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Broadcasters oppose AMI’s proposed mandatory carriage rate increase
Major broadcasters are opposed to Accessible Media Inc.’s (AMI) request to temporarily raise the mandatory carriage rates of its AMI-tv and AMI-télé channels, citing concerns about the potential financial impact on an already strained broadcasting industry. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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CRTC sets final conditions of service on three broadcast licence holders
The CRTC issued a series of decisions providing addenda to previously-issued licences on Friday. All three decisions involved final conditions of service for 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 …
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Accessible Media seeks to increase rates for mandatory carriage
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) submitted an application to the CRTC for an interim rate increase for its AMI-tv and AMI-télé channels to address the financial challenges facing the organization, which predominantly serves Canadians with disabilities. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Attacks on CBC are concerning, says CMPA president at Prime Time conference
OTTAWA, Ont. – No public institution, including Canada’s public broadcaster, should be immune from criticism, but recent attacks calling for it to be defunded are concerning, said Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) president and CEO Reynolds Mastin as he kicked off this year’s annual Prime Time conference. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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Tait won’t rule out bonus pay for CBC’s top brass despite job cuts
CBC-Radio Canada CEO Catherine Tait won’t say if she, or the public broadcaster’s top brass, will be getting their yearly bonuses at the end of March despite recently announced job cuts to deal with its $125 million budget shortfall. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Corus restructures content leadership team
Corus Entertainment Inc. announced Monday its plans to restructure its original content leadership team which includes two new appointments. 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 …
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BQ media fund idea won’t solve problems, St-Onge maintains
The Bloc Québécois is continuing its fight for a fund to help Canadian media. After first raising the issue last Tuesday, BQ Canadian Heritage critic Martin Champoux carried on last Friday in Question Period. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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APTN says funds needed to support public service broadcasters
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) on Friday called for the creation of a Services of Exceptional Importance Fund to support mandatory carriage broadcasters and other important services in the broadcasting system that meet critical policy mandates. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Bell lays out contribution framework proposal at CRTC
BCE Inc. revealed more details on Tuesday on its proposal for how base contributions from online undertakings should be split in the new framework, putting particular emphasis on the creation of a news fund and dedicating portions towards equity-seeking groups and public policy objectives. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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Bell and Fox forge alliance to boost original CanCon
BCE Inc. and Fox Entertainment Global have unveiled a strategic licensing and distribution partnership, aimed at bolstering Canadian original productions across Bell Media’s platforms, including CTV and Crave, as well as expanding their reach in the United States through Fox, in a Friday press release. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …
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WGC report finds gains in member diversity but stagnant work opportunities
The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) published a comprehensive report on diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI) in the Canadian television industry, revealing both significant progress and persistent challenges in the pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable landscape for screenwriters. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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CRTC to hold proceedings on Fox News carriage in Canada
The CRTC will review the carriage of Fox News as a non-Canadian programming service following a Part 1 application by the LGBTQ rights group Egale. The organization is seeking to remove Fox News over what it deems hate speech directed against LGBTQ people. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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CRTC accepts arbitration request in Bell, Quebecor sports channel dispute
The CRTC is stepping in to resolve a dispute between BCE Inc. and Quebecor Inc. over the costs of distributing their sports 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 a free trial …
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No financial justification to increase skinny basic rate from $25 to $28: CRTC
The CRTC denied an application by BCE Inc., Bragg Communication Inc.’s Eastlink, Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp., and Cogeco Inc. to increase the price of basic television service from $25 per month to $28 per month with yearly indexing tied to inflation due to a lack of evidence to suggest that the current rate “is no …
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CRTC changes ad rules for discretionary services
The CRTC said Tuesday that it was altering the rules for commercials on discretionary services. The matter was instigated by a filing from Quebecor Inc.’s TVA Group. 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. …
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TVO workers on strike with no talks looming
Unionized workers at TVOntario walked off the job on Monday, marking the first strike the public broadcaster has experienced. A total of 74 people, both on-air and off-air personnel, are on the picket lines. The employees have been without a contract since last October. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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WildBrain says Bell is giving one up to its competitor Corus
WildBrain Ltd. is accusing BCE Inc. of breaching its regulatory obligations regarding its English-language services Family Channel, Family Jr., and WildBrain TV, and its French-language service Télémagino and as a result has given Corus Entertainment Inc. an unfair advantage. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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CRTC entertaining idea of consolidating multiple broadcasting COL requests
The CRTC is seeking comments on whether it should consolidate several broadcasters’ requests to alter its conditions of licence (COLs) into one proceeding. 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 …
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APTN to increase Indigenous-language programming with new ‘Languages’ channel
