Feds Announce over $86M in UBF Money to Expand High-Speed Internet Access in Nunavut
The Canadian government is allocating over $86 million CAD (≈ $63 million USD) from its $3.225 billion CAD Universal Broadband Fund (≈ $2.35 billion USD) to Northwestel’s project that will deliver unlimited high‑speed internet to 11,650 households across all 25 Nunavut communities. The rollout, slated for completion by March 2029, will rely on Telesat’s Lightspeed low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellation. A 2019 $600 million CAD (≈ $438 million USD) agreement with Telesat secures reduced‑rate capacity for remote providers. The initiative moves Canada toward its 2030 goal of 100 percent high‑speed broadband coverage.
Bell Media, Ottawa Senators Extend Regional Broadcast Rights Agreement
Bell Media and the Ottawa Senators have signed a long‑term extension that keeps TSN and its French counterpart RDS as the regional television broadcasters for Senators games. TSN Radio 1200 also remains the exclusive English‑language radio partner, delivering live play‑by‑play...
Appeal Court Finds CMPA Copyright Complaint Premature
The Federal Court of Appeal ruled that the Canadian Media Producers Association’s (CMPA) application to challenge the CRTC’s 20 percent copyright‑control threshold under the Online Streaming Act is premature. The court held that the CRTC’s definition has not yet been finalized,...
Cogeco, Eastlink Say They Will Not Stop Decommissioning Despite CRTC Request
Canadian regulator CRTC asked cable operators Cogeco and Eastlink to keep legacy copper infrastructure accessible to wholesale ISPs TekSavvy and Fibernetics. Both incumbents replied they will proceed with scheduled decommissioning, citing economic infeasibility and lack of binding authority from CRTC...
ISED Extends Telesat’s Use of Ku-Band for Broadcasting Services
Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) has approved an extension of Telesat’s use of the extended Ku (xKu) band for direct‑to‑home (DTH) broadcasting until November 2039. The decision keeps Shaw Direct’s service, operated by Rogers, on air for another decade, reversing...
Sony Wants CRTC to Remove Online Undertaking Designations for Seven FAST Channels
Sony has formally petitioned the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to strip the online undertaking designations applied to seven of its free‑ad‑supported streaming TV (FAST) channels. The designations, introduced to ensure Canadian content and advertising standards, currently impose additional...
New Preschool Series ‘How We Do It’ Coming to AMI-Tv, Citytv Saskatchewan This Summer
The new preschool series “How We Do It” will launch this summer on AMI‑tv and Citytv Saskatchewan, expanding Canada’s early‑learning television slate. Produced by a Toronto‑based studio, the 13‑episode show blends storytelling with hands‑on STEM activities designed for children ages...
Appeal Court Says CanCon Financial Disclosure Complaints Premature
An appeal court ruled that recent complaints alleging premature financial disclosures under Canada’s Canadian content (CanCon) regulations are untimely. The court held that the complaints should await the completion of the CRTC’s pending rule‑making process before any enforcement action. As...
Toronto Prodco Cut & Paste Pictures Launches with Several Projects in Development
Cut & Paste Pictures, a new Toronto‑based production company, announced its launch backed by veteran producers and a CAD 5 million (~US$3.6 million) seed round. The firm unveiled three projects in early development—a sci‑fi thriller, a period drama and a documentary series—aimed at...
CRTC Approves Two Independent Production Funds
The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved two new independent production funds, together allocating roughly CAD 20 million (about US 15 million) to support Canadian creators. The funds are earmarked for independent film, television and digital series projects that meet Canadian content...
France’s Dog & Cat TV Asks to Be Added to CRTC’s List for Distribution
France’s Dog & Cat TV, a niche channel dedicated to pet‑focused programming, has formally requested inclusion on the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) list of non‑Canadian services authorized for distribution. The move aims to secure carriage on Canadian cable...
CRTC Mandates Spam Call Origin Reporting on All Service Providers
The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has issued a new regulation requiring every telecom and VoIP service provider to record and report the originating source of all spam and robocalls. The rule, effective July 1, 2024, mandates real‑time data submission...
CMF Working to Expand Funding Eligibility to Online Streamers
The Canadian Media Fund (CMF) announced plans to broaden its funding eligibility to include online streaming creators such as Twitch and YouTube personalities. The initiative follows a consultation process with industry stakeholders and aims to launch a pilot program later...
CBC News to Expand Local Services in Hamilton Later This Year
CBC News announced plans to expand its local operations in Hamilton later this year, adding a dedicated bureau and hiring additional reporters and producers. The rollout will focus on city‑council politics, community events, and regional sports, bolstering both broadcast and...
