Corus gets relief on Canadian programming provisions

Corus Entertainment Inc. was granted amendments to its broadcasting licences for Teletoon, Teletoon Retro, Historia and Séries+ regarding minimum amounts to be spent on Canadian programming.

The licences state that the Teletoon channels have to devote 34 per cent of the previous year's revenue to Canadian programming and 26 per cent to programs of national interest, while the French-language Historia and Séries+ must put 30 per cent of the previous year's revenue toward Canadian programming.

LG progressing toward rollable TVs

LG Display Co. announced a technological breakthrough on Thursday that it says proves it is capable of developing TVs as big as 50 inches that can be rolled up like a yoga mat.

The company said it in a press release it has been able to produce an 18 inch OLED panel that can be rolled up tight enough to have a three-centimetre radius without affecting its functionality. It said it has a "high-definition class resolution" of 1200 by 810 pixels.

Bell sponsors Ukrainian TV channel application

BCE Inc. is sponsoring an application from TV Media Planet Ltd. to have a Ukrainian television channel approved for distribution in Canada.

The application appeared on the CRTC's website Thursday. An attached letter from TV Media Planet said the channel, 1+1 International, is a version of one of the most popular channels in Ukraine called Studio 1+1. The international version, it said, is intended for Ukrainians living abroad, and is currently available across Europe, the United States and Israel, among other places.

Cogeco partners with TiVo, ditches IPTV plans

Cogeco Cable Inc. has abandoned a multi-year project to establish an Internet protocol-based TV platform in Canada and will instead launch a service in partnership with TiVo Inc. that its CEO says gives it "all of what we want and more."

The decision to cancel plans for building out an IPTV system for Canada resulted in its third-quarter profit being cut almost in half, the company announced in a press release issued late Wednesday.

Corus reports loss, TV earnings up

Television and radio production house Corus Entertainment Inc. on Thursday reported a loss of $30 million in the third quarter of its fiscal year, although revenues were buoyed by its recent TV acquisitions including Teletoon.

The company reported revenues of $214 million, up from $187 million in the same period a year earlier, but wrote down $75 million on a goodwill impairment charge and radio broadcast licences.

Penetration-based pricing biggest barrier to pick-and-pay: analyst

The biggest challenge standing in the way of a pick-and-pay TV system is the current penetration-based rate card regime, Scotia Capital telecom analyst Jeff Fan said in a research note.

Viewer’s Choice pay-per-view service shutting down

BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. are shutting down their jointly-owned pay-per-view service, Viewer’s Choice Canada.

Bell Media spokeswoman Amy Doary said in an email Monday that the service would cease operations by Sept. 30 of this year.

Soundview applies to bring Haitian channel to Canada

Soundview Entertainment Inc. has asked the CRTC to make the Creole-language Haiti HD channel available for distribution in Canada.

In a letter to the regulator, it described the channel as “a niche-interest Creole-language service from the United States focusing on Haitian movies and music programming.”

TV advertising revenues fell last year: StatsCan

Canadian television broadcasters' revenues fell 1.3 per cent to $7.5 billion last  year, with the decline affecting “every segment of the industry, except specialty television,” Statistics Canada said Monday.

Advertising revenues, in particular, declined 2.3 per cent from 2012 to 2013, to $3.4 billion, the federal agency said on its website.

Conventional-TV stations saw their operating revenue decline six per cent to $3.4 billion last year, Statistics Canada's data showed.

David McLennan joins CMF board

Sierra Wireless Inc. chief financial officer David McLennan has been named to the board of the Canadian Media Fund (CMF), a public-private parternship that provides money for Canadian media producers, the group said in a press release Monday.

McLennan has been chief financial officer with Vancouver-based Sierra Wireless Inc. since 2004, according to his biography on the company's website. It said he spent 10 years before that in a variety of senior management positions with BCE Inc.

Telecoms looking for help to manage flood of big data

Telecom companies are turning to outside help in order to manage the floods of data coming from smartphones, set-top-boxes and other consumer technology.

