How the CRTC spoiled my Super Bowl

Some hardcore NFL fans may believe the SuperBowl is all about the football game played out on the field. But if that was truly the case, the event wouldn`t be so highly rated. Its broader popularity is also traceable to two other factors. First, the pre-game and halftime entertainment. And second, the original ads that sponsors pay a fortune to unveil during the time-outs. If you doubt me, consider that everyone still remembers the Justin Timberlake - Janet Jackson half-time show wardrobe malfunction episode while few remember the teams that played (let alone the score) in that same game!

In recent years, Canadian viewers have been deprived of the opportunity to access the splashy bid budget TV ads that run on the US TV network broadcasting the game because of a draconian government regulator`s futile attempts to protect Canadian culture. Under regulations established by the CRTC, Canadian cable and satellite TV signal distributors are required to substitute the local Canadian TV stations signal for the US network`s signal when both channels offer the same programming. The theory behind this ``simultaneous substitution`` policy is to maximize Canadian broadcasters' audiences to boost advertising revenues. The hope is that increased broadcaster revenues will provide more funds to invest in production of Canadian programming. Our government believes Canadian artists and technicians would starve without this cultural policy advantage.

The irony is that CTV relegated the Grey Cup (Canada's national football championship) to its sister cabler (TSN )this year but carried the Super Bowl (the USA's national pro football championship) on its main network network (with greater audience reach). That hardly promotes Canadian culture!

In the days before cable and satellite transmission, the CRTC was largely powerless to promote this form of cultural protectionism since viewers could simply pull the US border station signals out of the air with their own antennae or set-top rabbit ears. Today, Canadians with illegal "grey market" satellite dishes can still evade the simultaneous substitution rule too. Ditto those who take off to points south of the border in order to watch. So a compelling argument might be made that this policy encourages signal theft and drives hospitality-tourism dollars out of Canada!

There was also some controversy this year about whether Quebec based cable systems operated by Quebecor Videotron (QV) would provide a US HD feed. QV had argued that because CTV does not usually provide a HD signal in those local markets, due to a loophole in the CRTC policy, they would not be required to signal substitute for the HD NBC signal they usually carry. CTV replied by issuing a press release indicating that they intended to make their HD signal available to cable companies in those Quebec markets. However, according to a report in today`s Gazette, the QV CATV in the Montreal area did not comply by substituting the CTV signal in place of the NBC feed. So Montrealers got what Torontonians were deprived. What a reversal of fortune!

Some may suggest that this is a big non-issue in the age of the internet since the original ads are available via the web. This ignores the fact that the ads are a vital and integral part of the Super Bowl telecast. Watching them outside of the context of the live game broadcast is a poor substitute for the real thing. Likewise, the quality of most streaming web video does not simulate the digital broadcast HD TV signal quality well.

Lets hoping this inequity (which penalizes Canadian viewers) gets resolved by this time next year. The CRTC politburo needs an exemption policy for live special events of foreign origin. The original ads cannot continue to be classified for American and Quebecers`eyes only!

The sad reality is that if CTV overpays for the rights to a US event and is unable to recover the costs in advertising revenues without the CRTC running interference, the additional red ink will just be a drop in the bucket of swirling interest charges servicing the debt they took on to pay an inflated price to acquire CITY TV. A CRTC policy that allows CTV to overpay for their M&A plays and the the Super Bowl rights, while relegating the Grey Cup to its B network and cancelling this Summer`s run of Canadian Idol, is clearly not working as intended.

New 2009 Cruiseship Launches: The Vital Stats

Now that 2009 is here, we can look forward to the launch of three new highly anticipated cruise-ships by the major North American cruise lines in late Summer – early Fall.

The new debuts vital stats are as follows:

Celebrity Equinox

Inaugural saildate: August 8, 2009
Rating: 5 stars
Tonnage 122,000 tons
Length 1,033 feet
Beam 121 feet
Passenger Capacity 2,852
Crew Size 999
Total Inside Cabins 102
Total Outside Cabins 1,323
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 1,177
Suites 56

The second in Celebrity's new Solstice class, the Celebrity Equinox will introduce the Lawn Club, a half-acre area with real, growing grass, featuring a country club atmosphere, featuring The Patio on the Lawn . Passengers will also be able to take in glassblowing demonstrations and lectures at the Hot Glass Show. Staterooms on the Celebrity Equinox (and sister Solstice-class ships) are 15% larger than those on other Celebrity vessels. Flat-screen televisions and wireless in state-room Internet access is also standard. Spa enthusiasts staying within the AquaClass category of veranda staterooms have exclusive access to the relaxation room as well as the aromatherapy and steam room. AquaClass quests also gain exclusive, complimentary access to Blu, a 130-seat specialty restaurant.