Creator Television Partners with Convergence to Bring Creator-Led Programming to TV
Sabio Holdings' Creator Television has teamed up with Los Angeles‑based venture studio Convergence to produce creator‑led programming for television. The collaboration will generate original series across sports, lifestyle and other genres, extending influencer storytelling beyond social platforms. Produced shows will...
Corus Receives Court Approval for Recapitalization Transaction
Corus Entertainment secured Ontario Superior Court approval to move forward with its previously announced recapitalization, aimed at slashing third‑party debt and liabilities by more than $500 million CAD (≈$365 million USD). The deal is expected to cut annual cash interest payments by...
Postmedia Studios Partners with Elevation Pictures to Develop and Produce Feature Films
Postmedia Studios, the production arm of Canada’s largest newspaper chain, announced a strategic partnership with Elevation Pictures, a leading Canadian film distributor. The alliance will co‑develop and produce feature films that draw on Postmedia’s editorial talent and digital audience while...
CRTC Tells Cogeco to Maintain TekSavvy Access to Its Network
The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has ordered Cogeco to continue providing wholesale network access to rival ISP TekSavvy. The ruling reaffirms Cogeco’s obligation to share its fiber and cable infrastructure under existing wholesale agreements. The decision comes amid...
Xplore Asks for Pause on Decision for SpaceX Use of E-Band
Rural broadband provider Xplore has asked Canada’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development department (ISED) to pause approval of SpaceX’s request to use the 71‑76 GHz and 81‑86 GHz E‑band for satellite backhaul. Xplore argues that the World Radiocommunication Conference has not yet...
Canadian OTT Subscription Revenue Grew 15 per Cent in 2025: Couch Potato Report
The Convergence Research Group reports Canadian over‑the‑top (OTT) subscription revenue jumped 15% in 2025 to roughly $3.5 billion USD (CAD 4.8 billion). It projects an 11.5% rise to about $4.0 billion USD (CAD 5.35 billion) in 2026, with OTT revenue expected to outpace traditional TV by...
Quebecor Content Licenses ‘Detective Surprenant’ to CANAL+ Poland
Quebecor Content announced that its original crime drama *Detective Surprenant: Murder on the Island* has been licensed to CANAL+ Poland. The six‑episode series will debut in spring 2026 on the Ale kino+ channel in its original French with Polish audio...
Crave Original Series ‘Yaga’ Picked up by Sky for UK and Ireland
Bell Media’s streaming brand Crave announced that its half‑hour drama series Yaga has been acquired by Sky for the United Kingdom and Ireland. The deal, brokered by sales agency Sphere Abacus, was highlighted during Sky’s “Up Next” presentation in London,...
Telus, Fortanix Partner to Bring Confidential AI Solution to Regulated Organizations in Canada
Telus and Fortanix have unveiled a Confidential AI solution built on NVIDIA infrastructure, enabling Canadian regulated firms to train and deploy AI while keeping data encrypted within Canada. The platform leverages Telus’s Sovereign AI Factory in Rimouski and uses cryptographic...
Federal Court of Appeal Will Hear Correctional Call Rates Case
The Federal Court of Appeal will decide whether the CRTC must explicitly assert jurisdiction over long‑distance call rates charged by correctional facilities. Bell and the Ontario government contend that the regulator’s practice of "forbearance from regulation" is itself a regulatory...
Telus and Xanadu Sign MOU on Developing Quantum Data Centre Infrastructure
Telus and Xanadu Quantum Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a sovereign quantum data centre that blends photonic quantum processors with high‑performance computing. The partnership will leverage Telus’s PureFibre network and secure, Canadian‑controlled infrastructure alongside Xanadu’s expertise...
CRTC Eliminates Fees to Facilitate Switching on Wireless, Internet Plans
The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced it will eliminate activation, plan‑change and early‑cancellation fees for most wireless and internet services, except where a subsidised device or home‑installation cost is involved. Service providers must update billing systems by June 12,...
Bell Cyber Launches Fully Managed Cybersecurity Solution for SMEs
Bell Cyber has launched CyberShield Connect, a fully managed cybersecurity service tailored for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises. Powered by WatchGuard’s Unified Security Platform, the solution combines cloud‑managed security, automated deployment, and Security Operations Centre monitoring into a single offering....
Bell, Telus Reach Distribution Agreement for Oxygen True Crime, USA Network, New CTV Specialty Channels
Bell withdrew its April 2025 complaint after reaching a distribution agreement with Telus for five discretionary channels—Oxygen True Crime, USA Network, CTV Nature, CTV Speed and CTV Wild. The dispute originated from Bell’s claim that Telus favored Rogers’ new channels...
