Partial sale would bring benefits to SaskTel: Desjardins

The sale of a stake in Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. would help the crown corporation when it comes to adopting new technologies, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi.

“The scale of a large telecom player could help SaskTel implement upcoming technologies, such as 5G, more easily,” Yaghi said in a Friday note, pointing to the “technological insight and purchasing power of a potential partner.”

David McGovern moves to ISED

The former deputy national security advisor to the prime minister has been appointed to a position in the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), effective Monday.

David McGovern will become associate deputy minister of ISED, a move that is part of a shuffle in the public service by the prime minister's office, according to an April 28 press release.  

McGovern has held government positions since 1996, according to the site. He began his most recent position in the Privy Council Office in January 2015.

CRTC grants two new radio licences

The CRTC has approved two applications for new radio broadcasting licences, for a community FM station in Kingston, Ont., and a commercial ethnic FM station in Toronto.

It granted an application for the Toronto station to a numbered company held by Leonard Lobardi and Theresa Lombardi, which already holds a licence for the ethnic AM radio station CHIN Toronto.

Nitin Kawale leaves Rogers

Rogers Communications Inc.’s Nitin Kawale is leaving his position as president of the company’s enterprise business division.

“Nitin Kawale has decided to move on from Rogers and focus on his philanthropic and community activities,” Sarah Schmidt, Rogers’ director of media relations said in an emailed statement. “We thank him for his contributions to our enterprise business.”

Shoan vows court challenge of second dismissal from CRTC

Raj Shoan, the CRTC’s regional commissioner for Ontario who was fired again just four days after a return to his post, said he will be heading back to court to challenge the second order-in-council removing him from the regulatory body.

Rob Farina given expanded radio role

Rob Farina will take on the role of head of radio content, strategy and iHeartRadio for BCE Inc.’s media division, the company announced in a Thursday press release.

The position, effective May 29, will follow the departure of David Corey, Bell Media’s vice-president of radio programming, who is leaving the company “for a new opportunity in the U.S.,” the release said.

Cultural exemptions at risk in NAFTA renegotiations: Nantel

NDP heritage critic Pierre Nantel is raising the alarm that cultural protection could be on the chopping block if a wholesale renegotiation of the country’s trade agreement with the United States and Mexico occurs, and is asking the heritage minister to take a stand.

Competition Bureau shouldn’t compel market studies: C.D. Howe

Granting the Competition Bureau additional powers to compel businesses to provide information for market studies “could result in significant costs for Canadian businesses,” according to the C.D. Howe Institute.

It noted in a release Thursday that John Pecman, the commissioner of competition, has advocated for such powers, stating that agencies in other countries are able to compel information from regulators and companies.

Illegal streaming on Kodi boxes in 6% of households: Sandvine

A new report from broadband equipment maker Sandvine Corp. says about six per cent of households in North America “currently have a Kodi device configured to access unlicensed content.”

Overall ownership of the boxes sits at 8.8 per cent, the report said. It noted that because the boxes don’t come with any content, and it is up to the user to configure them, “it’s best to view Kodi as a piece of software in the same way that we think of web browsers and other media players.”

CBC privatization bill dies in House

A private member’s bill to privatize CBC/Radio-Canada met a decisive defeat Wednesday night, after members of Parliament voted 260-6 to send it to the legislation graveyard.