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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 …

Bell to launch new on-demand services, content hub

BCE Inc. will launch two new ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) services, rebrand its entertainment specialty channels and centralize its content portfolio under one digital roof. 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 …

CRTC approves 4K travel channel

The CRTC has approved Travelxp 4K, a channel focusing on travel, for distribution 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 Report now. FREE …

Nantel accuses Joly of holding cultural sector ‘hostage’

NDP Heritage critic Pierre Nantel took Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly to task for launching another consultation Tuesday instead of proposing legislative change, during Joly’s appearance at the House heritage committee Thursday morning. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Experts to ‘find solutions’ in broadcast, telecom review: Joly

OTTAWA — The expert panel appointed by the federal government to spearhead its review of the Telecommunications Act and Broadcasting Act will have to figure out how to ensure all companies “pay their fair share” without increasing any costs for Canadians, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly said Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Corus set to launch short-form content series on Twitter

Corus Entertainment Inc. is partnering with Twitter Inc. to bring short-form “premium content” on the social media platform. 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 …

ISED won’t rule out using spectrum proceeds for CanCon: Bains

OTTAWA — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains and Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly had slightly different messages in response to the issue of new recommendations from the CRTC potentially increasing telecom and media service costs for Canadian consumers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Growth of OTT doesn’t affect broadcast competition: Comp Bureau

The growth of over-the-top (OTT) services did not change the mind of the Competition Bureau when it rejected a deal earlier this week involving two French-language 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. …

CRTC calls for ISPs to pay for CanCon, ‘equitable’ OTT contributions

GATINEAU — The CRTC is recommending the government undertake a bevy of changes to the Canadian content system, including a new approach to funding content that would include contributions from telecom service providers and see online services make “equitable” contributions. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Corus and Bell terminate Historia, Series+ deal

Corus Entertainment Inc. said it has come to an agreement with BCE Inc. to officially terminate a previous arrangement that would’ve seen two of its French-language specialty channels sold to Bell, after the Competition Bureau rejected the deal earlier this week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Music Canada asks MPs for action on radio royalties, copy levy

The federal government should remove a 20-year-old radio royalty exception, allow royalties for music used in soundtracks, and extend copyright terms and the private copying levy, Music Canada told MPs 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 …

Historia, Series+ sale blocked in surprise move

The Competition Bureau has blocked the $200 million sale of the Historia and Series+ channels from Corus Entertainment Inc. to BCE Inc., saying that the reasons that led the bureau to force Bell to divest the channels in the first place were still valid. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

Solve repackaging tiff yourselves: CRTC to Bell, Shaw

Shaw Communications Inc. can repackage BCE Inc.’s Investigation Discovery and there is no need for the regulator to get involved in the disagreement between the two, the CRTC told the two companies. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Copyright Act review shifts gears to radio, TV

The ongoing review of the Copyright Act will begin focusing on the music, radio, television and film sectors next 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 …

CraveTV price increases to help make up for advertising pressure: analyst

Increasing prices for BCE Inc.’s CraveTV will help improve the performance of Bell’s media division, National Bank analyst Adam Shine said in a Friday note. 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 …

Change Bell Fund rules, media companies ask

On Monday, the CRTC published a complaint from a group of media production companies including CBC/Radio-Canada outlining how, in their view, the BCE Inc.-supported Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, or Bell Fund, falls short in the evaluation, allocation and governance of its Canadian media funding. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

New numbers emerge in mandatory carriage renewal consultation

The CRTC has issued a call for comments after correcting the data it used to determine wholesale rates during the regulator’s look at mandatory carriage renewals, according to a Friday letter.  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 …

FairPlay hits back, claims piracy cost TV providers as much as $761M

The FairPlay coalition has responded to the laundry list of criticism directed toward its proposal to implement a website-blocking regime to fight piracy, arguing, among other points, that the thousands of comments from individuals against the proposal aren’t representative of Canadians’ views. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

DHX sells portion of Peanuts to reduce debt

Halifax-based DHX Media Inc. announced plans on Monday to sell some of its ownership of the Peanuts brand to Sony Corp., in a $237 million cash deal. 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. …

Filipino company asks for set-top box sale shutdown in Ontario

A media company from the Philippines is asking a Canadian court to put an end to sales of pre-loaded set-top boxes in Brampton, Ont. that it alleges are infringing its copyright. 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 …

