CanCon Podcast Ep. 44: The conspiracy killing startups

Is it actually true that there is no such thing as bad publicity? This week, the CanCon podcast tests that theory with the story of Toronto-based startup Equibit, and its major media blunder (or stunt) this past week regarding the role of John McAfee with the company. As BetaKit and MobileSyrup’s teams worked to clear up the crossed wires and clarify McAfee’s actual role with Equibit, the CanCon podcast team couldn’t help but wonder, why would you want to be associated with McAfee in the first place?

This week has also seen more rulings from the CRTC. The commission has decided to renew broadcast packages for one year at a time, down from the seven years it had previously been, to help monitor the results of recent hearings. The next major regulatory hurdle for the CRTC? Online streaming services. Netflix has declared it should not be beholden to regulatory standards of the CRTC due to its large investment in productions here in Canada. Following Shomi’s death and pressures on the CBC, the CanCon crew asks how to level the playing field for everyone.

Tune in as CanCon’s podcast crew – Erin Bury, Managing Director of 88 Creative, Jessica Vomiero, reporter for MobileSyrup, Rob Kenedi, TWG’s Entrepreneur in Residence and host of the amazing #smallrooms podcast, and Douglas Soltys, BetaKit Editor in Chief – tries to untangle the Canadian media landscape.

Have some hot takes on our hot takes? Maybe you want to suggest a topic for a future podcast! Perhaps you have a burning question about something you read in tech news that we didn’t cover. Email us, post a comment below with the answer or question, or better yet, rate CanCon 5-stars on iTunes and post your thoughts there.