GRAVENHURST – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance’s table-top trade show Wednesday morning (right) was an unqualified success, members and vendors told www.cartt.ca.
With over 200 delegates registered for the AGM and 32 tables filled with vendors’ wares at the Taboo Resort, this is the largest CCSA AGM in memory.
Some brand new product was unveiled at the show, such as the new interactive program guide from Aptiv. Aptiv is the former IPG division of Pioneer Digital, which has been spun off into a new company. Regina’s Access Communications is the first Canadian MSO to roll out the attractive, intuitive guide, which works on all generations of Scientific Atlanta and Motorola set-top boxes.
Another new product release was the Fitel S177 fibre fusion set on the Telonix table. Telonix has it exclusively here and this show saw its Canadian debut. It boasts a nine-second fuse time and 30 second heat time to go with a high-res graphical interface which easily guides users through trouble-shooting with the use of pictures.
“I visited with most of the vendors, if not all,” said Amtelecom president and CEO Michael Andrews. “We’re very pleased with the turnout.”
This is the first opportunity in a long time that the Canadian cable equipment manufacturers and distributors have been able to meet their clients in such a setting, face to face, in a social atmosphere. “This gives us that shot again to get in front of everybody,” said TVC Canada president Steve Quinn, who added he was very happy with the format and the turnout (not to mention the beautiful lake view from the room – a rarity in the trade show world, as most conventions are completely walled off from the world).
After the trade show, attendees hit the links under sunny skies and a bit of wind for the annual golf tournament, sponsored by Rogers Media and The Golf Channel.
(From left) The CCSA’s Connie Sprague, Dale Cook and Jenny Watson at the trade show.
Rogers Sportsnet reporter Chris Simpson gave out some prizes at the dinner after golfing.
Westman Communications’ Neil Thomson with photographic proof of an excellent tee shot.
Story and photos by Greg O’Brien