Carnival Dream

Inaugural saildate: September 21, 2009
Rating: 4.5 stars
Tonnage 128,000 tons
Length 1,004 feet
Beam 121 feet
Passenger Capacity 3,646
Crew Size 1,369
Total Inside Cabins 688
Total Outside Cabins 1,079
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 775
Suites 54

The Carnival Dream will be the largest vessel in Carnival's "Fun Ship" fleet. Among the Dream's new services and amenities are a two-level miniature golf course, an enlarged WaterWorks aqua park and the Piazza -- an indoor/outdoor cafe and live music venue . The ship also features a 23,750-square-foot spa Cloud 9-- Carnival's largest health and wellness center to date-- and scenic whirlpools that will extend beyond the ship's beam. The Carnival Dream will also have new stateroom categories including "cove" balcony staterooms located close to the waterline, deluxe oceanview staterooms featuring two bathrooms, and spa staterooms and suites with exclusive spa privileges and amenities. Adults on board can also enjoy Serenity, an adults-only retreat.

Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean


Inaugural saildate: December 5, 2009
Rating: 5 stars
Tonnage 220,000 tons
Length 1,181 feet
Beam 154 feet
Passenger Capacity 5,400
Crew Size 2,150
Total Inside Cabins 496
Total Outside Cabins 2,210
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 1,956
Suites 166

The Oasis of the Seas, the largest ship ever built, will be divided into seven "neighborhoods," each offering its own unique experiences. In Central Park , guests can peruse the art gallery or unwind in a refined wine bar. Elsewhere, activity minded passengers can head toward the Boardwalk to try out the world's first onboard carousel and zipline as well as two rock climbing walls. The Royal Promenade, will, meanwhile encompass a wide variety of dining and entertainment options, including Rising Tide -- a levitating bar that ascends and descends over three decks. Dining options will include Chops Steak House, Sorrento 's Pizzeria, Seafood Shack and Johnny Rockets as well as a donut shop and ice cream parlour in the Promenade. In addition to traditional staterooms, the Oasis will also offer loft and multi-level suites alternative

2:1 seat sales for oversize flyers-- fair?

Earlier this week the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear an appeal (brought by the Canadian airline industry) of an earlier Canadian Transportation Agency ruling requiring airlines to allocate two adjoining seats (for a single fare) to passengers that are “functionally disabled by obesity”.

I have been considering the broader implications of this precedent. I believe the Supreme Court should have heard the Appeal and reversed the Agency’s ruling. This is not because I do not believe that Canadian business should be free to operate with cavalier disregard for the rights of the physically impaired to be free from unfair discrimination. It is also not because I am insensitive to the comfort and space needs of heavier people.

If there are extra seats available on a particular flight, I am sure most passengers would be more than obliging in re-juggling their original seat assignments to vacate the seat adjoining that occupied by a heavier person, in order to allow everyone more personal space. Doing so makes practical good sense and hurts no one. But increasingly, I find myself boarding flights that are fully booked and bearing a full passenger load. Vacant seats seem to be more and more of a rarity. In this age of soaring energy prices and fuel surcharges, airlines seem to have done a stellar job of realigning adjusting their fleet capacities and scheduling to “right size” capacity to optimize passenger loads at near capacity.

Against this backdrop, I believe the Court should have considered whether it is fair and appropriate to spread the costs of the second seat allocated to the heavier passenger across the fares of all paying passengers flying in the aircraft. Consider that most airlines currently charge an economy fare passenger who overpacks a surcharge for checking overweight luggage or pieces in excess of the allowable limit. The Court should have likewise considered whether it is fair and inappropriate to deprive a standby passenger of a seat because two seats need to be allocated to a heavier passenger flying on a confirmed basis.

This decision could actually compromise the interests of "aerotubbies" by subjecting them to derision and scorn by fellow lighter passengers forced to endure a flight in cramped close quarters (particularly longer passengers), particularly if other family, friends or associates were left on the ground waiting on a standby seat assignment.

While I realize that body shape and weight may to some extent be traceable to genetic hereditary factors, a bigger cause relates to lifestyle choices (the ability to balance caloric intake of food to physical activity levels). It is entirely possible for the obese to control their weight by modifying their own behaviour. They can begin to make healthier (lower fat and calories) food selection and to increase their level of physical activity. By providing a free seat reward to the obese, subsidized by all passengers, are we not incenting bad lifestyle choices and penalizing better choices? Are we not providing one less reason for an obese person to make positive changes in their lifestyle to slim off some pounds?

Some alcoholics contend that their alcoholism is a condition akin to a disease-- that they develop an addictive dependency on alcohol that compels them to drink. And yet airlines, in the interest of safety, routinely deny boarding to passengers that are obviously intoxicated, under the influence of alcohol. No one contends that taking such action discriminates against persons with a physical disability.

The court should have also considered the broader implications of where this decision might lead? This precedent could lead us down a very slippery slope. Could the obese now demand that car dealers sell them larger (mid size) cars for the price of sub-compacts or threaten to bring a class action alleging discrimination? Could the obese now demand that supermarkets sell them two pounds of ground beef for the price of one or that McDonalds sell them two Big Macs for the price of one on the grounds that a larger stomach takes more to fill by threatening to bring a court action alleging discrimination?

The practical implications of the decision also need to be vetted:

Where does one draw the line between being clinically obese and just plain fat?

Will travel agents be expected to validate that a passenger is, in fact, obese, in order to qualify them to receive two seats for on fare?