CRTC OKs ‘vicarious living’ channel for distribution

The CRTC has added a channel focused on “inviting and vicarious living programming” to its list of non-Canadian channels authorized for distribution Friday, following an application 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 …

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 says cord-cutting stable, eying IPTV to grow TV ARPU

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron said it won’t force the migration of its cable customers to its new IPTV product, though it expects the new service to grow its television average revenue per user (ARPU), Videotron CEO Manon Brouillette said Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

CRTC rejects Quebecor complaint over minimum fee guarantee

The CRTC has dismissed a complaint by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron that claimed Rogers Communications Inc. was imposing minimum guarantees prohibited by the Wholesale Code on some 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 …

CRTC approves ‘pro-Trump’ news channel for distribution

The CRTC said it approved an application brought by Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. to bring an American 24-hour conservative news channel for broadcast 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 …

Industry’s hot streak in wireless continues with Bell’s record Q1

The first three months of 2018 represented one of the most competitive in the wireless business that BCE Inc. head George Cope has seen, he said Thursday, alluding to the record number of wireless subscriber gains in the industry. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Reality TV streaming service launching in Canada

Hayu, a streaming service from Comcast Corp.‘s NBC Universal focusing on reality TV programming, will launch 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 …

Quebecor buying Groupe Serdy for $24M

Quebecor Inc. will add two new channels to its stable of specialty services with the acquisition of Groupe Serdy, announced 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 you need. Take a free trial or subscribe …

CRTC OKs Shalom World despite opposition from ZoomerMedia

A new specialty channel focusing on Catholic programming won’t compete with ZoomerMedia Ltd.’s multi-faith channel VisionTV, the CRTC said Tuesday in approving Shalom World for distribution 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 …

Rogers, Bell add junk food bill concerns to lobby efforts

Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. have registered to lobby the government on proposed Senate legislation, now moving through the House, to quell the impact of junk food advertising on children, joining critics who lobbied heavily in March about the bill they say will significantly affect the health of traditional TV. This content is available …

CBS All Access launches early in Canada

CBS Corp.’s All Access streaming service is now available in Canada, the company said in a press release Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The …

Exec shakeups at DHX continue

DHX Media Inc. has appointed a new president, chief operating officer (COO) and created the new position of chief commercial officer as its co-founder prepares to leave the company. 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 …

CRTC asks for public input on Canada’s next multi-ethnic channel licensee

The CRTC wants Canadians to weigh in as it considers the candidates competing for a licence for a multi-ethnic channel with mandatory carriage on basic TV packages. 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. …

Cogeco qualifies for wireless auction, CEO says no more

Despite qualifying this week for an auction of wireless spectrum, the head of Cogeco Inc. refused to answer questions about the company’s intentions on wireless going forward. 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. …

Freedom on new, ‘sustainable’ trajectory after record sub adds: Shaw

On the heels of record wireless subscriber growth in its second quarter, Shaw Communication Inc.’s Freedom is on a path to steady growth, its president said on a conference call Thursday, emboldened by migrations to higher-priced data plans and stronger retention of existing customers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

MAtv class action suit gets go-ahead

Quebec’s Superior Court will hear a class-action lawsuit related to the MAtv community TV channel operated by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …

New director for Bell Media French-language sales in Toronto

Mark Anthony Di Cio has been named director of sales of the Toronto division of BCE Inc.’s Bell Media French-language TV and RDS sales department. 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 …

Rogers can outsource Chinese-language newscasts: CRTC

The CRTC has turned down a complaint by Unifor against Rogers Communications Inc.’s media division for contracting out its Chinese-language newscasts to Fairchild Media Group Inc. instead of producing them in-house. 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 …

Spike in complaints causing delays at CCTS, mid-year report outlines

Complaints by Canadians about their telecom services increased so much in the second half of 2017 that the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) is experiencing delays in handling some of the files as a result of the increased workload. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

71% of households with Kodi can access unlicensed content: Sandvine

The vast majority of households with Kodi in Canada have the software configured to access unlicensed content, according to a report by Sandvine Corp. 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 …

Corus plans TV ad tech test next month

Corus Entertainment Inc. is “accelerating” its transformation into a more data-centric company, its CEO said Thursday, as the broadcaster looks to begin testing a new platform next month that he says will give advertisers a better way to target ads on traditional television. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

