Dec 22, 2010 — News Article: News Corp. to control BSkyB
A European Commission says the takeover of BSkyB by the publisher of the Wall Street Journal won't "significantly impede effective competition".
Dec 21, 2010 — News Article: How Comcast and Huge Telecom Players' Latest Gambit Could Destroy the Internet as We Know It by David Rosen and Bruce Kushnick
Columnists say unless the debate over congestion and pricing is opened up and refocused to the larger question of industry consolidation, the FCC December 21st proposal will only make the problem worse.
Dec 13, 2010 — News Article: English's grip on internet loosening
The predominance of English on the Web is declining, with Chinese and emerging languages such as Arabic and Russian making up ground.
Dec 5, 2010 — News Article: Does choice = price hike? by Luann Lasalle
Columnist says when big telecom companies buy up billions of dollars worth of media, entertainment and sports properties, the result for Canadians is choice, but it's not clear whether that results in higher or lower pricing for consumers.
Dec 3, 2010 — News Article: Pursuing MLSE a survival strategy for Rogers by Bruce Dowbiggin
Columnist says for an unprecedented second consecutive quarter in the United States, cable TV subscriptions have declined.
Nov 29, 2010 — News Article: The digital earthquake is coming by Etan Vlessing
Columnist says the open Internet is being closed and colonized by digital giants like Apple, Netflix and Facebook that stand to control the media business for a generation.
Oct 8, 2010 — News Article: Murdoch may 'abuse power' with BSkyB bid by Lindsay Powers and Mimi Turner
BBC director general Mark Thompson says if Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp.'s bid for the remaining 61 percent of BSkyB goes through "there might be a significant loss of plurality in our media market".
Oct 6, 2010 — News Article: TV versus the Internet by Steve Anderson
Columnist says telecom companies seem to have enough money to invest to ensure that their TV services operate unfettered, yet people rarely question whether Canada's decline in key broadband metrics might have something to do with the inherent conflict of interest in having the same entities provide access to two competing mediums.
Sep 7, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: CRTC Broadcast Notice of Consultation 2010-551: Application #2009-1674-4
FRIENDS comments on an application by Corus for a broadcasting licence to operate a regional specialty television channel.
Aug 23, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-498: Shaw Communications acquisition of CanWest Global's Broadcasting entities
As part of Shaw's application to take over CanWest's broadcasting assets, FRIENDS recommends the CRTC ensure commitment to local programming and adequate public benefit consistent with commission policies.
Aug 11, 2010 — News Article: Quebecor prepares for wireless launch; profit dips by Iain Marlow
Columnist says Quebecor's new wireless service is set to launch in late summer at a steep discount within a bundle of existing services.
Jul 30, 2010 — News Article: What Media Crisis? by Dwayne Winseck
Columnist says that while certain media conglomerates may be in trouble, the industry as a whole is hardly sliding into oblivion.
Jul 13, 2010 — Policy Brief: Digital Economy Consultation
FRIENDS recommends that the Canadian Media Fund, and other federally-sponsored funds, be augmented by tapping into the huge profits of the four big cable monopolies, whose profit before interest and taxes in 2009 exceeded 25%.
Jun 17, 2010 — News Article: Canadians spend $3.2 billion on tech products in Q1 by Emily Claire Afan
Darrel Ryce, NPD director of information technology and entertainment states, "Canadians have grown so accustomed to their computers and constant connectivity that IT products are no longer viewed as optional purchases. "
Jun 16, 2010 — News Article: Media industry to grow 5% annually until 2014: PwC by Melita Kuburas
Columnist says there is good news ahead for entertainment and media industries who are set to make a large post-recession comeback.
Jun 15, 2010 — News Article: Rogers: TiVo can unite industry by Etan Vlessing
Columnist says Rogers wants to see marketers, cable operators and networks united behind the solutions TiVo offers to what ails the industry during a time of incessant digital change and disruption.
Jun 13, 2010 — News Article: MTV Serves as Model for AOL Site by Brian Stelter
Columnist says Cambio is being billed by its backers as a next-generation video network for the Web with features similar to MTV but "without the middleman".
Jun 6, 2010 — News Article: Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price By Matt Richtel
Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave, with our ability to focus being undermined by bursts of information.
Jun 4, 2010 — News Article: The Dalton Camp Award
In a radio interview, FRIENDS spokesperson Ian Morrison and 2010 Dalton Camp Award winner Ethan Rabidoux discuss the award and the man who inspired it.
Jun 3, 2010 — News Release: 2010 Dalton Camp Award winners announced
Ethan Rabidoux of Stratford, Ontario and Rosalyn Yake of Peterborough, Ontario are the 2010 winners of the Dalton Camp Award.