TV industry at odds on future of over-the-air

BCE Inc. wants to see over-the-air (OTA) transmitters shut down and local stations move to a model it called “local specialty,” under which they would negotiate wholesale fees with cable, IPTV and satellite-TV providers.

Shaw launching all-news channel

Shaw Communications Inc. said in its filing to the CRTC in the Let’s Talk TV consultation that it is planning to launch a new Category C English-language national news channel.

The channel will be known as Global News 1 and will “expand and diversify the amount of news and information-related programming in the Canadian broadcasting system,” according to the filing.

Shaw said the channel would “preserve local voices” for news and provide “uniquely local reflection.” 

Service providers support TV choice, but not to extent suggested

In interventions submitted as part of the CRTC’s review of the future of the television, both BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. said they supported a pick-and-pay television system, though details of their submissions showed they did not favour going as far as the CRTC has suggested.

Telus switches advertising agencies: report

Telus Corp. has ended an 18-year relationship with Taxi, the advertising agency that created marketing campaigns featuring a variety of cute animals including monkeys to hippopotamuses, the Globe and Mail reported on Friday.

The Globe said on its website that, as of Sept. 1, Telus' advertising will be handled by The&Partnership.

CBC plan’s emphasis on mobile not ‘logical’: analyst

CBC/Radio-Canada’s re-focusing of its priorities on its digital and mobile presence is “not a very logical thing to do,” said Barry Kiefl, president of Canadian Media Research Inc.

The public broadcaster said in a strategy paper released Thursday, called "A Space For Us All," that its priorities will be completely reversed from the current pecking order of TV followed by radio, online and mobile.

Shaw sees earnings decline in Q3

Shaw Communications Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter earnings took a hit as its television subscriber base continued to decline and its media division took in less money.

The company said in a press release that net income for the three months ending May 31 was $228 million, down from $250 million a year earlier. Revenue was up 1.2 per cent to $1.34 billion, the company said.

Google extends Android to TVs, cars

Google Inc. is extending its Android operating system to cars and television sets, the company said Wednesday during its Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco.

Customers can use the Android Auto service to connect their smartphone with a car, allowing them to access features such as “turn-by-turn navigation from Google Maps, your curated playlists and radio stations through Play Music, simple-to-use voice search, and reminders from Google Now” using the car’s controls, Google said in a Wednesday blog post.

U.S. Supreme Court declares Aereo illegal

The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with broadcasters in their case against Aereo Inc.’s TV service, ruling that the service violates the U.S. Copyright Act.

Social TV growing, still lacks audience, monetization: experts

While singing competition reality shows have been a mainstay on network television for the past decade, their newest iteration could offer an indication of the direction in which social-TV strategies are heading.

Rising Star, which premiered on Sunday night and airs in Canada on BCE Inc.’s CTV network, allows viewers to vote — in real time — on which singers will stay in the competition, while contestants perform in front of a giant screen made up of viewers’ social media profiles.

Bell Media cuts 120 Toronto TV jobs

BCE Inc.'s media division will cut 120 staff from its Toronto television operations, according to an internal memo from Bell Media president Kevin Crull, obtained by The Wire Report on Monday.

Crull said the cuts represent a “reduction of approximately 5% of our Toronto area workforce and 1.8% of the national team.”

The cuts came as Bell faces “financial pressure related to advertising and subscription challenges across our TV services,” Crull said, adding that specific positions have yet to be identified.

CRTC delays deadline for TV-review comments till Friday

The CRTC said Monday it is extending the deadline for submitting comments in the third phase of its Let's Talk TV proceedings until Friday.

The deadline had previously been set for Wednesday.

CBC to outline 5-year plan Thursday

CBC/Radio-Canada will unveil a five-year strategic plan to employees and the general public on Thursday, outlining how it intends to move forward in an era of increasingly limited financial resources.

