GATINEAU – More concerns about Rogers Communications’s proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications were shared with the CRTC during day three of the hearing, Wednesday.
While the day’s presentations showed the deal definitely has its supporters, it also highlighted the many concerns there are about the consequences of the deal in its current form on the Canadian broadcasting system generally, and on independent broadcasters and consumers specifically.
TLN Media Group Inc. and Ethnic Channels Group Limited, who presented together to highlight issues specific to Canadian ethnic independents, told the Commission that despite their opposition to the deal in their written submission, they…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC heard how the approval of Rogers Communications to acquire Shaw Communications’ broadcast assets will impact other organizations in Canada’s broadcast system on Tuesday during the second day of the Commission’s hearing into the matter.
“While the merger makes sense for Rogers and Shaw for their future, it has the unintended consequence of potentially all but destroying the independent broadcasting sector,” said Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv and OMG Media Group, who participated virtually at the hearing as part of a panel (pictured above) representing Independent Broadcasters Group (IBG).
Danks argued if the deal goes through, Rogers will…
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Commission asks Rogers to further consider proposals from interveners
By Amanda OYE
GATINEAU – Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications extolled the virtue of their proposed merger on the first day of the week-long CRTC hearing into the broadcasting side of the deal while Commission panel members grilled them on safeguards and the public interest.
“Joining forces with Rogers not only makes sense for Shaw, it makes sense for Canada,” Brad Shaw, executive chair and CEO of Shaw Communications told the Commission. “Combining the complementary assets of our two companies allows Rogers and Shaw to invest so much more than the sum of…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications last Friday announced it is committing $500,000 to support the relief and recovery efforts of organizations throughout British Columbia, including the Canadian Red Cross, Food Banks BC and local grassroots organizations, to address the immediate and ongoing needs in areas affected by recent floods.
“We are thinking of everyone impacted by this natural disaster and, like so many, we are deeply grateful to the emergency response teams and the organizations who continue to manage the devastating impacts of the past week’s storms,” says Brad Shaw, executive chairman and CEO of Calgary-based Shaw Communications, in a press…
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GATINEAU – Despite attempts to delay it, the CRTC hearing into Rogers Communications Inc.’s application to acquire Shaw Communications Inc.’s broadcast assets will begin Monday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. MT/11 a.m. ET.
“Edward Rogers, Brad Shaw and members of their respective executive and regulatory teams will be appearing on next weeks panel,” a Rogers spokesperson confirmed with Cartt.ca via email.
The CRTC announced this morning the hearing will be held in a hybrid format and as such, only parties appearing in person will be allowed in. It will be available to watch on the CRTC’s website.
Throughout the week,…
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VANCOUVER — Shaw Communications announced today Shaw Mobile and Freedom Mobile customers can now talk, text and stream when riding through all tunnels of TransLink’s SkyTrain system in Metro Vancouver.
“Beginning today, Shaw Mobile and Freedom Mobile customers can access fast LTE services when travelling through the Evergreen Tunnel between Burquitlam and Moody stations on the Millennium Line as well as the Columbia Station and Millennium Tunnels between New Westminster and Sapperton stations on the Expo Line,” reads a press release.
These network upgrades follow the 2018 expansion of LTE network access throughout the Dunsmuir Tunnel, and make it possible…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC has officially denied the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and National Pensioners Federation’s (PIAC-NPF) procedural request to delay the hearing into the broadcast side of the deal between Rogers and Shaw.
PIAC-NPF had requested the hearing be delayed because of uncertainty around who was on the company’s board of directors, which arose when Edward Rogers, as chair of the Rogers Control Trust, decided to change five directors by written resolution – a move the company said was not valid. The matter ended up in front of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
In letters sent…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications announced today its annual Shaw Charity Classic golf tournament and related fundraising activities helped to raise a record of nearly $14.8 million this year for 233 children’s charities across Alberta.
The Shaw Charity Classic, which is the only Canadian stop on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, was given the greenlight to take place in Calgary this past August, after being cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.
Since its inception in 2013, the event has raised more than $76 million for Alberta youth charities, primarily through its Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink charitable program, according to…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications Inc. announced last Friday its fourth quarter and full year financial and operating results, which include increases in net income by 44% and 43% respectively.
“Consolidated revenue increased 2.1% year-over-year to $1.38 billion, adjusted EBITDA increased 3.4% year-over-year to $614 million and net income increased 44% to $252 million,” a press release says.
For fiscal 2021, Shaw reported revenue increased 1.9% to $5.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA grew 4.6% to $2.5 billion. Net income for 2021 increased 43.3% to $986 million.
In Q4, Shaw “added approximately 60,500 new Wireless customers,” the press release said. “Postpaid net additions of approximately…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications announced today students and teachers in British Columbia and Alberta now have access to Ignition, a digital literacy course developed by social impact education innovator EVERFI Inc. that is “designed to help students in grades 6-9 develop the skills they need to navigate online content and social media safely and confidently,” says a press release.
The curriculum for the six-lesson course is being made available to B.C. and Alberta schools at no cost through support from Shaw, according to the release.
“As the ability to learn, play and access information through technology becomes seamless across devices in…
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