CBC workers have voted to consolidate representation in the Canadian Media Guild, but by a narrower margin than the Guild had expected.
CBC employees across the country (with the exception of the province of Quebec and the city of Moncton, NB) have chosen the Canadian Media Guild as their sole bargaining agent.
The Communications, Energy & Paperworkers of Canada notes that under the Canadian Media Guild, CBC workers will be isolated in an American union that has little connection to the rest of Canadian broadcasting.
First-time cabinet minister and new Minister of Canadian Heritage Hélène Scherrer non-committal on allowing more foreign investment in Canadian broadcasting.
Astral Media chairman André Bureau has recommended the adoption of media cross-ownership restrictions to prevent non-Canadians who acquire control of a broadcasting distributor in Canada from retaining or acquiring any interest in a Canadian programming service.
Leonard Asper says it is "inevitable" Australia's media sector cross-ownership and foreign investment restrictions will be removed.
BCE's Sabia calls for comprehensive review of Canadian telecommunications regulation; the chair of the CRTC says he wants to avoid regulatory lag.
Transcript of an interview conducted by The Hill Times with former Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps.
Member of Parliament Wendy Lill says the government's response to the Heritage Committee's report on the Canadian broadcasting system, Our Cultural Sovereignty, has been "underwhelming" and "patronizing" to Committee members and Canadians.
Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage summarizes key positions underlying the Committee's 2003 report on the Canadian broadcasting system, Our Cultural Sovereignty.
Friends' Spokesperson Ian Morrison responds to a letter from Lise Lareau, President of the Canadian Media Guild concerning Friends' position on the current vote by CBC's non-Quebec employees to choose between the Guild (Local 30219, Communications Workers of America) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, a Canadian union.
CanWest CEO hopes a new government under the leadership of Paul Martin will open up Canada's broadcast sector to foreign ownership.
Paul Martin says the Canadian government has a role to play in the content of media and ensuring that Canadian stories are told by Canadian voices.
Broadcasters assert that cable industry plans to allow HBO, ESPN and other banned American channels into Canada could seriously damage their Canadian counterparts, such as TSN and The Movie Network.
CRTC rejects application to replace U.S. commercials with Canadian ones on five U.S. specialty channels carried by Canadian cable distributors.
CRTC denies the cable industry's request to air direct feeds of U.S. channels such as HBO and ESPN.
FRIENDS expects that Sheila Copps' response to the House of Commons Heritage Committee report will have limited impact given the pending change of government.
Memo from Ian Morrison to Friends of Canadian Broadcasting Steering Committee members on the implications for viewers and listeners of the choice CBC employees are now making between CBC's two unions.
Minister of Heritage celebrates US withdrawal of objections to UNESCO convention designd to avert international disputes over issues involving cultural protection.
Federal government believes dropping foreign ownership restrictions on telecommunications companies would benefit the industry.
Government believes dropping foreign ownership restrictions on telecommunications companies would benefit the industry.
Minister of Industry endorses recommendations for elimination of foreign ownership restrictions in telecommunications sector, but delays decision until after federal election.
Federal government responds to Industry Committee recommendations on foreign ownership by saying it will study the issue further.
Estimates show Ottawa will cut $10 million in funding promised to CBC in last federal budget.
Globe & Mail columnist doubts Liberals will actually implement relaxed foreign ownership restrictions for cable and telephone companies.
CEP vows to stop federal government from opening telephone and cable industries to foreign ownership.
Potential negatives of lowering foreign ownership restrictions are "frightening".
Federal government is preparing to drop foreign ownership restrictions for cable and satellite TV companies but will study issue more.
Former AT&T Canada predicts removal of foreign ownership restrictions on telecommunication carriers by next year.
David Asper defends Conrad Black.
Near unanimous recommendations of a two-year, all-party review of Canada's broadcasting system should not be ignored.
Near unanimous recommendations of a two-year, all-party review of Canada's broadcasting system should not be ignored.
The Federal Communications Commission is keeping its plans to vote on new rules governing media ownership a secret and ignoring public opposition to the proposal on media consolidation.
Viacom president says broadcasters do a good job of reflecting local viewpoints, lawmakers misguided for fighting FCC decision to ease media ownership restrictions.
Telecom and cable ownership limits will be lifted eventually, but probably not quickly.
Former Royal Commission Chairman Tom Kent will tell a Senate committee that Ottawa should refuse to renew or issue licences to broadcasters that own newspapers.
The Federal Communications Commission's release of the final version of its media ownership rules is expected to trigger a response from Congressional lawmakers who are fighting the measures.
Removing outdated foreign ownership limits on telcos is not a threat to economic security or independence, and may yield some positive benefits. The parliamentary committee's recommendations should be implemented immediately.
David Crane writes that Canadians still have a choice regarding Canada's economic and security integration with the United States.
