As broadcast regulators review Bell’s $3.4B takeover of Astral Media, we’ve been reviewing how this acquisition would increase telecom prices, saturate Canada’s media channels and severely limit consumer choice. Beyond affecting Canadians on a national level, Bell’s takeover could take away from Francophone cultural identity, to which Astral Media has
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OpenMedia.ca: Online Services are great for Canadians, but threaten Big Telecom
Big telecom companies are feeling the squeeze as online services are offering Canadians alternative, cheaper ways to communicate and get access to diverse media content. These include video services like YouTube, AppleTV, and Netflix, and Internet-based social messaging services. These services provide an easily customizable and far more affordable alternative
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: VMedia: What Bell’s takeover means for Canadians
The hearings on Bell’s $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media has ended, but we need to make sure we keep speaking out as the CRTC makes its decision as to whether or not the deal will be approved. Join our StopTheTakeover.ca campaign and let your voice be heard in telling our
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The Globe & Mail: Competition Bureau could step in to stop Bell’s takeover
Canada’s Competition Bureau is keeping a close eye on Bell’s $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media, saying that it could strike down the deal even if it passes review by broadcast regulators. Of primary concern is Bell’s increasing vertical integration, meaning that it owns both producers of content (networks) and the
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Huffington Post: Netflix exec says "Canadians have almost third-world access to the Internet"
Big telecom companies across Canada are continuing to employ ‘usage-based billing’, an punitive billing practice that restricts data allowances. Though many of you fought back against UBB via the Stop The Meter campaign—you prevented it from being imposed across the entire Internet service market—Big Telecom continues to use it to
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The CRTC made a priority list – We’re checking it twice
The CRTC is making attempts to emphasize affordability, access and a focus on citizen issues with a revised priorities document that was released late last week. By shifting towards an outlook that keeps the best interests of Canadians first and foremost, rather than heeding to corporate industry-defined mandates, the CRTC
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Financial Post: Bell’s vertical integration hearings begin
CRTC hearings began this morning on Bell’s proposed $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media. If the deal is approved, it would greatly increase Bell’s media ownership across Canada’s broadcast spectrum – all at the expense of restricting fair market choice and competition for Canadians. The time to unite and speak out
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: STC: Broadband costs decline – so why don’t our prices?
Canadian citizens are being price-gouged by Big Telecom even as their costs seemingly go down. We’re paying more but falling behind and getting less than our global counterparts due to restrictive data caps that are becoming increasingly prevalent. We’ve seen how Big Telecom has avoided being transparent about their pricing
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Huffington Post: How Bell’s takeover will worsen Canada’s media concentration
We’ve seen how the Bell/Astral deal is bad for consumer choice before, but a new report is shedding further light on this vertical integration of Canada’s communications. Currently, 81.4% of the value of Canada’s TV distribution market is controlled by companies that also create content, meaning that Big Telecom companies
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The Globe & Mail: Rogers and Bell to purchase majority stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
Two of Canada’s biggest media conglomerates, Bell and Rogers, are partnering up. Their goal? To take control of the iconic Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment group. The CRTC approved the deal yesterday, which includes three TV channels, several sports teams, and even some real estate holdings. With the CRTC giving
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: TorrentFreak.com: New data exposes Canadian ISPs throttling download speeds
Canadian citizens are paying for Internet access, but Big Telecom isn’t being completely open about the restrictions that they’ve been imposing. With new data just published by the Measurement Lab, Canadian service providers such as Bell and Rogers have been exposed as interfering with over 75% of torrent transfers and
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Financial Post – Canada’s telecom giants face $18-billion class action suit over system access fees
An $18-billion class-action suit has received the go-ahead to proceed against Canada’s Big Telecom companies. What’s the contested litigation? The long-imposed – but often vague – system access fees. Late last month, The Supreme Court of Canada rejected an appeal issued by Bell, Rogers and Telus (among others) that argued
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CBC: Rogers contracts push the envelope, lawyer says
Rogers costumers in fixed-term contracts have no choice but to accept rate hikes or pay steep fees to end their contract. Does this seem fair to you? If you are sick of telecom price-gouging, take action by signing our Stop the Squeeze petition and make the switch to an indy
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Financial Post: Big telcos warn of ‘market shake-out’ if pick-and-pay TV model adopted
Big Telecoms Rogers and Shaw are lobbying against the so-called ‘a la carte’ model that would allow customers to pick and pay for individual channels. The CRTC also expressed concern over the pick-and-pay system saying that a lack of choice and flexibility could lead to consumers leaving the broadcasting system.
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