TAGGED AS GEORGE COPE
Bell to focus on declining mobile service prices in MVNO review
Media | 10/31/2019 5:40 pm EDT
Ahead of the CRTC’s wireless review early next year, and on the heels of a report showing Canada is among the highest-priced jurisdictions in the world for data, BCE Inc. executives on Thursday focused on the declining cost of data to push the point that regulatory...
Bell and Stingray partner on targeted ads for radio, audio streaming
Media | 09/26/2019 5:05 pm EDT
BCE Inc. and Stingray Group Inc. have launched a targeted advertising platform that allows ads to be placed on their radio stations, audio streaming apps and podcasts. The companies said in a press release Thursday that the platform, called Audio360, “enables advertisers to target customized audio messages by grouping consumers according to "Passion Segments" based on shared personas and purchase intention data.” Those segments include categories such as “millennial moms,” “tech...
Bell and Rogers execs say change to MVNO rules unlikely
Media | 09/11/2019 11:10 am EDT
Whatever the outcome of next month’s federal election, there will be no...
Telus warned gov’t of Huawei ban’s ‘far-reaching impacts’: secret docs
telecom | 08/27/2019 3:18 pm EDT
Telus Corp. told the federal government that prohibiting Huawei...
Bibic’s background an asset in CEO transition at Bell: observers
Media | 06/28/2019 7:56 am EDT
The imminent departure of BCE Inc. CEO George Cope, announced Friday...
No Super Bowl simsub reversal without USMCA: gov’t to Bell
Media | 06/07/2019 5:00 pm EDT
The federal government isn’t interested in helping ensure BCE Inc. sees a...
Sales tax regime for digital services outdated: auditor general
Media | 05/07/2019 6:06 pm EDT
OTTAWA — Canadian companies that sell digital products which are subject to sales tax are “disadvantaged” by foreign companies who are exempt from the tax, according to one of the auditors behind a report released by the auditor general’s office Tuesday.
Audit...
Bell-branded wireless hits sub-1% churn, continuing industry trend
Media | 05/02/2019 5:46 pm EDT
The expected focus by the country’s largest wireless service providers...
Bell urged Bains not to send back MVNO decision a second time
telecom | 02/12/2019 2:37 pm EST
Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains weighed sending back the CRTC’s...
Bell grows fixed wireless plans by 400,000 homes
telecom | 02/07/2019 3:26 pm EST
BCE Inc. says it will grow its rural fixed-wireless plans by 50 per cent, thanks to new tax measures the Liberal government announced last fall aimed at promoting investments in rural areas. Company CEO George Cope announced...
Huawei ban wouldn’t delay BCE’s 5G rollout: Cope
telecom | 02/07/2019 10:19 am EST
The head of BCE Inc. says he doesn’t expect that a ban on Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.’s equipment...
Bell launches system for targeted TV ads
telecom | 01/09/2019 2:37 pm EST
BCE Inc.’s media division has launched a tool allowing its TV advertising clients to more specifically...
Bell expanding targeted ads program to all services
Media | 01/08/2019 3:38 pm EST
BCE Inc. is rolling out to more services a pre-existing program that asks its subscribers to consider giving the company their personal information to better target relevant ads to them. The program is an expansion of a...
Bell posts subscriber gains, but wireless ARPU dips
telecom | 11/01/2018 5:42 pm EDT
BCE Inc. reported its wireless average revenue per user (ARPU) dipped in its third quarter results...
Bibic named Bell COO
telecom | 10/04/2018 2:35 pm EDT
BCE Inc.’s head of regulatory, Mirko Bibic, has been named its new chief operating officer.
Bell said in a press release Thursday that in his new role, Bibic will “lead...
CSE defends network security as Tories press on Huawei concerns
telecom | 09/20/2018 8:51 pm EDT
OTTAWA -- Officials from Canada’s cyber-spy agency defended the security of Canada’s telecommunications systems and allowing Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd equipment to operate on them, as MPs pressed whether Canada should follow other Five Eyes allies and restrict the Chinese company’s technology. Communications Security Establishment (CSE) officials insisted Thursday afternoon that taking a "holistic" approach to ensuring security across “heterogeneous networks” is more important than the particular devices vendors are selling, comments that come amid an emerging political...
