OpenMedia.ca in the News

Consumers cry foul over Rogers move

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Shortly after the online movie rental company Netflix said it would begin offering service north of the border, one of Canada’s largest Internet providers sliced the amount of data its subscribers can download each month.

On July 21, two days after Netflix announced it would offer a Canadian version of its wildly popular and industry-disrupting service starting in the fall, Rogers Communications Inc. changed two of its Internet plans: While prices are not dropping, new users of Rogers “lite” and “extreme” Internet service now have a stricter download limit.

Leading Internet Defender Calls Out Anti-Competitive Practices

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OpenMedia.ca insists that Rogers Communications data limits require government action

For Immediate Release: July 26, 2010

Just days after video service Netflix announced its expansion into Canada, Rogers Communications announced they will lower the usage limits on some of their plans. The move appears to be a defensive measure to protect the company’s own video services from encroachment by Netflix, which provides unlimited movies and television shows over the internet for a monthly subscription fee.

Media Democracy Day Vancouver 2010 Details Announced

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Democracy Day Vancouver 2010 Details Announced
For the ninth year running, Media Democracy Day (MDD) will spark vibrant, critical, interactive dialogue around the Canadian media system.

Cable Giants Subvert Canadians' Desire for Accountability Re: Community Channels

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PRESS RELEASE

Cable Giants Subvert Canadians' Desire for Accountability Re: Community Channels

Ottawa (May 6, 2010) Instead of explaining to Canadians why they have closed community TV channels across the country and converted these public-service channels into branded business divisions, Canada's largest BDUs are subverting Canadians' desire for accountability, said the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).

Rogers’ Testimony at Community TV Hearings Conflicts with Testimony of Ordinary Canadians

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PRESS RELEASE

Rogers’ Testimony at Community TV Hearings Conflicts with Testimony of Ordinary Canadians

Ottawa (May 4/2010) In its presentation before the CRTC yesterday as part of the seven-day hearing into the future of community television, Rogers made several key statements that conflict with the testimony of previous witnesses.

OpenMedia.ca to address House of Commons and CRTC

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OpenMedia.ca to address House of Commons and CRTC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 27, 2010

Today, in an effort to ignite Canada’s digital media revolution, OpenMedia.ca will be taking centre stage at the House of Commons Committee on Canadian Heritage concerning the future of media.

The Committee on Canadian Heritage is exploring the developments in emerging and digital media, how these developments are affecting Canadian cultural industries, and what federal institutions could do to assist Canadians and Canadian cultural industries.

Government's Key Digital Strategy is Disorganized

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Government needs to open its doors to Canadians – not big telecoms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2010

Recent confusion over Community Access Program (CAP) funding highlights the Government’s lack of clear direction and understanding regarding digital strategy policy. Yesterday, Industry Minister Tony Clement reversed the previous Government's slated cuts to CAP sites.

Government Giving Up On Canadian Innovation

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Conservative government “opening doors” to foreign ownership, showing lack of faith in Canadians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Vancouver (BC) – In today’s Speech from the Throne delivered by Governor General Michaëlle Jean, the Harper government committed to opening Canada’s telecommunications and satellite industries to foreign ownership.

Report Highlights Need for ‘Made in Canada’ Digital Strategy

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Report Highlights Need for ‘Made in Canada’ Digital Strategy

Harvard study exposes Canada’s falling position concerning key broadband metrics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Digital Media and Olympic Coverage

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Conference to explore impact of Digital Media on Olympic Coverage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 19, 2010 - Vancouver, BC - As a hub for social media in the 2010 Games, the W2 Culture + Media House is hosting the Fresh Media Olympics Conference on February 22. The Conference will explore the impact of the explosion of social media tools in the hands of Olympic fans, citizen journalists and bloggers on coverage of the 2010 Games.

Shaw Takeover of Canwest A Strike Against Media Diversity

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Shaw Takeover of Canwest A Strike Against Media Diversity

Citizen group calls proposed sale into question

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2010

OpenMedia.ca in Favour of CRTC Hearing to Improve Rural Internet Access

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Hearing to address Canada’s digital divide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 5, 2010

VANCOUVER (BC) – The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has called for a public hearing on October 25th, 2010, regarding the improvement of Internet access in rural areas. To this day, many of these areas are still using low-speed or dial-up Internet.

$100 Million Public Fund Left Unmonitored by the CRTC

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Over 2,000 Canadians call for funds to be sent to community organizations amid missing data

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Yesterday, OpenMedia.ca made a detailed submission to the CRTC regarding the commission’s review of the current community television policy framework. The submission supports a proposal calling for unaccounted community media funds to be rerouted to independent community media centres.

CityTV Layoffs Display Poor Decisions Made By CRTC

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Rogers is taking public dollars while cutting local media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 26, 2010

The recent layoff of CityTV employees across Canada has left people anxious and dissatisfied with the state of local Canadian media. Many full and part-time media workers were let go on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. Rogers has also announced that there will be program cuts. These layoffs will result in no weekend newscasts, noon news, or five o'clock news.