France Bélisle, CBC's director of public relations, said in an email that a town hall meeting would be held for employees featuring CEO Hubert Lacroix and other executives. She added that details of the plan would be released to news media.

She said it will be a "new five-year plan that will bring CBC/Radio-Canada to 2020 and beyond."

Twitter acquires online video platform

Twitter Inc. has acquired the online video platform SnappyTV, which allows “live clipping, editing and distribution,” Twitter said in a blog post Thursday.

“As we continue to invest in video, it’s important for us to provide tools that make it easy for TV broadcasters, businesses, and event producers to share high-quality videos,” Baljeet Singh, Twitter’s director of product management, wrote in the blog post.

Ottawa company brings PVR capability to over-the-air TV

Amid the many challenges television service providers were already facing, along came an Ottawa company making devices with digital recording capabilities and electronic-guide functionality for those who rely on over-the-air signals for their TV.

BBM changing name to Numeris

BBM Canada has changed its name to Numeris, the broadcast audience measurement company said Thursday.

It also announced a new logo and slogan, “Audiences Count.”

“Building on the foundation we have developed as a trusted and respected partner, the new brand identity articulates our key mandate — to partner with our members to be a driving force in shaping the Canadian media landscape,” CEO Jim MacLeod said in the press release.

Public backs heavy CRTC hand in TV service: survey

The CRTC has the backing of the general public if it decides to get into regulating the prices people pay for television service, according to a new survey.

A poll done by Forum Research, released in advance to The Wire Report, shows that 79 per cent of respondents agree with the idea of the CRTC getting back into the practice of regulating cable and satellite fees, while 60 per cent "strongly" agree.

Stingray to buy Dutch media company

Stingray Digital Group Inc. said Friday it has reached an agreement to purchase an Amsterdam-based owner of music-related television services.

Stingray, a Canadian-based company that provides music services such as Galaxie to TV-service providers, said in a press release it has reached a deal to buy Archibald Media Group. It did not disclose a purchase price.

Stingray said Archibald owns TV services LiteTV, 100% NL TV and XLNT Radio.

CRTC drops Bell complaint about condo access

The CRTC has closed an undue preference complaint by BCE Inc. against Rogers Communications Inc. regarding access to a Toronto condo building.

No registration needed for CRTC licence lobbying

Canada's lobbying commissioner says attempts to convince the CRTC to grant a broadcast licence do not have to be registered under the Lobbying Act, The Lobby Monitor reported Thursday.

Audio-visual treaty with India takes effect July 1

The Department of Canadian Heritage said Wednesday that the Audiovisual Coproduction Treaty between Canada and India takes effect July 1.

A press release from Canadian Heritage said the agreement will allow producers in both countries to combine "creative, technical and financial resources" in the making of feature films or TV productions.

Social TV activity on Facebook, Twitter up 12%: Seevibes

The number of “interactions” about television on social networks operated by Facebook Inc. or Twitter Inc. increased 12 per cent in the past year, according to a report from social TV ratings company Seevibes.

“The most striking growth was observed on Twitter (+63% of interactions over a year), the newest social network still gaining more users,” it said.

More smartphone owners streaming audio, video: MTM

The number of anglophone Canadians who are streaming television content on their smartphones increased 71 per cent from a year earlier, according to a new report from Media Technology Monitor (MTM).

In 2013, 12 per cent of respondents reported watching TV on a smartphone, up from seven per cent a year earlier, according to MTM, a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

“While smartphone TV streamers watch less traditional TV on a TV set, they more than make up for that time streaming TV,” said the report, released on June 5.

CRTC approves Ontario station disaffiliation from CBC

The CRTC has approved an application by a Thunday Bay, Ont., broadcaster to disaffiliate from CBC/Radio-Canada.

Thunder Bay Electronics Ltd. said in a Feb. 28 letter filed with the CRTC that it was seeking the disaffiliation “so that CKPR-DT can move forward and be an economically viable operation.” It asked for the disaffiliation agreement to become effective Aug. 31, 2014.

