BELL TO GET INTO CABLE TV BUSINESS
By Adnews Staff
Bell Canada will begin testing its digital cable television services late this summer, but is keeping its advertising plans to itself for another month. When asked if Bell would use one of its roster agencies to handle advertising for the project, marketing manager David Weir told Adnews that it hadn't been decided yet. But he wouldn't comment on if Bell was planning on looking for a new agency for the test. Weir did say that the company wanted to look at different media to promote the test, but will also use traditional media. Bell's roster agencies are: Leo Burnett Co. and BBDO Canada, both of Toronto, as well as Cossette Communication-Marketing of Montreal. Called TotalVision, Bell will test its cable services in Repentigny, Que. and London, Ont. It will offer Near Video On Demand movies, a variety of Internet applications and a made-in- Canada digital interactive program guide.