Study Finds Opportunity for Media Reform in Canada

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Cross sector study takes the pulse of civil society concerning media issues.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 2010

OpenMedia.ca Welcomes Al Jazeera English Decision

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OpenMedia.ca welcomes the diversity Al Jazeera English will bring to Canada’s media landscape

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CRTC issued its long-awaited decision today on whether to allow Al Jazeera English (AJE) to broadcast in Canada. OpenMedia.ca applauds the CRTC's approval of AJE's application.

Last May OpenMedia.ca launched a campaign urging Canadians to contact the CRTC in support of Al Jazeera English’s (AJE) application to broadcast in Canada.

CACTUS Offers New Cost-Effective Model for Maintaining and Increasing Local OTA Service

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NEWS RELEASE

Ottawa, 24 November 2009--In its submission to the CRTC hearing on November 25, The Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) will propose a novel and cost-effective way to maintain, support and increase local programming content.

CanWest bankruptcy a wake-up call

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For Immediate Release

October 8, 2009

OpenMedia.ca and the Council of Canadians are raising concerns about what the CanWest filing for bankruptcy protection means for increased concentration and foreign ownership of Canadian media. The organizations are calling on the federal government to use the filing as an opportunity to expand media democracy in Canada rather than use it as a pretext for potentially reducing foreign ownership restrictions on Canadian Media.

Citizen Groups Call for Al Jazeera in Canada

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2009

OpenMedia.ca is urging Canadians to contact the CRTC in support of Al Jazeera English’s (AJE) application to broadcast in Canada. The CRTC is accepting comments until June 8.

Panel Discussion Addresses Current Crisis in Canadian Media

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For Immediate Release
May 22, 2009
Panel Discussion Addresses Current Crisis in Canadian Media

“Where’s the Money in Media?” is an interactive panel discussion on proposed corporate media bailouts, cuts to the CBC, and exciting alternative models for media, hosted by Campaign for Democratic Media. Come out to meet the experts and hear what they have to say about the future of media in Canada. The panel will be held this coming Wednesday, May 27th, from 6:45-9pm at VIVO Media Arts Centre, 1965 Main Street (near the Main St. Skytrain Station).

Experts Line-up Behind Internet Freedom Coalition

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa – February 24, 2009 – Campaign for Democratic Media (CDM) has joined forces with The Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) to make a formal submission to the CRTC traffic management hearing on behalf of the SaveOurNet.ca coalition and all Canadians. The submission includes testimony from network engineers showing that Internet Service Providers have no technical need to unilaterally limit access to online services and content.

SaveOurNet.ca: Coalition rallies public to support Open Internet

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Press Release
For Immediate Release
November 12, 2008

SaveOurNet.ca is calling on citizens to contact the CRTC before it hands down its decision on the Canadian Alliance of Internet Service Provider’s (CAIP) application to have Bell cease and desist from its throttling of P2P Internet traffic. The CRTC decision is expected to be issued any day now.

Outing the corporate mainstream media

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Media Democracy Day totally kicked it this weekend at the VPL. The event was a good fit with the library, and the MDD fair - 40+ community groups set up to do community outreach and promote a more accessible media system with less corporate influence - was well attended, both by intentional MDD attendees and regular library-goers.

Read on here: http://geeksandglobaljustice.com/?p=47

Media Democracy Network commends CRTC decision, urges support for community media

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October 30, 2008

The Campaign for Democratic Media welcomes today’s decision by the CRTC to establish a Local Programming Improvement Fund.

Overall, CDM National Coordinator Steve Anderson is pleased: "Canadians across the country have seen cut backs to local news in recent years and the Local Programming Improvement Fund will help reverse the worst of these cuts."

Citizens Demand Democratic Media

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PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
October 23, 2008

Canadians in several cities join together to educate fellow citizens on media and communication issues.

Late October marks the 8th consecutive year of Media Democracy Day activities in Canada.

Media Democracy Day (MDD) is a multi-city forum including panels, workshops, training sessions and speakers addressing media and communications issues.

Speaking for Our Selves: Media Democracy Day Vancouver 2008

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PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
October 9, 2008

Media Democracy Day is a way to ensure the media that educates us is also honest. MDD is happening in Vancouver on the 25th October 2008 at the Vancouver Public Library.

Charlie Smith discusses the political support for an open Internet

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By Charlie Smith

The words Net neutrality do not appear in the campaign platforms of the federal Liberal and Conservative parties. The federal NDP and Greens, on the other hand, Net neutrality in their platforms. The NDP say it’s vital to protecting Canadians’ ability to access the Internet at a flat rate of payment and with transparent rules.

Conservatives refuse answers on media, communications policy

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October 10, 2008

VANCOUVER. Despite repeated efforts by the Campaign for Democratic Media, the Conservative Party did not reply to questions about key policy issues related to media and communications in this election campaign.

Diverse Coalition Calls on Citizens to Ignite Communication Debate

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SaveOurNet.ca report sets the record straight on Net Neutrality

A New Generation of Media Democracy

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I didn’t know the woman on the other end of the line. She was calling from Spain through Skype, a software program that allows people to make free phone calls over the internet, looking for someone with a similar name. Instead of hanging up, we kept chatting. Our spontaneous conversation ranged from politics and relationships to children and Spanish cuisine.

Having the ability to make a free long-distance call on the internet helped connect two people from different cultures. It may also prove to be foundational for a new media democracy.

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