Internet ads revenue exceeded TV last year: PwC

A recent report from PwC showed Internet advertising revenue in Canada surpassed television ad revenue last year for the first time.

The report found Internet advertising was worth $3.75 billion last year, compared to $3.52 billion for television, PwC spokeswoman Emily Abrahams said in an interview Tuesday.

Bell launches Super Écran Go

BCE Inc.'s Bell Media division on Tuesday launched what it said is the first French-language product among its growing selection of "Go" products for viewing television content over the Internet or by mobile device.

Rogers climbs from bottom spot in Netflix speed index

Rogers Communications Inc. climbed out of the bottom ranking among 14 Canadian ISPs measured in latest speed index from Netflix Inc.

TSN Radio to cover soccer World Cup

BCE Inc.'s Bell Media division said Monday that its TSN Radio network will have the radio rights to the FIFA World Cup that starts this week.

Bell said in a press release that TSN Radio's coverage would kick off on Thursday with the broadcast of a game between host country Brazil and Croatia. It added that its programming would include pre-game, post-game and halftime discussions with soccer analysts Gareth Wheeler, Kristian Jack, Jason deVos and Luke Wileman.

Jamie Brown becomes chairman of CMPA

The Canadian Media Production Association said Jamie Brown has been appointed the organization's chairman.

Brown is the founder and executive producer of Frantic Films, the CMPA said in a press release issued Saturday. The company's website lists some of its productions as TV series Men With Brooms and Til Debt Do Us Part, as well the made-for-TV biographies on Don Cherry that ran on CBC/Radio-Canada.

Brown replaced as CMPA chairman David MacLeod, who is executive producer of Big Motion Pictures Ltd.

Canadian TV packages more flexible than in U.S.: study

A report appearing on the CRTC's website Friday indicated that Canadian television service providers are offering more choice and flexibility than ones in the United States in selected markets.

The study, done by Ottawa-based business consultant David Keeble, studied TV offerings in three markets in Canada, which he contrasted with three comparable markets in the U.S.

"On the evidence gathered in this report, Canadian BDUs offer the consumer more flexibility than their American counterparts," the report said.

Videotron’s new TV app ‘sign of what’s to come’: analyst

MONTREAL —Videotron’s new iPad application, which allows users to access live TV, free and paid video-on-demand (VOD) content and programming stored on a personal video recorder (PVR), in addition to a recommendation function and integrated social networking, is a sign of where "TV-everywhere" strategies are heading, said Alan Breznick, a media, telecom and technology analyst at research group Heavy Reading.

Hungarian channel approved by CRTC

Hungary’s public broadcaster may soon be available for satellite subscribers in Canada after the CRTC announced on Thursday that it has added Duna World, distributed by Ethnic Channels Group Ltd., to the list of non-Canadian channels approved for distribution.

In its application, Ethnic Channels Group said Duna World would be a 24-hour Hungarian language channel that would feature general-interest content from Duna TV, Hungary’s public broadcaster.

Rogers launches Sportsnet streaming service

Rogers Communications Inc. on Tuesday announced the launch of an online streaming service and mobile application for Sportsnet programing.

The company said in a press release the service is called Sportsnet Now, and for the time being is available as a "preview" to Rogers customers. Rogers spokesman Sebastian Gatica clarified in an email that this means those who subscribe to Sportsnet on Rogers cable.

Videotron says new app to ‘change TV forever’

Quebecor Inc. subsidiary Videotron will announce an application that it says “will change TV forever” later this week.

The company said in an invitation to media Monday that Videotron president and CEO Manon Brouillette would “announce the details” in Montreal on Thursday morning.

It said the app would be a “Canadian first in content distribution and entertainment.”

World Cup presents chance to test 4K TV

When the World Cup begins in Brazil in two weeks, 3.2 billion people around the world will tune into the tournament, according to FIFA’s estimates.