Will travel agents be required to inquire about a persons’ weight (at the risk of offending them) in order book a heavier passenger on the correct fare basis?

What if a passenger loses or gains weight in the interim period between reserving their flight and the date of travel?

Ultimately, I think this decision has the potential to lead to increased marginalization of obese people in Canada. Heavier people who might have, prior to this decision, been completely willing to pay two fares, to book on a first or business class (instead of economy) basis or to simply contend with the discomfort of accommodating their hefty girth in a single seat, may now find themselves subject to the hateful scorn of resentful fellow passengers jealous of their larger (same priced) flying space.

Have any other jurisdictions in the world passed similar rulings in favour of obese passengers? Or is Canada on the vanguard of championing the rights of the obese? I fear the rest of the world may regard we Canadians with puzzled bemusement on account of allowing this decision to stand. In my view, the decision pushes the boundary line of tolerance and accommodation well beyond where it ought reasonably to be drawn.

Bah humbug!

I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to observing the holiday season. While I have not traced the roots of this traditionalism it is most likely another legacy of my Roman Catholic religious upbringing. One outgrowth of this traditionalist affliction, is that it really irks me that most of my friends do not realize that the twelve days of Christmas (referred to in the popular Christmas carol) actually begin after Christmas (and run between Christmas and Epiphany Sunday) and not before it. In any case, I find that the season's start date seems to kick off more obscenely early each and every year. In defiance of this trend, I have set a personal goal to actively resist the onset of glad tidings in my life for as along as possible.

I am practical enough to realize that Christmas long ago lost most of its religious and/or spiritual meaning for most of us inhabiting the Western World at the outset of this new millennium, and instead became more of an excuse for a sustained / prolonged season of commercialism and conspicuous consumption and overindulgence—of gift giving, party going, feasting and drinking.

Retailers are usually the first to start the holiday season rolling, in an effort to jumpstart their Christmas sales. No sooner have the Halloween candies and costumes been cleared from their racks, than out come the Christmas wares. Usually my partner, Gary, and his sister, insist on making their annual pilgrimage to the William Ashley warehouse sale for an “advance preview” in early November and I tag along. The warehouse is always a zoo, chuck full of eager gift consumers claiming to be searching for gift “bargains” (but often more eager to pick up items for themselves than others!). Fortunately, this year we managed (thanks to our ongoing home renos and their mother’s continued hospitalization) to skip that ritual observance! Alleluia. There is a God and he lives still!

However, we had to venture to the Sears’ Toronto Eaton Centre store last Sunday to resolve an new appliance installation issue. We arrived to find the holiday season sales season in full bloom. The next day, I was served my first chain store coffee in a special Christmas season paper cup. Also last week, I also started to hear Christmas songs being played over the speakers in local coffee shops. At least our American neighbours to the south has a bit of a built in start delay feature in the form of their Thanksgiving holiday, which marks the official start of their retail sales season.

We observed Remembrance Day last Tuesday. To me, at a minimum, out of deference to our war dead, no Christmas decorations should go up until (at least) the poppies come off the overcoat lapels.

This weekend, the annual Toronto Santa Claus parade was staged. The parade terminates in our (St Lawrence) neighbourhood. The crowds are unavoidable. Every year we are over-run by dozens of young families making their annual trek in from the ‘burbs in their SUVs to welcome Santa Claus. This weekend hinterlands north of the GTA also got their first dusting of snow. ( Gary was up visiting his mother at Royal Victoria hospital in Barrie and had to search our trunk to dig out the snow brush / ice scraper) for the first time this season.

There were also two other signs this weekend that Christmas is already in the air. First, we attended our first party on Saturday night. Although, technically not a Christmas party per se—the couple whose home we were visiting had just welcomed a newly adopted daughter into their home, and they hosted an intimate dinner (featuring East Indian take-out food) for us and another couple—it was an early sign that the social agenda is getting busier. Next Sunday we need to return to Barrie to attend a 1st birthday party for Gary ’s great-grandniece Alyx.

We also attended an opening night screening of one of the seasonal blockbusters that Hollywood likes to launch at Christmas (when moviegoing crests). We saw the latest James Bond 007 opus “Quantum of Solace” at the Cineplex Scotiabank cinema Friday night. (I didn’t particularly care for it, but apparently it set an opening weekend box office record for the series)

Finally, this morning I arrived at the office building in which I work to be greeted by holiday decorations hanging in the lobby. This is the first holiday season that I have worked in this particular office building. Thankfully, the decorations were quite traditional and restrained—a few natural fir trees of various sizes grouped together in trios at opposite ends of the lobby—and trimmed in simple white lights and silver balls. I have see far crassly gaudy lobby displays elsewhere.

Returning to the religious origins of the season, I wish to note for the record that Advent (the four Sunday season in the Christian liturgical calendar leading up to Christmas) doesn’t even start for another two Sundays. So, until then, I refuse to start my Christmas shopping (I have two kids of my own, five nieces and nephews and one mother on my list to buy for—Gary and I have agreed that our (ongoing / never-ending home renos will be our gift to each other)! Until the first Advent candle is lit on the altar, I vow to imitate Ebenzer Scrooge and Mr. Grinch. Bah humbug! I must stop Christmas from coming!