APTN has applied to the CRTC to consolidate its four channels into two, one with English- and French-language programming and the other almost entirely Indigenous-language programming. 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 …
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TVA changes mind about cutting weekend newscasts
Quebecor Inc. has reversed itself and will not be suspending TVA’s newscasts in Quebec City on weekends as it had previously planned. The company informed the CRTC about the move 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 …
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Catherine Tait reappointed as president of CBC/Radio-Canada
The government has extended the term of Catherine Tait as president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. She will now stay on until Jan. 2, 2025. She has served in the role since July 2018, the first woman to do so in the history of the public broadcaster. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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Parliamentary committee calls for China TV ban
A House of Commons committee is calling for the Minister of Canadian Heritage to ban Chinese state media from Canadian broadcast systems. The committee on Canada-China Relations made the demand in a report issued Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Judge rejects broadcasters’ request for increased fine in set-top box case
A Federal Court of Appeal judge has dismissed an attempt by BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., and Quebecor Inc. to win a greater damages payout from a seller of pre-loaded set-top boxes. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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CRTC becoming more accommodating to stakeholders: Eatrides
OTTAWA–The CRTC is improving its process to be more responsive to its various stakeholders, the commission chair said Monday. Vicky Eatrides was the opening speaker at the annual conference of the International Institute of Communications Canadian Chapter. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Public interest groups call for shored up Broadcasting Participation Fund
A group of six consumer and public advocacy organizations is asking the CRTC to step in to restructure a Rogers Communications Inc. payment to shore up a fund meant to bankroll public interest participation in broadcasting proceedings before the regulator. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Champagne most lobbied minister in Canadian government, survey finds
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne was the most-lobbied minister in cabinet last year, a survey has discovered. Reporters for the Wire Report’s affiliated publications The HIll Times and The Lobby Monitor conducted an in-depth look at the lobbying industry in Ottawa. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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CRTC releases pair of broadcasting reports that paint dire picture
The CRTC released two commissioned reports on the changing nature of the broadcast industry 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 Wire Report now. FREE …
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CBC and CTV lose leave to appeal BC case to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it had dismissed a leave to appeal filed by the CBC/Radio-Canada and BCE Inc. subsidiary CTV. The two broadcasters had been seeking access to alternative measures program records. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Masse calls for CRTC review of cross-border advertising
A New Democrat representing a border city wants the CRTC to review cross-border digital television advertising. Such a study is long overdue, he maintains. 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 …
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CRTC reopens basic television price hike proceeding
The CRTC is reopening its proceeding into whether or not BCE Inc., Cogeco Inc., Bragg Communications Inc., and Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Co. can increase the retail price of so-called “skinny basic” plans from $25 to $28 per month with a yearly indexing mechanism. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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CRTC to release broadcaster revenue data, aggregated by industry segment
The CRTC announced that it will publish the data collected in its Annual Digital Media Survey – covering 2020-2021 – aggregated by industry segment, audio and audiovisual. For the latter segment, the commission will combine revenues from digital media broadcasting undertakings (DMBUs) with those revenues reported by hybrid video-on-demand (HVOD) services. This content is available …
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Senators continue fight over Streaming Act and CBC’s future
The battle over the government’s Online Streaming Act, Bill C-11, continued in the Senate’s Question Period Tuesday. Senator Leo Housakos, the chair of the Transport and Communications committee, claimed that the CBC is going to move to an all-digital format. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Unscripted series the wave of the future for streamers, CMPA conference hears
OTTAWA–Streaming is the way of the future, a panel told the Canadian Media Producers Association with tweaks to the way content is produced. The Prime Time conference held a session on Thursday called Global Perspectives: Key Industry Trends. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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UPDATED: Senate passes C-11; Rodriguez expects C-11 to become law next week
OTTAWA – The Senate officially adopted the Online Streaming Act, a year to the day since it was first introduced in the House of Commons. 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 …
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Corus still feeling effects of advertising recession
Corus Entertainment Inc. president and CEO Doug Murphy said an “advertising recession” is the cause for a decline in revenues seen this quarter. 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 …
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Increase to skinny basic rates not popular with public, CRTC hears
An application by four companies to hike the price of basic television service from $25 to $28, with a corresponding increase tied to inflation, has been met with howls of outrage from the public. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Senate won’t define discoverability in Online Streaming Act definitions
Supporters and opponents of the Online Streaming Act alike have their eyes on the Senate’s Transportation and Communications committee as it begins to sift through the 98 amendments senators proposed on Bill C-11. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Hockey broadcasters win fresh site-blocking order
The start of another hockey season brings another federal court site-blocking order for a trio of telecom companies and sports 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 …
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Rodriguez urges senators to pass Online Streaming Act
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and members of his department were the final witnesses as the Senate Transport and Communications Committee wrapped up its hearings into the Online Streaming Act, Bill C-11. The minister praised the committee, pointing out it has looked at the legislation for six months and held more than 40 hours of …
