Rogers’ OMNI application a ‘band-aid’ solution, critics say

Rogers Communications Inc.’s proposal for a new national ethnic programming service is neither innovative nor appropriate in today’s TV environment aimed at providing consumers more choice, critics of the application said in interventions filed with the CRTC.

30M tuning in to Olympics: CBC

The first 10 days of Olympic coverage were watched by about 30.4 million Canadians “across all networks and platforms,” CBC/Radio-Canada said Tuesday.

The ongoing Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, garnered peak eyeballs on Sunday, when 20.4 million Canadians tuned in, CBC said in a press release, with seven million alone tuning in for the men’s 100-metre running final.

CRTC revokes iChannel licence

The CRTC has approved an application from Stornoway Communications LP to revoke the licence of its iChannel offering, the regulator said Tuesday.

TV still golden in multi-platform Olympic coverage: experts

While digital and mobile options for watching the Summer Olympics are gaining in popularity and engagement, television continues to own the podium for the Canadian outlet broadcasting the two-week multi-sport tournament happening now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Louise St-Pierre leaving Cogeco Connexion

The head of Cogeco Inc.’s Canadian division is retiring after more than 17 years with the company, the company announced Friday.

Louise St-Pierre, Cogeco Connexion president and CEO, will step down as of Sept. 1, but remain with the company in an advisory role until the end of November, Cogeco said in a press release.

Telus reports higher revenues despite Alberta challenges

Telus Corp.’s revenues in the three months ended June 30 were up 1.5 per cent to $3.15 billion, compared to $3.1 billion a year earlier, the company reported Friday.

It said in a press release the increase was “driven by continued higher data revenue and subscriber additions in both wireless and wireline operations.”

MTS improves wireless churn, but still feeling double-cohort effect

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. said it made improvements to its post-paid wireless churn for the third consecutive quarter, though its total wireless subscribers were still down from a year ago, as it reported higher earnings numbers Wednesday evening.

Moroccan channel approved for distribution

The CRTC has approved Arabic-language channel Medi1 TV for distribution in Canada.

The channel “offers programming dedicated to news, news magazines and entertainment from Morocco targeting the Arabic-speaking population,” the commission said in a decision Thursday.

SaskTel sale to Telus ‘logical’: Barclays

Telus Corp. would be the “logical buyer” of Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp., according to Barclays Capital.

Ahead of Telus’s second-quarter earnings report Friday, analyst Phillip Huang said in a Wednesday note that “while we expect an auction would draw significant interest, we believe it would make financial/strategic sense for Telus to acquire the asset, given its adjacent footprint.”

Community TV complaints deferred: CACTUS

The Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) said Wednesday it’s unhappy with the CRTC’s decision to put off complaints about alleged broadcast distribution undertakings’ (BDUs) compliance issues until later this fall.

In a press release, the association said almost 60 complaints made by CACTUS and community partners in early 2016 won’t be considered until the licence renewal proceedings later this year.

Domenic Vivolo leaves Bell Media, executive team shuffled

BCE Inc.’s media division is shuffling its senior management following the departure of the head of its content sales, marketing and digital products team.

In a Tuesday press release, Bell Media president Mary Ann Turcke announced that Domenic Vivolo was stepping down from his role at the end of the week and that other changes were coming as of Aug. 8.

Stingray hires Rick Bergan to head U.S. distribution

Stingray Digital Group Inc. is expanding its management team with the appointment of a head of content distribution in the United States.

Hockey heartache helps push TVA Group to $5.7M loss

A poor showing by the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens helped to usher in a $5.7 million net loss for TVA Group Inc., the broadcasting and magazine publishing arm of Quebecor Inc.

According to a report on its second quarter earnings, TVA Group said it brought in $144.2 million in revenue by the end of the three months ending June 30, compared to $159.4 million the same quarter a year earlier. The $5.7 million loss was higher than the $2.6 million it lost in the same quarter of last year.

Community TV decision hurts community TV: CACTUS

Sports fans less likely to cut the cord: report

English-speaking sports fans are more likely to have TV subscriptions, according to new research from Media Technology Monitor (MTM).

Cable could make turnaround in 2017: Canaccord

Rogers Communications Inc.’s second-quarter earnings may have foreshadowed a turnaround for cable in 2017, after the company reported its best second-quarter for Internet subscribers in eight years, according to Canaccord Genuity.