Me and My Red Rocket Stick

I have been using my Rogers red rocket stick for high speed wireless internet access for close to a month now. The “rocket stick” is actually an Ovation MC 950D USB modem. All you need to do is plug the rocket stick into an open USB port on your laptop/notebook (or workstation/desktop PC) and the Novatel MobiLink software will create a 3G connection to allow your web browser to access internet sites on the world-wide web. This can come in handy when you need internet access away from home and/or outside of a wi-fi hotspot zone.

For the techies out there, the rocket stick has a built in quad band receiver and is EDGE and HPSA compatible. You can also use it to access a remote server via VPN.

I signed up with Rogers on a one year contract basis and received the rocket stick hardware (normal retail price $299.99) at no charge. I am committed to a basic $10 access plan plus a $30 month data service plan which allows me a maximum of 1 GB of data exchange per month. If this data limit is exceeded you pay 3 cents per additional MB. Since I do not plan to routinely use the stick with upload / download intensive applications, I do not expect to exceed this monthly limit most of the time. However, to test its limits, I did upload a set of close to 300 photos to the Kodak Gallery. So far I have not received my first monthly bill—we will see!

Where have I been using my red rocket stick? Not at home (since I already have rogers@home internet lite service there) or at work (since my employer provides an internet connection through the company’s LAN server (although many sites (including most mail servers are blocked) or wandering the streets (since I have a blackberry). Where then? Well, twice in my car (not when I was driving… once I had my son look up driving direction on mapquest; a second time when I was sitting motionless and parked waiting on passengers) and once while visiting in a hospital ward (hopefully it did not interfere with pacemakers and patient monitoring equipment!) I have also used it out of town once (to test how long distance charges are applied. Rogers assigns a specific phone number in a particular area code to your rocket stick receiver, even tho you do not use it to place or receive voice calls)

The speed that websites open and data upload/download speeds seem comparable to the internet-lite speeds I am accustomed to at home and the LAN speeds at work.

So far I do not regret by buying decision (although I am on tenterhooks awaiting receipt of my first bill with baited breath!)

Glasses again!

I wore eyeglasses for close to 30 years of my life-- from the time the optometrist diagnosed with astigmatism (in Grade 3) right up until I had Lasik surgery (at TLC) about 10 years ago. When i first got glasses I only used to wear them to school and would remove them when I got home and on weekends. During that period I came to associate my glasses with work and the absence of glasses with freedom and leisure. I recall feeling a wave of relief wash over me when I removed my glasses. When I was a kid, my parents used to take me to public optical to have my eyeglass prescription filled. Since I grew up in an immigrant family home where money was always tight, they used to insist that I chose my frames from the limited selection that came free with the lenses. that basically limited me to frames in the black horn rimmed variety! Sorta like the ones Harry Potter has made kewl now! But back when I was in grade school they were most decidedly uncool and only succeeded to make me the object of ridicule among classmates. They all assumed that I was a studious bookworn on account of my specs (which I was, but that hardly justifies their stereotyping and teasing). I also remember being very conflicted in gym glass--- should I wear my glasses (and risk breaking them) so I could actually see the ball or take them off and look even more haplessly two-left footed than I already was.

I never seriously considered replacing my specs with contact lenses because the idea of having something so small so close to my eyeball,freaked me out. In the early years you couldn't get soft plastic or gas permeable contacts to correct astigmatism; you needed to go with the hard glass. In my mid 30s I started to consider whether I should get laser eye surgery to correct my vision. eventually I overcame my reservations and with some trepidation eventually decided the benefits outweighed the risks. For the balance of the day and overnight following lasik surgery you are required to wear an eyemask. I can still recall the joy at removing the mask the morning after the surgery and being overjoyed to discover that I could see clearly and (perhaps even more impressively) my depth of vision was also greatly enhanced. It was like putting on 3-D glasses! I also remember the joy of having my vision re-tested at the MTO and having the "X" restriction removed from my drivers license. Being able to throw my eyeglasses away gave me a sense of liberation and an entirely new sense of self-identity.

I also recall my optometrist warning me when I had lasik that in a few years I might still need a pair of reading glasses as a result of old age. However, until very recently, I still found my "up close" vision fine for both distance and up close reading. Within the last year, however, I have started to experience problems reading (particularly in low light). Last week I went into the optometrist for a vision check-up and the optometrist confirmed that I will need reading glasses (or alternatively graduated bi-focal specs or contacts). I need to go back next week to have my prescription finalized. After that, I will have the prescription filled and then start wear glasses again, at least some of the time (mainly at work).

Tho I knew this day of reckoning would soon come and I am going to make sure I chose a very fashionable designer frame nothing like the cheap standard black horn rimmed variety selected for me to don in childhood, I can't help but feel some remorse and dread about the pending return of glasses upon my nose. I know I am not alone and that most people my age require vision correction for reading, but I can't help but feel disappointed at this change! It seems like a step back to the future. In any case, rest assured that I will not be changing my blog pic to show the new be-spectacled me!

Mortgage payments going down!