Magnify Digital’s Audience Intelligence Platform Adopted by NZ Content Funder
Magnify Digital announced that Te Māngai Pāho, New Zealand’s national Māori screen fund, will deploy its AI‑driven audience intelligence platform ScreenMiner across about 150 funded productions each year. The platform aggregates quantitative metrics and structured qualitative feedback from digital channels, delivering decision‑ready insights...
Global News Announces Moves for Ben O’Hara-Byrne, Rob Fai
Corus Radio announced that veteran broadcaster Ben O’Hara-Byrne will leave its national weekend morning show to become Global News BC’s legislative anchor and reporter in Victoria, starting March 16. O’Hara-Byrne returns to Global after a career spanning Global News Ottawa...
Bell, Coveo Partner on Sovereign AI Solutions for Government and Regulated Industries
Bell announced a strategic partnership with Montreal‑based Coveo to deliver sovereign AI solutions for federal, provincial and regulated‑industry clients. The deal merges Coveo’s AI‑Relevance Platform with Bell’s AI Fabric, a full‑stack offering built on Bell’s nationwide fibre network, data‑centre assets,...
Crave Orders Second Season of ‘Project Runway Canada’
Bell Media’s streaming platform Crave has commissioned a second season of the fashion competition *Project Runway Canada*. Produced with Fremantle and Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Fashion, the series will return with host and judge Coco Rocha, alongside judges Jeanne...
OUTtv Greenlights Several New Originals and Series Renewals
OUTtv announced the commissioning of multiple new original series alongside the renewal of several existing titles. The slate includes scripted dramas, reality formats, and documentary projects targeting LGBTQ+ audiences across North America and Europe. Production partnerships with independent studios will...
Under Standstill Rule, Rogers Obligated to Freeze Movement of Corus Channels: Appeal Court
The Federal Court of Appeal rejected Rogers' challenge to two CRTC decisions that barred the cable operator from repackaging or removing Corus Entertainment’s Slice, Home and Flavour channels. The court interpreted the regulatory "standstill" rule as freezing all contract terms,...
CBC News Network and ICI RDI Are Now on Prime Video
CBC/Radio-Canada announced that its all‑news channels, CBC News Network and French‑language ICI RDI, are now available on Amazon Prime Video as add‑on subscriptions. The service costs $5 per month and includes a seven‑day free trial, delivering 24/7 live breaking‑news coverage....
CEBL and CBC Sports Sign Five-Year Broadcast Agreement
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) has inked a five‑year broadcast partnership with CBC Sports, securing national television and streaming coverage for all league games. The agreement places CEBL matchups on CBC’s main channels and its digital platform CBC Gem,...
CRTC Sets Hearing to Consider Change of Ownership Applications
The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced a hearing to evaluate a slate of change‑of‑ownership applications affecting broadcasters and telecom operators. The hearing, slated for the coming weeks, will review proposals from domestic and foreign investors seeking to acquire...
Bell Media Invests in Daylight Media’s Podcast Network QCode: Report
Bell Media, through its venture arm Bell Ventures, has invested in Los Angeles‑based Daylight Media and its premium podcast network QCode. The partnership will combine Bell’s marketing and distribution capabilities with QCode’s scripted audio expertise to co‑create original series. Financial...
30.5M Canadian Viewers Watched Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, Says CBC
CBC reported that 30.5 million Canadians tuned in to coverage of the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, marking one of the highest viewership peaks for a multi‑sport event in recent years. The figure includes live broadcasts, highlights and digital streams across...
‘When Calls the Heart’ Prequel Series ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ Coming to W Network in March
Hallmark Channel’s popular series "When Calls the Heart" is getting a prequel titled "Hope Valley: 1874," slated to debut on Canada’s W Network in March. The limited‑run drama returns to the 19th‑century frontier setting, focusing on the early days of...
New BC Master Animation Agreement Reached
British Columbia’s animation sector, now supporting over a thousand professionals, has secured a new master agreement signed by UBCP, ACTRA‑BC, and CMPA. The contract delivers a 3 % annual wage increase for three years, expands health and pension benefits, and introduces...
Corus’s Home Network to Debut New Original Series ‘Life Is Messy’ in April
Corus Entertainment’s Home Network announced a robust spring slate featuring two new original series. “Life Is Messy,” starring design expert Kortney Wilson and builder Kenny Brain, debuts April 9, showcasing budget‑friendly renovations that help families declutter chaotic homes. The network also...
Stingray Launches FAST Channels on Whale TV+
Stingray Media announced the launch of a suite of free ad‑supported streaming (FAST) channels on Whale TV+, its partner over‑the‑top platform. The initial rollout includes twelve curated channels featuring music videos, lifestyle programming, and classic television series, all available at...