Cultural sector reaches out to Rodriguez
Media | 09/19/2018 6:12 pm EDT
Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has met with creative groups in his first registered lobby...
Bell standing by Huawei amidst security concerns
telecom | 09/12/2018 5:07 pm EDT
BCE Inc. head George Cope said Wednesday that his company is aware of concerns involving Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., though he didn’t indicate Bell has any plans to alter its use of technology from the Chinese telecom...
Bell targeting more rural markets with fixed wireless expansion
telecom | 08/02/2018 4:58 pm EDT
BCE Inc. will grow its presence in the fixed wireless space to 30...
Cogeco hires lobbyist with wireless spectrum expertise
telecom | 07/03/2018 11:54 am EDT
Amir Bigloo, who has a history of successful spectrum purchases as CEO of...
Balsillie-led Centre for Digital Rights registers to lobby
Media | 05/25/2018 12:33 pm EDT
A new organization called the Centre for Digital Rights (CDR) that is looking to create a national data strategy has registered to lobby the government after its co-founder Jim Balsillie told a House of Commons ethics committee this month that internet giants are engaging in...
Security, data concerns drive two-phone phenomenon: Bell CEO
Media | 05/16/2018 11:16 am EDT
As stories about security and personal data breaches make the headlines,...
Big Gig-spawned deals ‘artificially’ inflated churn for Telus
Media | 05/10/2018 6:58 pm EDT
The holiday season caused a dramatic inflation of Telus Corp.’s defection...
Industry’s hot streak in wireless continues with Bell’s record Q1
telecom | 05/03/2018 4:59 pm EDT
The first three months of 2018 represented one of the most competitive in...
Rogers, Bell add junk food bill concerns to lobby efforts
Media | 04/25/2018 2:54 pm EDT
Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. have registered to lobby the...
Corus plans TV ad tech test next month
Media | 04/05/2018 6:29 pm EDT
Corus Entertainment Inc. is “accelerating” its transformation into a more data-centric company, its...
Internet Society establishes lobby footing in Canada
Media | 03/27/2018 6:32 pm EDT
A decades-old organization that is pushing for a multilateral approach to decision-making on the future...
SWIFT takes fibre goals to the Hill
Media | 02/21/2018 5:57 pm EST
Over six years after it was established, a government-funded non-profit initiative seeking to deliver...
Alt TV quietly becoming significant for Bell: Barclays
Media | 02/20/2018 2:47 pm EST
BCE Inc.’s Alt TV service is its “underappreciated driver for broadband growth,” Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang said in a research...
Bell, Telus report wireless sub gains from December promos
Media | 02/08/2018 6:27 pm EST
BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. both reported quarterly results for the three months ending on Dec. 31 Wednesday, and while both had significant increases in wireless customer additions, Bell especially appeared to benefit from December’s week of heightened competition....
Canadian media industry still behind on data, conference hears
Media | 02/01/2018 7:57 pm EST
OTTAWA — The Canadian television industry is behind the curve when it...
As its TV ad revenue drops, Corus says ad tech is the future
Media | 01/10/2018 6:05 pm EST
Corus Entertainment Inc. executives emphasized their optimism about future...
BPF registers to lobby amidst consumer group funding concerns
Media | 12/14/2017 2:25 pm EST
A few months after the emergence of a proposal asking the CRTC to shift...
Tech giants increasing grip on advertising in Canada: report
Media | 11/21/2017 3:57 pm EST
While the total amount of advertising money flowing to Canadian media has...
Bell mulling advantages in prepaid wireless segment: CFO
telecom | 11/16/2017 4:35 pm EST
When it comes to the wireless industry’s torrid run of late, much of the focus has been on postpaid plans, though BCE Inc. is looking to turn the discussion to the relatively underlooked prepaid segment, which executive vice-president and chief financial officer Glen...
Bell’s $166M AlarmForce acquisition small but strategic buy: analysts
telecom | 11/07/2017 11:42 am EST
BCE Inc. is making a bigger play for the home-security arena with the $166...
Bell needs to do more with ad tech, CEO says
Media | 11/02/2017 3:43 pm EDT
BCE Inc. CEO George Cope said the company needs to do a better job of finding opportunities in emerging advertising technology, as the company seeks additional revenue growth...
Broadcast lobbying jumped ahead of Creative Canada release
Media | 10/24/2017 6:20 pm EDT
Creative organizations stepped up and added to a surge in lobbying activity...
Bell ‘heartened’ by CRTC chair statements, CEO says
telecom | 09/27/2017 5:09 pm EDT
BCE Inc.’s top man George Cope said the company likes new CRTC head Ian Scott’s approach to balancing consumer and business interests....
N. America to be fast 5G adopter: GSMA
telecom | 09/14/2017 3:48 pm EDT
North American adoption of 5G will be as swift as 4G adoption, with about 100 million 5G connections...
Regional players shouldn’t qualify for spectrum set asides: Bell, Rogers
telecom | 09/12/2017 5:54 pm EDT
Two of Canada’s largest telecom companies aren’t overly enthusiastic...
Telus’ record low wireless churn difficult to sustain: CEO
telecom | 08/11/2017 4:20 pm EDT
Telus Corp. took some analysts by surprise when it reported postpaid...
Bell subs feel impact of ‘aggressive’ cable competition in Q2
telecom | 08/03/2017 2:22 pm EDT
BCE Inc. is hoping the second half of the year results in a boost for its...
Bell’s Alt TV can ‘turn the tide’ against competitors: Canaccord
Media | 05/16/2017 3:54 pm EDT
While the primary goal of BCE Inc.’s new television product is to tackle TV sub losses, it could also be used as an “offensive tool” against its cable competitors, according to Canaccord Genuity....
Alt TV managed service, doesn’t violate CRTC rules: Cope
Media | 05/15/2017 5:45 pm EDT
MONTREAL — BCE Inc. has launched a new TV product hoping to appeal to a segment of the market that’s less likely to subscribe to...
Bell touts good relationship with PMO: Barclays
telecom | 05/08/2017 7:58 pm EDT
BCE Inc. believes the company currently has a “good working relationship” with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), according to a note from Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang, written following meetings...
Bell to launch new TV service to combat cord-cutting
Media | 04/26/2017 7:04 pm EDT
BCE Inc. will introduce a new television service aimed at customers who have been turning away from traditional TV to online alternatives, president and CEO George Cope said on a conference call with analysts discussing the...
Bell accelerates FTTH deployment with $854M plan for Montreal
telecom | 03/27/2017 8:45 pm EDT
MONTREAL — BCE Inc. will invest $854 million to bring fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to all of Montreal’s homes and businesses within five years, the company said Monday....
Randy Lennox to head Bell Media as Mary Ann Turcke leaves for NFL
Media | 02/27/2017 9:29 pm EST
Randy Lennox has been named the new president of BCE Inc.’s media division following the departure of Mary Ann Turcke, the company announced Monday. In a press release, Bell Media said Turcke, who has been in the role since April 2015 and with the company for a dozen years overall, has accepted a new job with the National Football League as president of digital media and the NFL Network. Turcke will be based in Los Angeles, the release said. As of Monday, Lennox has moved...
Bell-MTS deal receives final approval, includes Xplornet in ‘surprise twist’
Media | 02/15/2017 3:07 pm EST
The introduction of Xplornet Communications Inc. into Manitoba’s wireless market was a “surprise twist” to the story of BCE Inc.’s $3.9-billion acquisition...
Low skinny basic take-up result of content-hungry consumers: Cope
telecom | 09/20/2016 10:12 pm EDT
Adoption of skinny-basic television has been low because consumers demand more content, BCE Inc. president and CEO George Cope told an investors’ conference on Tuesday. “Subscriptions for...
CBC ‘can’t stand still,’ Lacroix says on shift to digital
Media | 09/15/2016 9:39 pm EDT
MONTREAL — As technological change accelerates, CBC/Radio-Canada has to keep pace, according to CEO Hubert Lacroix, who said Thursday “we can’t think of the...