Are you a homeowner? If so, do you have a fixed or floating rate mortgage? When we bought our condo apartment a few years back we went with a floating rate loan. The mortgage is from Maple Trust (a sub of BNS) and varies with Scotiabank prime. The bank's prime rates vary with the Bank of Canada rate. The "gamble" has paid off big time (especially recently).

The Bank of Canada has recently been reducing rates to ease the credit crisis and to ward off recession. The BoC's benchmark rate currently sits at 2.5% and Scotiabank's prime rate was re-set to 4.25% last week. Our mortgage bears interest at prime minus 50 basis points. So the current interest rate on our mortgage stands a paltry 3.45%!

There are suggestions that the Bank of Canada may lower its rate by another 80 basis points this week. If the chartered banks flow that whole decrease through their primes, our mortgage rate would drop under 3%. Amazing! I never thought I would see the day when you could borrow on a home mortgage for less than 3%!

American Airlines introduces in-flight internet service

American Airlines becomes the first North American carrier to offer in-flight internet service, effective today. Details here. The service is only being introduced on selected (heavily travelled) routes initially. The price point ($12.95) does not appear excessive (by airline standards, considering a soggy stale ham roll with limp lettuce can cost you ten bucks if your busy travel schedule leaves you without time to stock up on an in-flight meal pre-boarding).

Hopefully other airlines (Air Canada, are you listening?) will soon introduce this feature and more flexible "unlimited use, season pass" pricing options may emerge that would be transferable across alliance partners (star and one-world). Delta is expected to be next to introduce broadband wi-fi access on its flights and to roll it out fleet wide. The internet access on commercial jet planes will prohibit making VoIP calls.

Apple iphone: The bloom is off the rose

The iphone honeymoon was short-lived.

The web is suddenly ablaze with stories of iphone connectivity, reception problems and weak signal strength attributed to engineering problems introduced in mass production.

This serves as yet another reminder that early tech adopters are essentially volunteering as guinea pigs in order to indulge their need to be the first on the block to use the latest toys while the kinks are still being worked out. Perhaps this news will help redress the stock-out inventory issues Rogers has been confronting with its product launch in Canada.

Here is an overview report from c-net

Ny Teknik, Sweden's foremost engineering weekly, obtained a report on tests (conducted by unnamed experts) that showed some handsets' sensitivity to third-generation network signals is well below the level specified in the 3G standard. This report claims they are failing tests that determine whether they meet minimum G3 connectivity standards.

So far Apple has not responded to these claims.

Union drive succeeds at Quebec WalMart

A trade union has finally managed to infiltrate the WalMart retail empire.

8 employees in the Tire and Lube Express shop at a store location in Gatineau Quebec are now covered by a collective bargaining agreement imposed by an arbitrator and represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

There is speculation that WalMart may shut the facility to nip the unionization movement in the bud. Management likely views the union as a threat that may increase its labour expenses impairing its profitability or price competitiveness.

In 2005 WalMart closed a store in Jonquière, Que., that had been the first in North America to obtain union certification and the The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a challenge from former employees at the Jonquière store that claim their jobs were lost due to labour activism.

More details here

Apple's iphone app store off to fast start

It appears the App store that Apple launched along with its G3 iphone models may ultimately prove to be the more revolutionary market innovation. The App store has the potential to change the landscape by allowing small developers access to a broad customer base to distribute their software products. It could also shift the focus in the software development industry from an emphasis on apps developed for desktop and laptop PCs over to developing apps more suited for mobile smartphone handsets.

In the short period of time since launch date last month, 60 million apps have been downloaded, represent $30 million worth of sales revenues. Apple retains 30% of the app sales revenues. I am not sure how this percentage compares to the revenue sharing split on downloaded music and video content sold through itunes.

Details here:

Air Canada A/V changes

Air Canada is finally ending the wasteful practice of handing out free disposable audio headsets every time you board a flight. Instead they'll make available two prong adapters so you can use your own single prong headphones / earbuds to plug in to the seat jacks on older planes.

Now if they would only install more reliable seat-back VOD screens! I was on a recent flight where the touch sensitive seat back VOD screens failed and had to be re-set three times midflight. The attendants came through the cabin and distributed cards with a code to enter in an e-mail to customer service to receive some additional aeroplan points in compensation for the failure. I followed the instructions but never wound up getting credited with any.

I wonder if the attendants will demonstrate how to insert a one prong headphone in a two prong adapter, given that they still think people need instructions on how to fasten and tighten a standard lap belt!?

I think this change makes good sense. I expect many passengers watch / listen to their own audio-video material using their laptops and ipods in flight anyhow!

Details here.

Rogers marketing shifts: What do they really signal?

Rogers Retail has announced that its Rogers Video stores are being re-branded as Rogers Plus and will add expanded product and services offerings from the Rogers Cable and Rogers Wireless business lines to the existing movies and games software inventory available for rent and sale at the locations.

The transition from Rogers Video to Rogers Plus stores will take place between August and December 2008 on a city-by-city basis across the country. Information on the stores can now be found at http://www.rogersplus.ca/.

