Consumer advocacy groups want recently launched streaming services from some of Canada's biggest telecom and cable companies made available to all, telling the industry's regulator on Friday that making the purchase of one service dependent on purchase of another likely breaks the rules.The services - a joint venture called Shomi from Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications, and BCE's CraveTV - aim to limit the threat posed by online rivals such as Netflix.But while Netflix is a cheap, stand-alone service, CraveTV is available only to existing pay-TV subscribers with BCE or distributors with which it has reached an agreement. Shomi is currently available only to its parent companies' Internet or TV customers."The tied selling of streaming services, designed to favor legacy business models and to discriminate against customers who wish to only view programming through an internet service provider of their choice, is something PIAC-CAC believe cannot be supported in the current rules, nor by Canada's broadcasting policy objectives", said Geoffrey White, counsel to PIAC-CAC.
Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI) is a diversified public communications and media company. Shares of RCI fell by 1.57% or $-0.57/share to $35.64. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $35.00 and as high as $42.46. On average, 377400 shares of RCI exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 563183.
Shaw Communications Inc. (Shaw) is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. Shares of SJR fell by 1.58% or $-0.38/share to $23.69. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $22.63 and as high as $27.47. On average, 429498 shares of SJR exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 465292.
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