And while many of them will cheer on their team through a high-definition television, some broadcasters will be using the World Cup as an opportunity to test 4K — or ultra-high-definition— television signals. 4K TVs have a resolution that’s about four times higher than regular high-definition sets.

Brian Mulroney nominated as Quebecor chairman

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney has been nominated to be chairman of Quebecor Inc.'s board of directors, according to a corporate filing the company made on Wednesday.

Mulroney would replace Françoise Bertrand, the chairwoman since March 2011, who Quebecor said in its filing has chosen not to seek re-election.

Rogers announces first sponsorship in NHL deal

Carol-Ann Kairns joins Corus

Carol-Ann Kairns is the new general sales manager at Corus Entertainment Inc. 

The company said in a press release Tuesday that Kairns would oversee advertising sales and revenues for Corus’ Historia, Séries+, Télétoon and Télétoon Rétro specialty stations, effective June 16.

Distributors will pay for Rogers’ rich hockey deal: analyst

Broadcast distributors across the country are likely to pay for a big chunk of the billions of dollars for which Rogers Communications Inc. is on the hook as a result of the deal it struck for 12 years of exclusive national broadcast rights to National Hockey League games, says one analyst.

Bell Media signs trade agreement with francophone producers

BCE Inc.’s media subsidiary has signed an agreement with Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC), which represents French-language independent producers across Canada, the company said in a press release Tuesday.

The five year agreement, which is renewable, “details the general principles of a trade agreement,” Bell said, and applies to its specialty and pay TV channels.

TSN signs ad deal with Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire Corp. and TSN announced a multi-year advertising and production deal on Monday that will see the sports broadcaster produce branded content for the retailer that will appear on TSN’s broadcast and web platforms.

The agreement includes traditional advertising for Canadian Tire during TSN’s sports programming as well as TSN-produced content that will appear in Canadian Tire flyers, in online ads, and on in-store displays, according to a joint news release.

Rogers announces new direction to combat customer flight

Rogers Communications Inc. on Friday released a “comprehensive” plan to overhaul its customer service and restructure its corporate hierarchy.

CRTC approves Cycle TV

The CRTC has approved a broadcasting licence for Cycle TV, a national English-language specialty TV channel.

The commission said in its decision Friday that the channel would “offer programming devoted to the world of cycling and its associated activities, including purchasing, cycling accessories, clothing options, training techniques and national/international cycling reports.”

CBC to take Radio 2 off the air, advocacy group says

OTTAWA — CBC/Radio-Canada will stop over-the-air broadcasts of its Radio 2 service and make it an “exclusively on-line music offering,” advocacy group Friends Of Canadian Broadcasting said at a news conference on Thursday.

Rogers’ Boynton, Stoneham depart as corporate revamp set

Rogers Communications Inc. said two senior officials in its marketing operations have left the company in advance of CEO Guy Laurence announcing a new corporate strategy to employees on Friday.

In an email to The Wire Report, Rogers spokeswoman Patricia Trott said John Boynton, chief marketing officer, and Shelagh Stoneham, senior vice-president of brands and marketing communications, “have left the company. We’re doing some restructuring of the marketing organization. The company thanks them for their years of service.”

Broadcaster applies to bring BeIN Español to Canada

Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. applied to the CRTC to add BeIN Español to the list of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution.

In a May 15 application, the ethnic broadcaster described the channel as “a Spanish-language international channel originating from the United States providing sports programming.”

Former CRTC vice-chair joins DHX board

David Colville, a former vice-chairman and commissioner with the CRTC, has been appointed to the board of directors for television content creator and distributor DHX Media Ltd.

The company said in a press release Tuesday that Colville and Geoffrey Machum, a senior partner with law firm Stewart McKelvey and chairman of the Halifax Port Authority, would fill two vacant seats on the board.

Netflix to expand in Europe

Netflix Inc. on Tuesday said it is expanding in Europe by adding service in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Luxembourg later this year.

That follows other European launches in countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands in recent years.