Set-top box retailer involved in software development, BDUs claim

A trio of telecom companies are doubling down on their assertion that preloaded set-top box retailers are complicit in TV piracy, according to new court documents filed in their ongoing fight to permanently end the sale of the devices loaded with software they say allows users to access their content for free.

Millennials driving OTA growth in Canada: report

The over-the-air (OTA) market has been slowly growing over the past three years, according to data collected by Media Technology Monitor, a trend industry observers said doesn’t come as a surprise.

SVOD revenues to double by 2021: Juniper

Subscription video-on-demand service (SVOD) revenues will double by 2021, as broadcasters and TV network providers look to enter the market amid a trend in cord cutting and shaving, according to a new report.

Juniper Research Ltd. found that revenues from such services, including those operated by Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., will more than double in five years to $34.6 billion US, from $14.6 billion US this year.

Rogers cutting cord on business landlines with new service

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Tuesday that it will offer small businesses a service that eliminates the need for landline phones by bringing landline features to mobile.

Rogers Unison will allow businesses to connect their “entire business and team” regardless of their location without employees having to be at their desks, according to a Tuesday press release.  

Phyllis Yaffe gets diplomatic appointment

Former media executive Phyllis Yaffe has been named to a new diplomatic post.

Yaffe was named as the new consul general for the United States, stationed in in New York, among the 26 appointments announced Tuesday by the federal government.

Telus rolls out 4K out west

Telus Corp. will begin offering 4K programming for its Optik TV customers, the company announced Tuesday.

In a press release, Telus said it is the “first and currently, the only carrier in Western Canada to offer” the ultra-high-definition programming.

The service is launching with TSN 4K, broadcasts of On Demand adrenaline sports (such as snowboarding, surfing and dirt biking), Stingray Ambiance and On Demand movies and Optik Local productions, the release said.

Rogers’ OMNI proposal needs more scrutiny: ethnic broadcasters

A group of ethnic programming services is asking the CRTC to consider a proposal by Rogers Communications Inc. for a national OMNI channel separately from its licence renewal hearing.

MTS to offer Netflix on set-top box

Manitoba Telecommunications Services Inc. will begin offering Netflix Inc.’s streaming service directly on its set-top box.

The company said in a press release Thursday that the move “removes the hassle of having to switch video inputs or purchase additional hardware.”

It added that it was the “only Manitoba television provider to offer direct access to Netflix.”

Sports, conventional TV tame Corus gains on Shaw deal

Corus Entertainment Inc.’s first quarterly report since it bought Shaw Media showed the acquisition drove a significant increase in overall revenues, profits and expenses, despite a fall in the division’s revenue due to a drop in its conventional TV audience and advertising.

“I wouldn’t attribute the softness to anything but market conditions,” Doug Murphy, Corus’ president and chief executive officer, said on a Wednesday morning conference call with analysts.

Global sports channel approved, despite protest from Bell, Rogers

The CRTC has added One World Sports to its list of non-Canadian channels authorized for distribution, despite arguments from Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. that it would compete with their specialty sports services.

Telecoms’ TV revenues declined last year: CRTC

The television distribution revenues reported by Canada’s telecommunications companies have fallen for the first time in a decade, driven by a decline in satellite subscribers.

Numbers released by the CRTC Tuesday showed that telecoms — including cable, IPTV and satellite providers — saw a 0.13-per-cent decrease in revenues last year, from $8.93 billion in 2014 to $8.92 billion in 2015.

That’s the first such decline reported by the CRTC since at least 2006.

Impact of Alberta fires on Shaw, Telus $5M-$10M: Barclays

Barclays analyst Phillip Huang said in a research note Friday that he estimates Shaw Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. lost about one month of cable revenues as a result of wildfires in Alberta earlier this year, with an overall impact of between $5 million and $10 million.

Cogeco reports higher revenues, takes a hit from Peer 1

Cogeco Inc. reported higher overall revenues for the third quarter, but a write-down on its Peer 1 business pulled on the reins.

Elliott Anderson named ACTRA director

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) has announced that Elliott Anderson is its new director of public policy, reseach and communications.

Anderson has served in the role on an interim basis since December, when he was recruited to replace the outgoing Jacob Leibovitch, ACTRA said in a Thursday press release.

