CBC News managers have been put on notice to avoid using unverified video from sites like YouTube by CBC Ombudsman Esther Enkin. Enkin investigated a viewer complaint surrounding a discredited video purportedly taken by a passenger on a New York-bound flight hit by a drone, used in the context of a story about the air crew on a Montreal-to-Ottawa flight, reporting they had to avoid a drone on approach. CBC News Ottawa managing editor Ruth Zowdu agreed using the footage from the internet was “sloppy journalism and did not meet CBC standards and practices.”
Rogers is appealing a Federal Court of Appeal ruling preventing the company from demanding payment from copyright owners who want help finding suspected movie and TV pirates using its networks. Rogers’ application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada states “If upheld, the decision imposes costs and burdens on ISPs that are not contemplated by the legislative scheme, and that will require innocent users to bear compliance costs that should be borne by infringers.”
TELUS Q2 2017 results show consolidated operating revenue increases of 3.9 per cent to $3.3 billion in the second quarter, over the same period a year ago. Profit slipped 7.2 per cent to $386-million or 64 cents a share with the company spending more on handset subsidies. In wireless, network revenue increased by 7.2 per cent to $1.7 billion, reflecting higher ARPU as customers move to higher-rate plans, increased data usage, and continued postpaid subscriber growth, including subscribers acquired from Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS). In wireline, data services and equipment revenue increased by 5.6 per cent to $1.0 billion. In the quarter, TELUS attracted 121,000 new wireless postpaid, high-speed Internet and TV customers, up 29,000 over the same quarter a year ago.
Quebecor Inc.’s Q2 2017 consolidated financial results show revenue up four per cent to $1.03 billion, from the same period of 2016. Adjusted operating income was $395.3 million, up $35.0 million (9.7%), the largest quarterly year-over-year increase in almost five years.
Net income attributable to shareholders was $132.4 million ($1.09 per basic share) in the second quarter of 2017, compared with $9.8 million ($0.08 per basic share). The Telecommunications segment grew its revenues by $39.7 million (5.1%) and its adjusted operating income by $26.3 million (7.3%), while Videotron significantly increased its revenues from mobile telephony ($26.8 million or 21.8%), Internet access ($13.9 million or 5.7%), business solutions ($4.6 million or 17.1%) and the Club illico over‑the‑top video service ($2.4 million or 32.4%). Recognized in the second quarter was Videotron’s sale of AWS-1 spectrum licence in Metro Toronto to Rogers for $184.2 million. The Media segment grew its adjusted operating income by $8.4 million (121.7%), mainly the result of higher broadcast advertising and subscription revenues.
Freedom Mobile’s 185 call centre employees in Windsor have voted to reject a “final offer” from the company. The employees joined the United Steelworkers (USW) in January and began negotiations for their first collective agreement in March. The USW says it’s looking to resume talks.
Registration is open for the Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) Connection 2017 annual conference and awards gala scheduled for Nov. 9 at the Marriott Toronto Airport. Find out more here.
