By David Farrell
Race for cheap wireless rates would be 'really bad public policy': BCE CEO Bibic
The newly-minted chief executive officer of BCE Inc. says a race of cheap wireless rates in Canada would be bad for investment in the country.
“If our objective is to have the cheapest communications services in the world, or the G20, or the G8, I think that would be really bad public policy,” Mirko Bibic told BNN Bloomberg’s Amanda Lang during an interview Monday from Montreal on his first day in the new role.
“We’re on the cusp here of a new era in communications, which is really going to power the Canadian economy writ large. So what you want is the highest quality networks if we want to be a productive economy, you want the most coverage possible across the country, you want to connect communities, and, of course, you want affordable services and value for dollar paid.”
Bibic, who succeeds George Cope, previously served as a partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP. He joined BCE in March 2004 and was promoted to chief operating officer by October 2018. BCE announced in June Bibic would be taking over for Cope upon his retirement this month.
Bibic’s comments on wireless rates comes as pressure builds among Canada’s largest telecommunications companies – Bell, Rogers, Telus – to offer more competitive wireless packages. — Bloomberg News
Media Central follows Now with the Georgia Straight acquisition
Longtime Vancouver alternative weekly The Georgia Straight has been sold to Media Central for $1.25M.
The deal is set to be completed by Feb. 28 and will see Media Central pay $750K in cash, along with $350K in common shares of the company. — Postmedia
Manitoba newspapers have long failed to pay recycling fees
The newspaper industry is proposing it pay back the recycling fees in the form of advertising in-kind to municipalities like Winnipeg, Brandon and other communities. The proposal was influenced by similar programs in provinces like Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Quebec. — Sam Thompson, Global News
TSN and RDS secure long-term media rights with Hockey Canada
TSN, RDS, and Hockey Canada today announced a long-term media rights agreement that extends through the 2033-34 season, continuing their long-standing partnership that dates back to 1991. — TSN
CRTC publishes new CanCon certification guide
A certain percentage of content broadcast and financed by CRTC-licensed television broadcasters must be made by Canadians. Broadcasters can only count programs with Canadian certification towards meeting these requirements.