Netflix, which said it currently has more than 48 million subscribers in more than 40 countries, said in a press release details will come later on pricing, programming and what devices will be supported in these new European markets.

AT&T reaches deal to buy DirecTV

AT&T announced on Sunday it has reached a deal to buy cable- and satellite-TV provider DirecTV for a total consideration of $67.1 billion US.

The direct purchase price of about $48.5 billion US is about a third in cash and two-thirds in stock, AT&T said in a press release. AT&T is also assuming around $20 billion US in debt from DirecTV, AT&T said.

CRTC approves distribution of Hindi movie channel

The CRTC has approved an application from Asian Television Network International Ltd. to add UTV Movies International to its list of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution.

ATN described the channel as a Hindi-language channel with programming mostly from India, “devoted to movies and other interstitial programming such as movie songs, interviews related to movies as well as behind-the-scenes and other movie-related content,” the CRTC said.

Newcap asks for flexibility in local TV requirements

Newcap Inc. is asking the CRTC for more flexibility in how the company meets local programming requirements for two television stations in Lloydminster, Alta.

In an application posted to the commission’s website on Friday, Newcap said it is struggling with local programing requirements for CKSA-DT and CITL-DT that increased by 50 per cent last year, and less financial support to meet those goals.

Ultra-HD TV ownership in U.S to hit 33% by 2020: report

The ownership rate of ultra-high-definition televisions will hit 33 per cent in the United States by 2020, up from less than 10 per cent now, according to a report from Strategy Analytics.

The research group said in a press release Monday that North America overall would have a world leading Ultra-HD TV penetration rate of 32 per cent, by broader region, by 2020, followed by Western Europe at 22 per cent and Asia Pacific at 18 per cent.

Consumers ‘embracing mobile technology’ for social networking: report

More users of social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are connecting to those sites on mobile devices, MTM, a CBC/Radio-Canada project, said in a report Thursday.

Cord-cutters dominate Internet usage: report

North American cord-cutters are dominating Internet network usage market by consuming more than seven times the typical subscriber, according to a report Wednesday from Sandvine Inc.

On average, cord-cutters consume 212 GB over the Internet per month while the typical Internet subscriber will use about 29 GB per month, Sandvine, a Waterloo, Ont.-based provider of broadband network services for fixed and mobile operators, said in a press release.

Mobile TV is not a broadcast distribution service: CNOC

Mobile-TV services, such as that offered by BCE Inc.'s Bell Mobility subsidiary, are not broadcast distribution services, critics said in final reply letters that were due this week in a case before the CRTC regarding the legality of exempting those services from customers’ regular data caps.

Africa Sports channel considered for distribution

The CRTC is considering an application to approve for distribution in Canada a U.S.-based channel that specializes in African soccer.

BeIN Sports gets carriage on Eastlink, Videotron

BeIN Sports Canada, the sports specialty television network owned by Qatari Sports Investments, said Tuesday that it is adding its channel to the East Coast and Quebec markets through Eastlink and Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron.

MTS squeezes more profit out of less revenue

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. said Tuesday that its first-quarter earnings were up as expenses declined in the face of lower revenue.

The company’s financial statements indicated it had net income of $41.9 million in the three months ended March 31, up from $30.9 million a year before. Its revenue was $401.5 million for the period, down 1.3 per cent from the previous year. Operating expenses, combined with depreciation and amortization costs, fell to $327.4 million from $343.3 million in the first quarter of 2013.

Two non-Canadian, Greek-langage TV channels approved

The CRTC on Friday announced the approval of two separate applications for Greek-language, non-Canadian TV channels to be distributed in Canada.

Soundview Entertainment Inc. was the sponsor for both.

One channel is RIK, which the CRTC said in an online post is a 24-hour general interest service originating in Cyprus. The other is called 4E TV, which was also described as a 24-hour general interest service, though it’s based in Greece.

New Netflix customers to pay $1 more

Netflix Inc. is raising its monthly subscription rates for new customers to a basic cost of $8.99 from $7.99 per month, though existing customers are getting a two-year reprieve from the higher price.

Emails went out to customers on Friday, informing them that the price hike is needed “to continue adding more movies and TV shows,” but that as a “thank you,” existing customers would not pay the higher rate for two years.

CRTC dismisses complaints against Hindi women’s channels

The CRTC dismissed one challenge and overruled another on Thursday against Ethnic Channels Group Ltd., the operator of a channel aimed at Hindi-speaking women, allowing them to add a second channel of the same type to their offerings.

Asian Television Network International Ltd. (ATN) had complained to the CRTC that the Zee TV Canada channel, Ethnic Channels Group’s first channel for Hindi-speaking women, was operating as a general-interest service rather than a niche third-language channel as required by its licence.

Quebecor earnings up as wireless revenue surges

Quebecor Inc. improved its bottom line in this year’s first quarter as its telecommunications segment saw a revenue boost of 4.8 per cent, featuring some strong gains in its wireless business.

Revenue was up 1.1 per cent from a year earlier to $1.04 billion, the company said in a press release Thursday. Net income rose to $40.7 million from $35.6 million in last year’s first quarter, it added.

VMedia plans could ‘undermine’ broadcast system: Ethnic Channels

Granting VMedia Inc. licences to operate a national video-on-demand (VOD) service and expand its broadcast distribution service would mean approving a distribution structure that would “undermine the entire broadcasting system,” according to Ethnic Channels Group Ltd.

Uncertain future for targeted TV ads in Canada

One of television’s strengths as a vehicle for advertising has always been its ability to reach a lot of people with the same message at the same time. The industry has the technological capability to move in a different direction now and already has, to some degree, in the United States.

Possibilities exist that can allow TV advertisers to reach smaller groups of individuals with their commercials that target households in specific locations and in particular demographic groups.

Another U.S. cableco offers Netflix

Another U.S. cable company said it will provide the services of Netflix Inc. to its customers through set-top boxes made by TiVo Inc.

Suddenlink Communications announced the arrangement in a press release on Tuesday, saying it’s the largest U.S. cable operator to date, with 1.2 million TV-service subscribers, “to provide its customers seamless access to Netflix through the same set-top box they already use to watch television.”

Suddenlink said the arrangement with Netflix will take effect in the summer.

CBC conventional-TV financial performance improves: CRTC

CBC/Radio-Canada’s conventional-television operations improved their financial performance in the 12 months ended last August while private-sector, over-the-air TV stations collectively recorded their first loss before interest and taxes since the recession of 2009, according to the CRTC.

Numbers released by the commission on Tuesday showed that CBC’s conventional-TV stations recorded a profit before interest and taxes of $11.9 million in the broadcast year ended Aug. 31, 2013, up from $3.5 million a year earlier.

TSN expands to 5 national feeds

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media division announced Tuesday that it will expand TSN from two to five national feeds this fall.

According to a press release, the five national feeds will be branded as TSN1, TSN2, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5. All TSN feeds will be available to subscribers both online and through the TSN Go application, Bell said.

Price hikes for sports in pick-and-pay ‘big concern’: CMPA lawyer

OTTAWA — The CRTC would be unlikely to intervene if a move to pick-and-pay television caused price increases, said Reynolds Martin, chief negotiator and chief legal officer at the Canadian Media Production Association.

“I wonder what remedies would be available to the commission, because my supposition is that it’s going to be extremely reluctant to engage in any kind of rate regulation exercise over and above what’s been contemplated [and] done in the past,” he said during a panel discussion at a communication law conference in Ottawa on Thursday.

Video-on-demand, pay-per-view revenues fall: CRTC

Television providers earned less from their video-on-demand services last year, according to CRTC data released Wednesday, despite investing in increasing the availability of content.

The CRTC said in the statistical and financial summaries for Canadian specialty, pay, pay-per-view and video-on-demand (VOD) services that revenues for VOD services fell nearly 3.6 per cent in 2013, to $254.5 million. That decline is a change from the revenue increases reported for the previous four years; in 2012, revenues were up 2.5 per cent while they increased 25.3 per cent in 2011.

Tangible benefits spending dropped 39% last year: report

Television broadcasters’ spending on tangible benefits related to acquisitions dropped 39 per cent for the 12 months ended last August, according to a new report.

Boon Dog Professional Services, an Ottawa-based research group, said in a press release that spending on tangible benefits amounted to $108.8 million in 2012-13, down from a record $177.1 million in 2011-12.

Sun News gets on Bell, Bell Aliant TV services

Quebecor Inc.’s Sun News Network said Tuesday it has reached agreements for carriage on BCE Inc.’s Bell Fibe and satellite TV service, along with Bell Aliant Inc.’s FibreOP TV.

The terms of the agreements are consistent with the new CRTC framework for Canadian specialty news services that grants the must-offer status to Canada’s national all-news specialty services, Sun News said in a press release.

Alan Dark to head national sales at Rogers Media

Rogers Communications Inc. on Tuesday said Alan Dark will take over as vice-president of national sales at Rogers Media, starting May 26.

The company said he will be based in Toronto and set the strategic direction for national sales teams.

Rogers said Dark was most recently the general manager of CBC/Radio-Canada’s Revenue Group, and has also worked for Canwest MediaWorks, Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting and CTV.

CTV launches online platform for digital series

BCE Inc.’s CTV network is launching an online platform for digital series, the company’s media division said in a release Tuesday.

It said the platform, called CTV Extend, will be supported by advertising and feature “more than 10 series and 120 episodes.”

The release described the platform as a “first in Canada for a private Canadian broadcaster,” and said that it would feature commissioned series, acquired programs and extensions of CTV shows.

Ending simultaneous substitution could be ‘huge financial hit’: analyst

If the CRTC ends the practice of simultaneous substitution, as it has suggested it could as part of its review of television, conventional broadcasters would be in for a “huge financial hit,” said Barry Kiefl, president of Canadian Media Research Inc.

“This has been estimated to be worth anywhere from $200 to $300 million in additional advertising revenue that private broadcasters receive, and a lot of that would just basically be cut off because the audience would no longer be watching the Canadian ads,” he said.

Netflix to be carried by U.S. TV providers

Netflix Inc.’s video streaming service is poised to be a feature of some providers of television service in the United States, as opposed to just competing with them.

RCN Telecom Services LLC, Grande Communications LLC and Atlantic Broadband said in a joint press release Friday that they will offer Netflix to customers through set-top boxes made by TiVo Inc.

Atlantic Broadband is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada’s Cogeco Cable Inc.

CRTC backs pick-and-pay while acknowledging ‘risks’

The CRTC has officially endorsed a move toward pick-and-pay television, though it has admitted the transition to such a model is unlikely to be pain-free.

The commission proposed in a report Thursday that television-service providers be required to allow customers to choose all their channels beyond a basic package that consists of Canadian over-the-air channels, those deemed to be of public interest such as CPAC or the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, provincial educational channels, community channels and services operated by provincial legislatures.

Verizon numbers up on wireless growth

Verizon Communications Inc. said earnings and revenue were up in the first quarter largely on strength from the wireless side of the business.

The company’s financial figures released Thursday showed revenue was up 4.8 per cent from a year earlier to $30.82 billion US for the three months ended March 31. Net income was $6 billion US for that period, up from $4.86 billion US a year earlier.

Verizon said in a press release the results included the impact of taking full ownership of Verizon Wireless in February.

AT&T reports fastest revenue growth in years

AT&T on Tuesday said its first quarter featured its strongest year-to-year revenue growth in more than two years.

The U.S. telecommunications company said in a press release that revenue in the three months ended March 31 was $32.5 billion US, up 3.6 per cent from a year earlier. It said it now expects full-year revenue growth of four per cent or more.

Net income for the quarter stayed the same as a year earlier, at $3.7 billion US.