Rogers spokespersons are claiming that the decision to add new products at these stores is not a reflection of a software rental downturn, claiming that home video and game rentals continues to be a thriving, vibrant, industry in Canada to which Rogers is committed.

Frankly, despite the rhetoric, I am suspicious of the REAL motives behind this switch. There is no doubt that video piracy and illegal movie and software downloading and duplication have been eroding the video and game rental revenues of bricks and mortar retailers in the same way that it earlier altered the music retailing landscape. Also, renting homevideo titles may cannibalize Rogers revenues from its “Rogers on Demand” VOD PPV cable services in regions where Rogers holds CATV licenses. The window between homevideo release on DVD discs and availability of the same titles on PPV seems to be down to less than a month now. (Frankly its a lot easier downloading a movie using a Rogers high speed internet cable connection or ordering it up on an ROD screen than going out to a bricks and mortar store (twice) to pick up and return a DVD or Blu-Ray disc (particularly in the rainy weather we’ve been having this Summer or in Canadian winters)). Similarly, in Roger’s wireless business, its hottest new product is the Apple iphone which is generating download revenues for Apple (from sale of apps, music and video at the itunes store) rather than for Apple’s wireless service partners (like Rogers) that distribute the iphone.

Stateside, Cablevision, the cable TV provider in Long Island New York, recently won a court decision allowing them to remotely store digital video recorded content selected by their cable subscribers (for time-shifting) on central high volume servers housed in cable company premises outside of consumers' homes. Until this ruling such timeshift digital recording was limited to that done using a TIVO or other DVR set top cable box within a subscriber's home. This decision greatly enhances storage capabilities and cost efficiencies for cable companies and their subscribers. However producers, broadcasters, cable network operators and their advertisers opposed the court ruling. This is because studies reveal that viewers skip thru commercial breaks when they play back programming from DVRs instead of watching original broadcasts in network programmed timeslots.

Rogers have so far not announced any plans to introduce a Cablevision style DVR storage model in Canada, but marginalizing the role of homevideo sales and rentals in their retail locations would certainly insulate them further from the influence of the movie studios that produce a lot of the content that both gets DVRed and released on homevideo. Moreover, there is no love lost between Rogers and conventional (over the air) TV broadcasters who have petitioned the CRTC regulators, seeking license fees from cable operators for distributing their programming comparable to those charged by specialty TV license holders.

A Tale of Two Coffee Shops

It has been interesting to monitor the shifting fortunes of Tim Hortons and Starbucks as the economy contracts. Tim Hortons (TDL) recently announced a 11.5% increase in Q2 profits whereas Starbucks have been announcing executive shuffles, store closures, rebranding efforts and price adjustments to try to revive their sagging earnings.

I find some personal validation and/or vindication in this dramatic reversal in corporate fortunes. Tim Hortons has always been my paper-cup java of choice. I joined the Tim Hortons fan club at an early age, growing up in the East end of Hamilton just a few miles from the original Tim Hortons outlet, where it all began (on Ottawa St. N). I have fond memories of driving there with my Dad as a kid. In those days they used to sell off their "day old" donuts in plastic bag dozen assortments at half price. There used to be much heated discussion in the car among my siblings en route about whether we wanted to go with a fresh dozen donuts in an assorted box of our choice or double up and pig out on the day-old grab bags for the same price. Hamilton was a lunch bucket town where donut shops thrive (likely has more donut shops per capita than any other city in the world). The original Ottawa St N shop was strategically located on the daily commute route of steelworkers heading to the blast furnaces on their morning commutes. Tim Hortons is clearly and proudly "blue collar".

Starbucks, on the other hand, is the much more upscale hi-brow "foo-foo" brand. Unlike Tims, which was born in the blue collar shadow of the blast furnace, Starbucks comes to us via the US Pacific Northwest, where they take their coffee almost as seriously as Italians. Starbucks is more about the show than the coffee. The brand has upscale cachet and is much more white-collar than blue collar. The problem is that as they have expanded to more and more outlets, they have become more broadly accessible to the masses, which has undermined the snob-appeal cachet of the brand.

The pretentiousness of Starbucks is quite hilarious. This used to be cleverly parodied on the Frasier sitcom when the Crane brothers gave the barrista their esoteric finicky choices! Rather than referring to their cups sizes as small, medium, large or extra large, Starbucks applies terms like "short" for small , "tall" for medium "grande" (pronounced "grawn-day") for large and "vente" for extra-large. They always offer a mild and bold coffee daily house blend, in addition to a de-caf option. There is also a wide range of hot and cold speciality drinks, some of which are coffee based (espresso, latte, cappuccinos, et al) and others which are cream or ice based. When you order a specialty blended drink you need to specify a wide range of finishing and extra instructions, ranging from the caffeine level (de-caf or half-caf), the number of espresso shots (single, double, triple, quad) whitener options (half and half, non-fat, low fat, soy, lactose free), topping options (foam, low foam, no foam, extra-foam, whipped on top) and even serrving temperature (140 degrees is less likely to burn)! You need to be a mathematician to add up all the possible permutations and combinations. Its choice overkill to the nth degree.