Bell, MTS promote investment ahead of acquisition approval

BCE Inc. and Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. announced another feature of their proposed merger Thursday morning in Manitoba.

As part of the promised $1 billion investment Bell has said it will make in the province as a result of the $3.9-billion acquisition of MTS, the new company will pump funds into Northern Manitoba, the companies said in a press release.

CCSA sued for wrongful dismissal after Townsend departure

The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) is facing a lawsuit from former president and CEO Alyson Townsend, who is accusing the organization of wrongful dismissal.

In a statement of claim filed in a New Brunswick court on June 30, Townsend is identified as the CCSA’s first employee, who incorporated the company in 1993. It now represents more than 115 independent cable, telephone and Internet television companies across the country.

More set-top box providers added to legal action

Eleven more set-top box retailers will have to make their case to the Federal Court after being named as defendants in a legal fight against set-top boxes that can be used to circumvent paid TV subscriptions.

On June 20, lawyers for BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron filed an amended statement of claim, adding the companies to the five originally named in the legal action, which started in May.

Orange is the New Black premiere had 6.7M viewers: Nielsen

Nielsen Co. says the season premiere of Netflix Inc.’s Orange is the New Black drew 6.7 million viewers in the United States in its first two days.

Netflix doesn’t release its audience numbers, but at a client presentation last week Nielsen disclosed ratings data about specific programs, according the Wall Street Journal.

Canada ‘falling behind’ countries with Netflix tax: think tank

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says Canada should follow the example of the European Union and countries like New Zealand and Australia in requiring over-the-top (OTT) services to pay taxes in Canada.

If Netflix Inc. were to pay a 13-per-cent HST tax, that would amount to “some $62.4 to $90.48 million per year in value-added taxes,” the centre’s June 21 report said.

Facebook, AT&T defend differential pricing in CRTC review

Facebook Inc. and AT&T Inc. have waded into the CRTC’s review of differential pricing practices, arguing that the commission should allow carriers to offer zero-rated services and sponsored data.

AT&T closes Quickplay deal

AT&T Inc. has finalized a deal to purchase a Canadian video-streaming platform, the company announced Tuesday.

First round of 600 MHz auction wraps up in U.S.

The first round of an auction in the United States to convert spectrum in the 600 MHz band from TV to wireless use has wrapped up, setting a price of $86.4 billion for 126 MHz of the frequency, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Wednesday.

But, according to Reuters, the high cost might lead to an additional round of bidding if wireless companies are unwilling to pay the sum.

BBC to open Toronto bureau, Canadian version of website

The BBC will launch a new Toronto bureau and a Canadian edition of BBC.com, the British public service broadcaster announced Thursday.

The dedicated site will launch later this year, according to a notice on the BBC website. In the meantime, the broadcaster will be looking to hire a video journalist, an online journalist and a social media producer for its Toronto office, said the press release.

The Shopping Channel appoints new president

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Wednesday that it has appointed Anne Martin-Vachon as president of The Shopping Channel, effective August 16.

Telecom, media ‘safe haven’ after Brexit: Barclays

Minimal exposure to the United Kingdom and Europe will leave the Canadian telecom and media industries relatively unscathed following the U.K.’s vote to exit the European Union last week, according to Barclays Capital.

Analyst Phillip Huang said in a research note on Tuesday that given “no/minimal exposure to [U.K]/Europe, we see them as relative safe havens in an environment of heightened macro uncertainty.”

CanCon review panel announcement draws mixed reaction

Heritage Canada’s announcement of an expert advisory panel for its review of Canadian content in a digital age, which includes representatives from a number of broadcasters, was met with both praise and criticism Tuesday.

Blue Ant sells lifestyle series abroad

Blue Ant Media Inc. has sold several original series to international buyers, the company announced Tuesday.

In a press release, the content distribution company said four home sales and renovation series will be distributed in the United States, Latin America, Italy, Israel, Spain, India and the United Arab Emirates.

Federal government looking for new CRTC vice-chair

After seven months of vacancy, Canadian Heritage is moving to fill the vice-chair of broadcasting position at the CRTC.

Stroumboulopoulos out, MacLean back at Hockey Night in Canada

George Stroumboulopoulos is leaving Hockey Night in Canada after two years of hosting the program, Rogers Communications Inc.’s Sportsnet said in a press release Monday.