FairPlay regime ineffective, counter to Telecom Act: opponents

A proposal to implement a website-blocking system to fight piracy has drawn opposition from academics and advocacy groups in Canada, as well as input from international players and unusually high engagement 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, …

New CEO’s content background indicates shift at CBC: experts

OTTAWA — Catherine Tait’s appointment as head of CBC/Radio-Canada is signalling a shift at the public broadcaster, as she becomes the first woman to lead the CBC and the first to bring extensive content production experience to the role, according to experts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Bell adds Toronto production studio to its portfolio

BCE Inc. ‘s media division has purchased a majority stake in a Toronto production studio, according to a release on Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …

Quebecor, cultural groups praise Que. budget digital sales tax

The Quebec government’s 2018 budget, unveiled Tuesday, includes a measure to impose sales tax on digital services sold in the province. 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 …

Turkish, French channels approved for distribution

The CRTC has approved applications by Thema Canada, part of Vivendi SA’s Canal+ Group, to add TRT World and Studio Canal to its list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

CRTC consulting on Historia, Séries+ sale

The CRTC is accepting comments on the sale of the Historia and Séries+ specialty channels from Corus Entertainment Inc. to BCE Inc. 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 …

In telecoms’ year-end, cord-cutting slows, wireline grows

Canada’s publicly-traded telecoms lost fewer TV subscribers in 2017 than in each of the previous two years, while they added enough wireless customers to beat last year’s record high of new wireless adds. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Radio-Canada asks broadcasters ‘to pool our strengths’ on OTT, content

CBC/Radio-Canada is in negotiations over opening up its French-language Tou.tv over-the-top (OTT) service “to other broadcasters, producers and creators,” said Michel Bissonnette, executive vice-president of French services, in an open letter. 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 …

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 …

CRTC approves Jamaican, Portuguese channels for distribution

The CRTC has approved applications by Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. to add five new channels to the commission’s list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution. 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 …

Anglophone TV subs down slightly to 73%: MTM

The percentage of anglophones subscribing to TV service fell to 73 per cent in 2017 from 75 per cent a year earlier, according to the latest numbers from CBC/Radio-Canada’s Media Technology Monitor (MTM) project. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

CCSA says Rogers violating the rules in affiliation agreement dispute

  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. FREE TRIAL Two weeks free access to thewirereport.ca and our exlusive newsletters. Register for free …

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 …

Money for CanCon in budget stopgap measure: CMPA

The 2018 federal budget, released Tuesday, confirmed the Canadian Media Fund (CMF) will receive top ups to offset declining private industry contributions, and included new funding efforts to support local journalism. 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 …

Bell offering steep discounts for Toronto condo dwellers: analyst

BCE Inc. is advertising unusually low-priced promotional offers in downtown Toronto apartment buildings and condos in a bid to gain market share, according to a research note from Barclays analyst Phillip Huang. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

DHX’s CEO, CFO departures no surprise: analyst

Both Dana Landry, DHX Media Ltd.’s CEO, and CFO Keith Abriel are leaving the company, DHX said in a press release Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

Data, programmatic ads benefit in telecoms’ media ownership: Moody’s

Data insights and programmatic advertising that could disrupt digital media’s dominance are factors that could reap longer-term benefits for Canadian telecoms that own media properties, according to a report from Moody’s Corp. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Don’t allow white space devices above 608 MHz, ISED hears

Innovation Canada (ISED) is hearing from both telecoms and broadcasters that it should go ahead with its proposal to limit white space devices to bands below 608 MHz, though for very different reasons. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Judge upholds injunction against Kodi add-on host

The Federal Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of a number of telecoms in their case against the man behind TV AddOns. 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 …

Bell asking employees to support FairPlay at CRTC: report

BCE Inc. is allegedly encouraging its employees to submit comments to the CRTC supporting the anti-online piracy proposal Bell is backing as part of a bigger coalition, University of Ottawa professor Michael Geist wrote on his blog on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Alt TV quietly becoming significant for Bell: Barclays

BCE Inc.’s Alt TV service is its “underappreciated driver for broadband growth,” Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang said in a research note following a meeting with Bell CEO George Cope. 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 …

CBS All Access coming to Canada in June

CBS Corp.’s All Access streaming service is coming to Canada in June, the company’s president and CEO said on a conference call Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …

Get rid of digital media exemption, CUPE asks CRTC

CUPE’s Provincial Council for Communications (CPSC) in Quebec is calling on the CRTC to drop the rules that exempt digital over-the-top (OTT) services from the same regulations as traditional broadcasters, in a news release on Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