An edited excerpt of author Mel Hurtig's speech at the 72nd annual Couchiching Conference discussing Canadian sovereignty.
US actor Ed Asner concerned for Canada's national identity in panel discussion on culture.
US actor Ed Asner concerned for Canada's national identity in panel discussion on culture.
FCC Chair Michael Powell writes that there is a lack of consensus over what problem the US Congress is trying to solve by opposing the new FCC rules on media ownership.
CanWest intends to keep a majority stake in its Australian network and may expand into Asia.
Coverage of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage's recommendations on Canadian broadcasting has been sparse.
The Federal Communications Commission's release of the final version of its media ownership rules is expected to trigger a response from Congressional lawmakers who are fighting the measures.
Clifford Lincoln, author of the 872-page committee report entitled Our Cultural Sovereignty, is confident his report will stand the test of time and hopes it serves as an incentive for the government to act.
An insider-dealing scandal has engulfed many of organized labor's most powerful bosses, including president of Communications Workers of America.
Paul Kedrosky writes that Republicans should not be opposed to the FCC loosening the rules on media ownership, citing studies that show that despite deregulation in some media markets, the number of owners has increased.
Equity analysts say Canadian media companies don't need relaxed foreign ownership restrictions to be successful.
Canada is mulling a radical revamp of broadcasting that will protect its culture and keep out foreign owners.
A study by the House of Commons heritage committee has made significant recommendations on foreign ownership limits, media convergence, CBC accountability, and funding for CBC, the Canadian Television Fund, and local and regional programming. The government says it's in no hurry to respond.
The House of Commons heritage committee has come to very different conclusions than the industry committee did a few weeks ago. FRIENDS calls the heritage committee's report "groundbreaking".
House of Commons Heritage committee report recommends that Canadian content and Canadian ownership be preserved in radio and television broadcasting.
Wilson Southam writes that the independence and quality of our media are becoming more important to Canadians.
Hollywood writers and producers say decision by the Federal Communications Commission to relax media ownership rules will damage the quality and creativity of network television by concentrating program development into fewer hands.
Changes to media ownership rules that loosen restrictions on the ownership of local television stations will allow media giants strengthen their positions while increasing the odds against newcomers and smaller companies.
The Federal Communications Commission today narrowly approved the most important changes to U.S. media ownership rules in a generation.
UK culture secretary vows to fight those in the House of Lords, the government's upper chamber, who oppose laws to open up media ownership.
FRIENDS says the relaxation of rules governing ownership of U.S. broadcasters and newspapers simply makes the U.S. market more like Canada.
TV networks that stand to benefit from new FCC rules on media ownership have coincidentally not reported on the debate surrounding media consolidation.
While telcos welcome the removal of foreign ownership restrictions, uncertainty surrounds when the change will occur and what impact it will have.
CanWest Global believes the House of Commons Industry Committee's recommendation to remove ownership limits on telcos could "open the door the the kind of things we were asking for".
The recommendation to eliminate telco and cable foreign investment limits is too little, too late.
It's one thing for a parliamentary committee to recommend changes in ownership rules and another for "government" to implement them. Recommendations from the Canadian Heritage Committee on broadcasting and from the Senate on media concentration could get in the way.
The Industry, Science & Technology Committee is dismissing concerns that its recommendation to eliminate cable and telco foreign ownership restrictions will create pressure to remove similar limits on broadcasters.
A leaked press release confirms the Industry, Science & Technology Committee
The parliamentary committee reviewing telecom foreign ownership will also recommend a review of the jurisdiction, role and mandate of the CRTC.
Heritage Minister Sheila Copps reiterates opposition to lower foreign investment restrictions for cable companies.
With a Parliamentary committee expected to recommend eliminating foreign investment restrictions, the telecom sector has turned its attention to speeding up implementation.
A Parliamentary committee will recommend the government eliminate foreign investment restrictions for telephone companies and consider doing the same for cable companies and broadcasters.
Foreign investment and the protection of Canadian content aren't either-or.
Even though foreigners are limited to minority, non-controlling stake, there is unlimited capital for investment in Canadian media
Craig Broadcasting has secured a $100-million investment from a US investor to launch its new local Toronto station.
Canadian media companies suffer from foreign investment restrictions that limit their access to investment capital. See FRIENDS' response.
US news coverage of the Iraq war could could influence the FCC's upcoming review of media concentration.
Cable companies asked Commons industry committee to give them same foreign ownership restrictions as telecommunications companies to increase innovation, growth, fair competition. Friends opposes the request.
Relaxing foreign investment rules for cable companies will push control of Canada’s broadcasters south of the border
Cable companies asked Commons industry committee to give them same foreign ownership restrictions as telecommunications companies to increase innovation, growth, fair competition. Friends opposes the request.
Remarks by to Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology opposing relaxation of foreign ownership restrictions for cable companies.