“Stroumboulopoulos will depart the company to explore new creative opportunities,” the release added. Longtime host Ron MacLean will return to the program, hosting alongside Sportsnet reporter David Amber.

Sports now make up 50% of top 10 grossing channels: CRTC

Sportsnet One and TVA Sports are, for the first time, in the top 10 highest-grossing TV channels, according to the CRTC’s latest stats on Canadian programming—and of those top 10, five are sports channels.

The commission released its 2015 financial results for specialty, pay, pay-per-view (PPV) and video-on-demand (VOD) television services on Thursday.

CRTC OKs station’s ‘innovative’ plan for accessible programming

The CRTC has approved a proposal by an independent over-the-air (OTA) station that would see it source programming from Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) to fulfill its described-video obligations.

CRTC decision will hurt us, Quebec independent community stations say

The Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec said the CRTC’s recent decision on local and community TV will harm independent community stations.

In a French-language press release Wednesday, the federation expressed worries about the future of independent community stations in the wake of the decision.

Sylvain Casavant, president of the federation, said in the release the decision puts additional pressure on its 40 members, who were already dealing with dropping incomes.

‘Separate silo’ approach to regulation wrong-footed in Internet age: report

Adjusting the existing legislation governing the telecommunications and broadcasting industries and putting more power in the hands of the CRTC could help address issues in Canada’s concentrated TV industry, according to a new Canadian Media Concentration Research Project report.

MTS shareholders back Bell acquisition

The shareholders of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. have nearly unanimously approved its acquisition by BCE Inc.

Of the just over 43 million votes cast, 99.66 per cent were in favour of the acquisition, according to a Thursday press release.

Vice, V Media to launch French version of Viceland

Vice Media Inc. has teamed up with Groupe V Média Inc. to launch the Viceland TV channel in French Canada, the companies said in a Wednesday press release.

The deal includes “the creation of a television studio, the development of French Canadian versions of VICE's digital channels and the creation of an entity specializing in content marketing as well as the development of international distribution agreements,” the release said.

Mobile ads, music streaming to be a force in 2020: PwC

Mobile advertising revenue and music streaming activity will see dramatic increases over the next four years, as technological innovation takes hold over traditional methods of media consumption, according to a new report from PWC.

Netflix hold on network traffic shrinks, but remains dominant: report

Netflix Inc.’s over-the-top (OTT) service continued to lead peak period network traffic, but the percentage of traffic has declined since late 2015, according to a new Global Internet Phenomena report by Sandvine Inc.

Rogers restructuring gives Vice Viceland stake

The CRTC has approved a reorganization that will see Rogers Communications Inc.’s media division share control of the Viceland TV channel.

CBC and Netflix to co-produce miniseries

CBC/Radio-Canada is teaming up with Netflix Inc. and Halfire Entertainment to produce a miniseries based on a Margaret Atwood book.

Production will begin in Ontario in August, the broadcaster said in a press release Tuesday.

CBC will broadcast the six-hour show, called Alias Grace, in Canada, while Netflix will carry it outside the country, it added.

CRTC OKs Punjabi-language, classic music channels for distribution

The CRTC has approved four channels originating in the United States aimed at people of South Asian descent for distribution in Canada.

It said in a notice Tuesday that the channels are mostly Punjabi-language services. Two of the channels, Jus Punjabi and Jus 24x7, are general-interest services, while Jus TV airs music performances and Jus One is focused on religion.

Stingray buys Bell’s MuchMusic channels

Stingray Digital Group Inc. is expanding its portfolio of properties by picking up four of BCE Inc.’s music channels.

The Montreal-based music provider will pick up MuchLoud, MuchRetro, MuchVice and Juicebox, according to a Tuesday news release. It added that the four channels are already distributed by Bell and a number of other Canadian providers.

The channels will be reintroduced under the Stingray brand. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Bell mobile-TV appeal dismissed

The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld the CRTC’s ban on BCE Inc.’s zero-rated mobile-TV plans, a year and a half after the commission ruled the company couldn’t exempt the service from data caps.

NFL cites ‘urgency’ in simsub case; AG maintains appeal premature

MONTREAL — Whether a court decision on BCE Inc.’s appeal of a CRTC decision banning simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl will come in time for next year’s game and ad sales for its broadcast remained unclear Monday, as the Federal Court in Montreal heard arguments from both sides in the case.