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 …

Corus cutting 80 news jobs, many in ‘traditional TV production’

Corus Entertainment Inc. has confirmed it is eliminating close “to 80 positions across the country” in its news business, though the company also said it would add 50 digital news jobs. 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 …

Britbox officially launches in Canada

After hints Britbox was coming to Canada but with no specific date, the British television streaming service officially launched 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 to …

Bell played fair in carriage dispute with Ebox: CRTC

In a decision on Monday, the CRTC ruled that BCE Inc. did not subject independent telecom Ebox Inc. to an undue disadvantage during carriage negotiations. 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 …

Telecoms defend FairPlay to MPs, call for 5G net neutrality flexibility

OTTAWA — Representatives from Canada’s biggest telecoms argued that flexibility in Canada’s net neutrality framework will be necessary with the advent of 5G, as they answered questions about a proposal to block websites hosting pirated content from parliamentarians Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Ian Morrison steps down from watchdog Friends

Ian Morrison, the co-founder of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, is handing over the reins of the organization after 32 years leading the watchdog. 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 …

CRTC approves English Club TV for distribution

The CRTC has approved VMedia Inc.’s application to bring to Canada a channel that helps viewers improve their English, according to a Thursday decision. 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 …

Bell, Telus report wireless sub gains from December promos

BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. both reported quarterly results for the three months ending on Dec. 31 Wednesday, and while both had significant increases in wireless customer additions, Bell especially appeared to benefit from December’s week of heightened competition. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

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 …

Bell’s Snackable TV officially on the menu

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media has officially launched a free, ad-supported mobile app featuring video content in “snack-sized” portions, calling it a “growing new area” in 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 telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

As TiVo targets Telus, three telecoms now all fighting TV patent claims

Telus Corp. is now the third Canadian telecom to be sued by TiVo Corp. over patents related to the operation of its TV services. 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 …

Ad-supported VOD rising as OTT grips TV market

OTTAWA — More competition in the over-the-top (OTT) space is driving a trend of more ad-supported video-on-demand (VOD) services, panelists told a media conference on 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 …

Joly cites confidentiality for redactions in Netflix ATIP request

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly faced questions this week about why a 700-page access to information request containing emails between the federal government and Netflix Inc. was published with the majority of the text redacted. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Canadian media industry still behind on data, conference hears

OTTAWA — The Canadian television industry is behind the curve when it comes to using data to tailor content to audiences and drive ad revenue, panelists at a media conference said Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

TFO looking for participants for March blockchain test

OTTAWA — A Canada Media Fund-backed initiative to implement blockchain technology that would make it more efficient to credit content and pay rightsholders will begin testing of the system in March. 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 …

TiVo expands patent suit to include Bell

TiVo Corp. is going after a second Canadian telecom for patent infringement, claiming in a lawsuit filed in Federal Court this month that BCE Inc. is illegally using certain functions for its TV products without a licence. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Canadian media icon Jay Switzer dies

Jay Switzer, the co-founder of Hollywood Suite Inc., has passed away at 61 after battling brain cancer, the broadcasting company said in a Monday 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 news you need. Take …

1% increase for PNI not enough, creative groups say

Creative groups are standing their ground on spending for programs of national interest (PNI), suggesting that a marginal increase in funding for those programs proposed by the large English-language broadcasters last month is not enough to support Canadian content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

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 …

‘Technical issue’ hurt Rogers churn during Dec. wireless promos: CEO

Rogers Communications Inc.’s systems had a technical glitch that negatively affected the company as it dealt with a high number of customer requests during an industry-wide promotional frenzy in December, executives said Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Bill on junk food ads for kids could do ‘significant damage’: Corus

Proposed legislation intended to combat the marketing of unhealthy food and drink to children will have an adverse effect on broadcasters due to a loss of much-needed advertising revenue at a critical time for traditional TV, broadcaster Corus Entertainment Inc. is arguing.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

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 Media signs deal with Lionsgate, TMN Encore to become Starz

  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. FREE TRIAL Two weeks free access to thewirereport.ca and our exlusive newsletters. Register for free …

Rogers partnership with Vice ends, Viceland to stop broadcasting

Viceland, a specialty channel targeting millennials launched as part of a partnership between Rogers Communications Inc. and Vice Media Inc., will stop broadcasting on March 31, according to a press release on Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …