Friends

With the application to the CRTC for change of ownership, Bluepoint will also be filing for a change of condition of license to broaden the programming slate and to allow for the sale of advertising.

Columnist says today's technology may be determining not just how we spend our time: It actually may be "rewiring" the way we think, how we experience the world around us.

Columnist says Newstalk 1010 in Toronto is mulling whether to host one-on-one debate between mayoral candidates Smitherman and Ford – while excluding all others.

Columnist says cable giant Shaw Communications Inc. has proposed putting $203 million into the local industry to secure regulatory approval for a $2 billion deal for the TV assets of Canwest Global Communications Corp. as it completes a financial restructuring.

The campus and community radio sector will receive $775,000 in annual funding following a decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on the Review of the Campus and Community Radio Policies.

Columnist says the CRTC wants to address matters relating the country's transition to digital TV, local television access and broadcast commercial substitution, all of which have been controversial issues for the broadcast and telecom regulator.

Documents filed to the Federal Court of Appeal regarding the CRTC's power to implement a negotiated signal compensation regime.

Postmedia Network Inc. revealed its board of directors, including several top Canadian executives from within the news business and beyond.

Former Prime Minister John Turner says R. B. Bennett ensured Canada would forever have a voice on the airwaves by founding what soon became the CBC.

The CRTC has said broadcasters should begin a program to educate consumers about the switch to digital television no later than March of next year, and says that it will begin digital trials in select markets ahead of the August, 2011 deadline.

CBC President and CEO, Hubert Lacroix says the summary of this spring's survery of opionion leaders show that while the CBC received high marks for it's coverage of national and international events, responders feel the network has been less effective with regional programming.

Serge Sasseville, Quebecor's vice-president of corporate affairs, says "We'll get exactly what we're asking for at the end of the day" and will make the same request for must-carry through another category of license.

Columnist says Sun News will likely have to appear lower on the dial and without the guaranteed source of income a Category 1 license would offer.

Columnist says Canadian newspaper markets tend to be more competitive than in t-he U.S., so Canadian media companies are more skilled at adjusting to change.

Columnist says the CRTC has decided to modify its regulations for smaller local stations who may choose not to convert to digital and drop their analog broadcasting capabilities altogether.

The CRTC says consumer awareness and education is a key component of the transition to digital television.

Columnist says the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission disagreed the Quebecor Inc. all-news specialty station was creating a completely new genre in Canada, rejecting its request for a rare must-carry license.

CRTC Chairman, Konrad von Finckenstein, says there's no need for a government subsidy to help consumers make the transition to digital TV.

Columnist says Canadian broadcasters are revealing an improving Canadian ad climate during an economic upturn, on top of subscriber growth for pay and cable channel operators.

Columnist says in order to cut costs, the Montreal Gazette has announced it will stop publishing its Sunday print edition and instead move to a web-only version for that day.