Companies seeking injunction for Bell’s IPTV technology

Whether a patent encompasses technology used by BCE Inc.’s IPTV service will be a central issue as a patent case two-plus years in the making gets its date in court Tuesday.  

The Federal Court in Toronto was scheduled to hear the patent infringement case brought against Bell, and its Atlantic Canada arm Bell Aliant, by television providers MediaTube Corp. and NorthVu Inc. The statement of claim was initially filed on April 23, 2013.

Anglophone TV subs fall to 73%: MTM

The number of anglophones subscribing to TV service continues to fall, according to a new report by Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

Rogers shows off IPTV service to investors

Rogers Communications Inc. unveiled its new IPTV service to investors Thursday, according to analysts’ notes, though company spokesman Aaron Lazarus declined to comment Friday.

Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige said in a Friday note that the service “represents a substantial leap from its existing legacy platform.” He noted the transition to cable from IPTV is likely to take almost five years.

What does the growth of video-game streaming mean for TV?

Millions of people tuned into live broadcasts of the electronic entertainment expo (E3) this week on Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube and Amazon.com Inc.’s Twitch.tv. It’s an event whose viewership has soared on the heels of a phenomenon that has been building for years, spawning a lucrative business that’s attracting competitors, inducing acquisitions and could be affecting traditional television.   

Louis Lalande retiring from Radio-Canada

Louis Lalande, CBC/Radio-Canada’s executive vice-president of French services, is stepping down at the end of the year, the public broadcaster said Thursday.

CBC president Hubert Lacroix announced Lalande’s retirement in a press release, adding that as head of French services, Lalande had led many projects to help modernize public broadcasting.

CAB announces new radio marketing and advocacy team

The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has launched and staffed its new radio marketing and advocacy arm, Radio Connect, the organization announced Thursday.

The CAB CEO Radio Council said in a press release that Radio Connect will “demonstrate the many advantages of radio, from the medium’s incredible ROI to clients looking to meet business goals, to its unique ability to provide engaging relevant, and locally-focused entertainment to listeners from coast to coast.”

The Shopping Channel introduces Apple TV app

The Shopping Channel (TSC) has launched an app for Apple Inc.’s Apple TV platform.

Rogers Communications Inc., which owns the Mississauga-based retailer, announced the ShopTSC app in a Thursday press release.

The app will allow “customers to stream both live and pre-recorded broadcasts, browse exclusive items,” and buy items “directly from their TVs.”

Stingray Digital buys 4K TV channel

Stingray Digital Group Inc. said Wednesday that it has acquired the Festival 4K television channel, which broadcasts live performances, including festivals, concerts and theatre productions, according to the press release.

The Montreal-based music distributer said in a Wednesday press release that Festival 4K, launched in April 2015, has seven million subscribers under contract worldwide.

Broadcast licence renewal hearing set for November

The CRTC said Wednesday it will hold a public hearing to renew broadcast licences held by large ownership groups, including Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc., Corus Entertainment Inc. and Quebecor Inc. this fall.

CRTC ‘rebalances’ TV system funds; up to $90M available for local news

The CRTC has established new funding for local television news in a decision on its local and community TV hearing, though advocates expressed concern that the changes won’t happen quickly enough for some stations.

In a summary of the decision, issued Wednesday afternoon, the CRTC said independent stations will be able to tap into a $23.1-million Independent Local News Fund (ILNF), while new flexibility could make available up to $66.9 million for stations operated by vertically-integrated companies.

Set-top box provider appealing temporary ban

A federal court judge erred in her determination that allowing a group of five companies to continue selling pre-loaded set-top boxes would pose “irreparable harm” to TV service providers, according to court documents filed this week.

Club Illico announces 4K production

Another Canadian company is joining the ultra-high-definition field, with Quebecor Inc. announcing its media division was producing its first 4K show.

Videotron’s over-the-top (OTT) service Club Illico said in a Tuesday press release that new police series Victor Lessard, based on books by author Martin Michaud, would premiere in the winter of 2017 in 4K.

Wall prefers SaskTel sale over public offering: report

Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall told reporters he would rather sell Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. than take the company public and sell shares on the open market, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Selling shares is what Manitoba did with Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. in the 1990s, the article noted.