Meanwhile back at Tim Hortons, (although they have recently added Flavour Shots) they have only one favour of coffee--- coffee flavour! The serving options are normally limited to black (the way I take mine), double-double and triple-triple (the way our building security guard Nicole (she's from Oshawa) takes hers, when I bring her one back).

We are spoiled in terms of paper cup coffee options within walking range of our condo. We have three Tim Hortons and three Starbucks nearby. The Starbucks evening closing times vary from 8 PM to 10 PM-- and two of them (the one at King and George and the one on Front, west of the market) have patios. Meanwhile, one of the Tim Hortons shares its facilities with Wendys and the other is inside George Brown College (so has very restricted hours). When I am at work, there are four Tim Hortons, located on the PATH in concourse food courts, within walking distance of my office (one in Scotia Plaza, one in the TD Canadian Pacific, one in 145 King W and one in the First Canadian Place Exchange Tower (with a 5th about to open in Royal Bank Plaza when its Food Court re-opens in the Fall.) There are also six Starbucks within walking distance... two in Brookfield Place, one in the TD CP "west side" foodcourt, one in First Canadian Place, one in Lombard Place, one in the Richmond-Adelaide Centre and one on the ground floor of First Canadian Place.

My workmates are almost equally divided in their Tims vs Starbucks preferences, ven tho I work in a decidedly white collar environment in a Big 4 professional services firm.

In the final analysis, I believe the fact that Tim Hortons is thriving now while Starbucks is struggling is more a barometer of the ailing economy than the relative merits of their product or marketing efforts. With gas at $1.25 a litre, people simply can't afford to drop $4 for a cup of java every time they enter the coffee shop. That's why Tim Hortons is pulling ahead. Mickey Dees is also upgrading coffee options to challenge Starbucks in its home market. There is a misconception that Starbucks offers better tasting coffee that justifies its higher price. The results of independent taste tests dispel this myth. Apparently Starbucks is test-marketing cheaper coffee in some markets. When the economy comes roaring back, I expect, Starbucks should be poised to resume their growth, if they are able to ride out the rocky road until then! Meanwhile, Tim Hortons is going to be riding the steeper growth curve!

IKEA 2009 catalog promo a bust?

In an earlier post, I reminded readers that the new IKEA downtown Toronto showroom (located just down the street from our condo) would be open for a limited time only this weekend. Based on reaction I have seen to date (refer to comments posted on this blog and here) the promo is certainly less than a huge success!

In the final analysis, IKEA spent more time putting the "showroom" together than it will be open to the public! I wonder how long of a lease they signed to use this premises? What a questionable use of their catalog launch promo budget. IKEA Canada's creative agency of record is zig. I actually like their humorous radio spots featuring the guy with the Swedish accent. I wonder if they are the culprits? If so, it is a mis-step out of sync with their usual creative standards.

Ultimately, its not like the North York and Etobicoke stores are that inaccessible to determined downtown TO resident shoppers (even for those without a car)!

Downtown Toronto IKEA showroom now open

Yesterday I posted about the new downtown Toronto IKEA showroom opening. I can confirm that (following last night's VIP preview) it is open to the public today and that the hours (as posted on the door) are from 10 to 6 from today thru to Saturday and NOON til 5 on Sunday. After that it is gone, Gone, GONE!

Downtown IKEA showroom opening tomorrow

IKEA is opening a downtown Toronto showroom. It is located at 143 King St E-- a half block from our condo apartment, on the south side of King St. between Jarvis and Church, across from St. James Park.

According to the press release posted at the IKEA website, the premise will operate as a temporary promotional facility, used to display merchandise in connection with the launch / release of the new 2009 catalog.

The 1.5 floor showroom was a hub of activity when I walked by it today. In the morning a tradesman was in the process of replacing the gold leaf lettering on the windows that originally read "opening July 31" with new signage that reads "Style 2009". The billowing white "black-out" drapes hanging in the front windows were still in place when I passed by at NOON but the front doors opened a few times (to admit deliveries) as I was passing, allowing me a peek inside.

Based on what I spied then, it appeared they still have a lot of work on their hands to complete the showroom, if they hoped to be up and running in time for the "media only" sneak peak today. However when I passed by tonight, the curtains had been removed and there were people mingling inside. A truck out front was unloading large wide gift bags. And a team of black outfitted valets were standing in a row waiting to park cars.

According to an article in the National Post, the outlet will not be permanent. The posting at the IKEA website suggests that it will close August 3. It seems like much ado just to open a venue for a 4 day promo event (over the long civic holiday weekend when many city dwellers will escape the city for cottage country).

In any case. this observer plans to visit the showroom sometime over the course of the next few days and post a report at this blog for those of you who are unable to make it out for an in person visit! I expect the showroom will attract alot of traffic from the office towers in the downtown core over lunch hour on Thursday and Friday and will then attract some curious St. Lawrence Market shoppers on Saturday.

Free cab rides in Toronto!

A taxi promoting Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism, will be available on Toronto streets for the next three weeks, offering free cab rides. The cab comes equipped with a wide screen monitor showing video clips of scenery from the province and will dispense bottled water from NL sources. This marketing ploy is part of a campaign entitled"Get Carried Away". The cab driver is native Newfoundlander Melanie Mooney, who will talk up her native province to riders. To head off any environmental concerns, the cab will be green friendly, running on natural gas and carbon offsets will be purchased.