MTS considered SaskTel merger, Telus and Rogers declined to bid
telecom | 06/02/2016 9:07 pm EDT
An information package for Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. shareholders sheds some light on the genesis of the proposed $3.9-billion acquisition of the company by BCE Inc., announced May 2. According...
Experts say approval of Bell’s MTS acquisition likely
telecom | 05/02/2016 2:12 pm EDT
BCE Inc. announced Monday morning that it will purchase Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. in a $3.9 billion transaction that, if approved, will see the number of players in Manitoba’s telecom...
FTTH to cover 90% of Bell footprint in 10 years: Cope
Media | 11/12/2015 8:10 pm EST
BCE Inc. will cover about 90 per cent of its wireline footprint with fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) in a little less or a little more than a decade, though the issue of whether smaller Internet service providers will get mandated access...
CRTC’s hybrid-VOD category takes effect
Media | 08/06/2015 8:02 pm EDT
The CRTC on Thursday released final rules for a new category of video-on-demand (VOD) services in which operators can avoid regular broadcast regulations, even if the service is offered through a broadcast-distribution...
Bell, MLSE chair buy CFL’s Argonauts
telecom | 05/20/2015 6:23 pm EDT
BCE Inc. said Wednesday it is teaming up with the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to buy the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Bell's partner in the deal is the Kilmer Group, owned by MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum. Bell spokesman Jason Laszlo said in an email that team ownership is split evenly between the two...
Nadir Mohamed to lead venture-capital fund
Media | 04/27/2015 7:24 pm EDT
Former Rogers Communications Inc. CEO Nadir Mohamed will lead a new venture-capital fund created by the Ontario government, the office of Premier Kathleen Wynne said on Monday. Mohamed will lead a council of about 30 business leaders and entrepreneurs tasked with managing Scale Up Ventures, a $50-million fund for startup companies that "have shown initial market success and that demonstrate strong growth potential," the premier's office said in a press release. Mohamed was replaced as Rogers' CEO by Guy Laurence in December 2013. Laurence is also on the council that will...
‘Weak’ advertising market here to stay: experts
Media | 11/18/2014 10:18 pm EST
Canada’s largest media companies take it as a given that the current market for advertising on traditional broadcast media is weak, but experts say broadcasting is shifting to a new normal as online advertising becomes the...
Rogers boss defends big spending on spectrum
Media | 09/10/2014 1:39 am EDT
Rogers Communications Inc.’s CEO on Tuesday said his competitors underestimate the value of wireless spectrum — something Rogers spent multiple times more money on than any other company in this year’s 700...
Savings, simplification cited in BCE takeover of Bell Aliant
Media | 07/23/2014 8:38 pm EDT
Saving money, simplifying operations and creating a stronger telecom competitor in Atlantic Canada were among the reasons cited for why BCE Inc. is seeking ownership of all parts of Bell Aliant Inc....
Wireline data gains ‘highlight’ of Q4: BCE’s Cope
Media | 02/06/2014 6:34 pm EST
BCE Inc. CEO George Cope called the company’s wireline data revenue growth the “highlight” of its fourth-quarter results, released Thursday. “From my perspective, the...
BCE supports full removal of telecom foreign ownership rules
telecom | 09/10/2013 8:58 pm EDT
BCE Inc. would support government efforts to fully remove foreign ownership restrictions for Canadian telecom companies, though the company “will never be foreign owned,” BCE chief executive George Cope said. “From my perspective, maybe it’s time to just do a foreign ownership review and just get rid of the ownership restrictions and move on,” Cope said Tuesday during a question and answer session at a BMO Capital Markets media and telecom conference in Toronto. “If that’s a place Ottawa wants to go, they’ll probably find BCE quite supportive...
BCE says its non-sports rights fees rose less than inflation, or fell
Media | 05/22/2013 7:36 pm EDT
BCE Inc. division Bell Media said broadcast distributors' wholesale fees for access to the company's non-sports programming fell or rose less than the rate of inflation when multi-year...