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CRTC extends deadline in Quebecor advertising application
The CRTC has extended the deadline for interventions on a consultation flowing from a Quebecor Inc. application to show more advertising on its discretionary services, as well as the possibility of removing the 12 minute-per-hour limit on other discretionary services as well. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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PIAC wins partial victory as CRTC extends basic skinny proceeding
The CRTC announced Thursday it was extending the deadline for interventions of its proceedings into the price of basic television service. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre had been requesting such a move earlier. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Streamers should be obliged to sell cable integration apps to small BDUs: CCSA
The organization representing independent companies providing cable TV and IPTV services is arguing that the Online Streaming Act has ignored the needs of small broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) and needs amendments to level the playing field between those BDUs and its larger counterparts regarding bare access to streaming services. This content is available to wirereport.ca …
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CRTC seeking comment about removal of advertising limits
The CRTC is seeking comments on whether or not it should allow Quebecor Inc.‘s TVA Group to show more advertising on its discretionary services, as well as the possibility of removing the 12 minute-per-hour limit on other discretionary services as well. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Netflix and MPA-Canada want C-11 to be flexible for global undertakings
Netflix Inc., and the Motion Picture Association – Canada (MPA-Canada), of which it is a member, told the Senate committee studying the Online Streaming Act, that it must be amended to provide flexibility for global players. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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CRTC to arbitrate Rogers dispute over Family Channel
In a Sept. 6 letter, the CRTC has accepted a request from Rogers Communications Inc. for final offer arbitration (FOA) with WildBrain Ltd. over carriage of the Family Channel and its subsidiary Family Jr. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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TV revenues recover while radio continues decline: CRTC report
Television revenues are rebounding from the pandemic slump while revenues in radio continue to take a hit, the CRTC said Tuesday in its annual report on the broadcast industry. The greatest increase was for digital media broadcasting undertakings (DMBUs). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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OUTtv licence renewed, becomes must-offer in English Canada
Thursday the CRTC renewed the licence of OUTtv Network Inc. for five years and said it should be on must-offer status in English Canada for four years. That wasn’t good enough for one commissioner. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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AG won’t fight CMPA’s application for leave to appeal CBC license
The Attorney General of Canada will not make any representations for itself in an application for judicial review to which it is a party over the CRTC’s renewal of the CBC/Radio-Canada‘s license. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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CMPA files petition to cabinet on CBC license
The Canadian Media Producers Association, with support from parties across the television and film production sector, has added its voice to calls for the cabinet to overturn the changes granted to CBC/Radio-Canada in the CRTC’s renewal of the broadcaster’s license. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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PIAC, pensioners want cabinet to overturn CRTC’s CBC licence renewal
The National Pensioners Federation and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre have filed a petition asking cabinet to overturn the CRTC’s renewal of the CBC/Radio-Canada broadcast licence. The decision contravenes broadcasting policy, they maintain, and should be thrown out. Failing that, the government should send the decision back to the regulator for reconsideration, they argue. This …
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Bell, Rogers and TV creators triumph over pirates
A consortium of broadcasters and rights-holders have won an opening salvo of a fight against a television pirate in the Federal Court. BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. were joined in the court action by Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., Disney Enterprises Inc., Paramount Pictures Corp., Universal City Studios LLC, Universal City Studios Productions LLLP and …
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Quebecor’s acquisition of VMedia exciting for competition says co-founder, CNOC
VMedia Inc. can expand its national footprint with resources from Quebecor Inc., as part of the Quebec-based company’s national expansion, according to VMedia co-founder George Burger. 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 …
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Quebec hotel company asks CRTC to mandate negotiations with Bell
A Quebec-based hotel accused of copyright infringement is asking the CRTC to order BCE Inc. to enter into good faith negotiations with the company regarding the terms of distribution of Réseau des sports (RDS) and its other discretionary services, claiming that the incumbent is using stall tactics to slow down competition. This content is available …
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Court finds Videotron did not violate Rovi patents
The Federal Court dismissed a digital entertainment company’s lawsuit alleging that Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron infringed on its interactive television program guide (IPG) patents because the technology is part of the common knowledge of a skilled person. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Punish hotel broadcaster who infringed on copyright: Bell tells CRTC
BCE Inc. is supporting a Quebecor Inc. application for the CRTC to revoke the Coopérative de câblodistribution Hill Valley’s status as an exempt broadcasting distribution undertaking (BDU) after the Quebec-based company allegedly illegally distributed copyrighted content from the two incumbents. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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C-11 needs to incentivize a new era of foreign-domestic partnerships: Bell
BCE Inc. wants the government to incentivize foreign-domestic partnerships through its Online Streaming Act, Bill C-11, arguing that the entire Canadian broadcasting ecosystem is funded by profits generated from foreign content, which domestic broadcasters have less access to. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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