What price convenience?

Remember the days when nothing was controlled wirelessly by remote control?


The current car that Gary & I share is a 2006 Pontiac G-6. We've had it for about two years now and will probably keep it for at least another two. Its nothing fancy but its functional (has gotten us from point A to point B fairly reliably and economically (given rising gas prices) so far). It has approx 50,000 kms on the odometer. Its alot more spacious (for family outings... drove it down to Maryland for Summer vacation last year, have taken it on a few camping trips and have a bicycle rack that fits on the trunk) than our last car (a BMW 325)-- tho admittedly not nearly as stylish.


The car came with two "keyless car entry" key fobs which are battery powered. I am not sure what the usual battery life is on the fobs but one of them (Gary's) quit working a few months back. Initially, I purchased a replacement battery at SDM and attempted to replace it myself. After prying the fob open at the seam, I removed the old battery and placed the new one in. It did not work. I re-opened it as well as the other one that was working to compare the battery placement. I re-placed the battery to match the good fob and closed them back up. After that, the fob appeared to be working. But not for long. The very next day after handing it back to Gary, he complained that it was still not working.



Since Gary uses the car more than I do, I eventually swapped key fobs with him. A few weeks ago Gary took our G6 in for servicing to a GM dealership (needed a brake job). He forgot to see if he could get the key fob replaced while he was there. (Since the total tab was over $750, perhaps they would have thrown in a free key fob battery replacement for that price.) In any case, tired of having to open / close the doors manually (which is a real pain when the weather or your arms are full carrying parcels), I finally got around to taking the key fob in to a repair shop for replacement. I took it to Fax Fix Jewellery and Watch Repair at the south end of the Eaton Centre on the subway (1 below) level. I was familiar with this shop from bringing watches in there for battery replacement before. They complete the replacement job while you shop (in 5 minutes) and offer a 5 year guarantee (replacement is free) in case the battery fails during that period.



Even allowing for the 5 year guarantee (the value of which, since we may replace the car in less than two years. is rather dubious) the pricetag for the battery replacement seemed rather steep to me.. $25.94, including tax! I guess that is the high price of convenience? It sure doesn't come cheaply! On the upside, at least I don't have to worry about looking like a fool by forgetting where I parked my car in a mall lot (the car flashes its lights and sounds it horn in reply to depressing a fob button within range, to help you locate it)... perhaps avoiding embarrassment is worth more than convenience? Also, I plan to charge Gary back for at least half the cost (since it was, after all, his fob that failed in the first instance)! So perhaps $12.97 is a fair price? I dunno.

Poor government service

I took my son Ryan (aged 16) to write his knowledge test to qualify for his G1 drivers license yesterday. We went to the Service Ontario Centre on the concourse level of 777 Bay (College Park). This location has been open about a year now and the government release announcing it promises to “provide Ontario families with convenient one-stop access to the full range of government services”. In theory the concept sounds great-- you can do everything from applying for a birth certificate and health card to changing your name, registering your business and applying for a fishing license there. You can also write the MTO G1 Test of Knowledge—which is what Ryan was there to do. In practice, the experience left a lot to be desired!

We came away very unimpressed with the speed and efficiency of the service the location offers. The MTO website recommends that you arrive at least 1 hour prior than closing. We showed up at 3:05 PM and were given our numbered ticket by an attendant at reception. It was close to 4:30 by the time our ticket number flashed across the screen indicating that it was time to proceed to one of the almost 40 service wickets. At the wicket a vision test was conducted, ID was examined, a photo was taken and the $85 fee was collected.

After this initial screening Ryan was directed to a common room to write the test (which I believe is 40 questions in two parts testing rules of the road and traffic signs). Ryan emerged after successfully completing his test at almost 5:00! To top it all off, the temporary license he was issued has his home street address spelt incorrectly.

To my mind, this is an unacceptably long wait period and the service delivered was both ineffective and inefficient. I ended up losing over 2 hours away from work to assist Ryan complete the process. (At least I was more fortunate than the woman whose son emerged ahead of Ryan who claimed he had failed the exam (because he did not realize that questions were printed on both sides of the paper) and was told to report back and pay another fee some other day!) I am surprised they are still using printed paper tests at this location. I would have expected the test to be administered and automatically marked via PC terminals.

In summary, I cannot recommend attending this location if you wish to want the drivers Test of Knowledge. You might be better advised to go to the nearest MTO Driver Examination centre instead. Service Ontario could provide better, more timely service by completing the initial part of the application process on-line and /or allowing you to pre-book a time to show up to complete the process. The feds use this approach now for processing passport applications.

Even the lineups for rides and attractions at theme parks are not as long as at Service Ontario (and some issue Fast Passes that allow you to avoid wasting time by reporting back at a later pre-designated hour!)

In any case, Ryan now has a minimum of 8 months to wait before he can go for his first road test to get his license upgraded to a G2. If anyone can recommend a good driving school or instructor, references would be appreciated.