowed the distribution of six new international TV channels in Canada, following applications by Ethnic Channels Group 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 …

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 …

Ex-CRTC vice-chair makes Super Bowl simsub reversal prediction

Former CRTC vice-chairman of telecom Peter Menzies is predicting that new chairman Ian Scott will bow to the calls to reverse his predecessors’ decision banning simultaneous substitution of advertising for the Super Bowl on Canadian networks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Major boxing fight shows PPV target for piracy

Nearly three million viewers around the world watched the much-anticipated boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor Saturday through 239 illegally redistributed streams, shows new data from digital platform security company Irdeto. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …

Disney going it alone with planned streaming services

Walt Disney Co. will end its partnership with Netflix Inc. and launch two of its own separate streaming services in the next two years. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe …

Bell files Part 1 against Super Bowl simsub order

With six months until kick off, BCE Inc. and its supporters are asking the CRTC to put a freeze on its decision to ban simultaneous substitution of American commercials on Canadian feeds of the National Football League’s championship game. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

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 …

Dazn not too big a threat without hockey: Desjardins

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

New sports OTT service launches in Canada

A streaming service focused on sports content, including National Football League (NFL) games, is now available in Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …

Samsung, MLB team up for VR content

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. will offer up virtual reality (VR) videos as part of an ongoing partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB). 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 …

U.S. NAFTA consult targets CanCon, copyright, data rules

American companies and organizations took aim at Canadian cultural protections, the country’s copyright regime and expressed concern over any potential rules requiring domestic storage of data, when given the chance to provide feedback to their government on priorities to tackle in a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This content is available to wirereport.ca …

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 …

New TV, streaming offerings eyed to help stem piracy

TORONTO — Products like new streaming TV services and sports-focused TV-everywhere offerings will help the industry curb piracy, according to Stewart Johnston, president of BCE Inc.’s Bell Media studios and TSN. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …

Facebook partners with MLB for U.S. live streams

Facebook Inc. will live stream 20 Major League Baseball (MLB) games this season on its social media platform after finalizing a partnership with the league. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …

Verizon streaming deal for NFL game to include Canada

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

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

Twitter to host 24/7 Bloomberg stream

Twitter Inc. and Bloomberg LP have come to an agreement that will see the financial news outlet provide round-the-clock streaming content for the social media platform as part of 12 streaming deals announced Monday night.

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.

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.”

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.

Bell says retroactive regulation can’t be basis for simsub ban

The CRTC can’t retroactively apply regulations established almost a year after the fact to justify its prohibition simultaneous substitution during the broadcast of the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl, BCE Inc. argued in court documents filed in its joint appeal of the decision.

Amazon scores NFL deal, Canadian rights still under negotiation

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

Canada’s VR industry is nascent, but set for growth

Though virtual reality is still in its early days, it holds promise for Canada’s media industry — including for broadcasters as a new way to draw eyes to live events, such as sports, according to Nordicity’s Kristian Roberts.

For example, it could be used to allow a viewer to watch the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup finals from some of the best seats in the house, he suggested.

Bell, Rogers to increase sports channels prices for bars

BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. are removing TSN, RDS and Sportsnet from traditional TV subscriptions for business customers with a liquor license and offering the channels separately at an additional cost, according to a National Post report.  

The measures, which exclude Quebec, will take effect May 1 and will increase the cost of the sports channels depending on the seating arrangement at the business, according to Bell’s website.

TV subscriber losses steady, wireless adds at record high in 2016

Following a year in which cord-cutting increased sharply, the trend seems to have levelled out somewhat in 2016, with Canada’s publicly traded telecoms losing 220,990 TV subscribers, compared to the 178,910 who eliminated their service the previous year.

Lacrosse games to stream on Twitter

Twitter Inc. and the National Lacrosse League (NLL) have teamed up to live-stream games in the U.S. and Canada, the men’s indoor professional league announced Wednesday.

In a press release, the league said its game of the week would be streamed on the social media platform for the rest of the 2017 season (through April 29) and for all of the 2018 season.

Soccer league allowed to block servers in Kodi STB case: UK court

England’s biggest soccer league has been granted a court order to block computer servers that host and deliver content to a set-top box (STBs) application that allows users to watch its games for free, according to a BBC report Wednesday.

“For the first time this will enable the Premier League to disrupt and prevent the illegal streaming of our matches via IPTV, so-called Kodi, boxes,” a league spokesperson told the BBC.

Blais defends SimSub decision

Canada has one of the “world’s most open cultural markets” and the CRTC’s decision to ban simultaneous substitution during BCE Inc.’s broadcast of the National Football League’s championship game doesn’t raise trade issues, chairman Jean-Pierre Blais told a pair of Canadian politicians who petitioned the CRTC reverse its decision.

Super Bowl viewership falls 39% on Bell channels

The CRTC’s decision to ban simultaneous substitution for the National Football League’s Super Bowl has had a significant effect on viewership, as BCE Inc.'s media division reported an audience drop-off of 39 per cent on its channels compared to last year’s game.

Blais calls out demands for ‘political interference’ with CRTC

OTTAWA — CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais used his opening remarks at a panel discussion Thursday to criticize individuals who are calling for “political interference” in the commission’s decisions.

Bell plans viewer contests, Letterkenny broadcast for Super Bowl

BCE Inc. has given more details about its broadcast plans for the upcoming National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl, including pointing fans to a resource where they can watch American ads in advance of the game.

It said in a press release Thursday that Canadian fans can visit a website that “directs visitors to the best new ads as they are released in advance of the game, as well as fan-favourite ads from previous seasons.”

Telus rolls out welcome mat to lead Dec. lobbying numbers

Telus Corp. led the telecom pack in December for government relations activity, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry, logging 14 monthly communication reports.

In addition to getting in touch with the policy advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Justin To, Telus also bent the ears of members of the prime minister’s cabinet.

O’Leary promises unrecognizable CRTC as he enters CPC leadership race

Celebrity businessman Kevin O’Leary has the country’s telecom regulator in his sights as he launches his campaign for leader of the federal Conservative Party.

Unifor asks for suspension of SimSub ban

The union representing members of the television and media sectors is asking the CRTC to reverse or suspend its decision banning simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl in order for its impact to be fully considered.

Bell, NFL file appeal of Super Bowl simsub rules

BCE Inc. and the National Football League (NFL) have filed appeals in federal court arguing that the CRTC lacks the authority to ban the use of simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl.

Amid political push for SimSub ruling reversal, Bell yet to file appeal

Despite having less than two months until the Feb. 5 kick off at the 51st Super Bowl, BCE Inc. has yet to start the process with the courts to put a stop to a decision prohibiting the broadcaster from replacing American advertisements with Canadian ones during the game.

At the beginning of November, the federal Appeals Court granted Bell leave to appeal the CRTC’s decision to ban simultaneous substitution during the broadcast of the National Football League’s championship game, beginning in February.

Canadian politicians follow U.S. in call to reverse SimSub ban: report

Two MPs are asking the CRTC to reverse its decision on simultaneous substitution for the National Football League's (NFL) Super Bowl, a week after four United States congressmen demanded the same, according to a report by the Canadian Press Thursday.

U.S. politicians asking Canadian gov’t to reverse SimSub ban

Canada is violating its trade obligations by banning simultaneous substitution for the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl, four United States politicians said in a letter to the Canadian government Thursday, which follows another letter by the NFL condemning the decision.