GATINEAU – Many parties to the CRTC’s local and community TV consultation have proposed funding approaches (each with their own acronyms we’re having trouble keep track of) which could financially support these struggling services. Rogers Communications Inc. has now joined them, unveiling its own approach to a local programming fund.
In its appearance before the Commission on Thursday, the media and communications giant argued while it still prefers its original proposal calling for greater flexibility to move local programming funds from larger to smaller markets, it offered up another model that it says is workable and would provide financial benefits…
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TORONTO – New Rogers channel Viceland will debut in more than 7.5 million Canadian households when it launches on February 29, the company said Friday.
The millennial-focused linear channel, which replaces Rogers’ Bio specialty channel, will be available through more than 20 TV service providers out of the gate, including Shaw and Shaw Direct, Telus, Videotron, Cogeco Connexion and Eastlink, in addition to Rogers Cable.
Kicking off with a three-month free preview, content includes Gaycation with Ellen Page and friend/co-host Ian Daniel, and original music documentary series Noisey, hosted by Vice correspondent Zach Goldbaum. Viceland will also air original series produced…
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TORONTO – Shaw Media’s Showcase is hoping its newest national, multiplatform marketing campaign will work like magic.
The network has kicked off an extensive campaign in support of its new drama The Magicians, premiering January 25 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. Based upon Lev Grossman's best-selling books, The Magicians centres around Brakebills University, a secret institution specializing in magic. There, amidst an unorthodox education of spellcasting, a group of twenty-something friends soon discover that a magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real.
The campaign plays off of the theme of magic in the real world and positions The Magicians…
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TORONTO — Although the proposed sale of Shaw Media to Corus Entertainment was top of mind for financial analysts Thursday afternoon, Wind Mobile and FreeRange TV was a big deal, too
Calling the Shaw Media sale to Corus “a significant milestone for both companies,” Jay Mehr, EVP and COO of Shaw Communications, said during the Q1 conference call with financial analysts that the transaction along with Shaw’s acquisition of Wind will position Shaw “as a leading pure-play connectivity company with a strong growth profile.” The Wind wireless business complements Shaw’s existing Business Network Services and Business Infrastructure Services segments, Mehr…
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CALGARY – Despite an increase in revenue, Shaw Communications saw first quarter profits drop by 4%.
For the three month period ended November 30, 2015, Shaw posted net income of $218 million, down from $227 in the prior year, primarily from higher income taxes and amortization, partially offset by an improvement in operating income before restructuring costs and amortization.
Revenue for the quarter of $1.42 billion was up 2.2% from $1.39 billion year-over-over, reflecting growth in its Consumer, Business Network Services and Business Infrastructure Services divisions. The improvement is primarily attributed to customer growth in both the Business Network Services and Business…
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MONTREAL – Cogeco and subsidiary Cogeco Cable held their annual general meetings in Montreal on Wednesday, preceded by a conference call with analysts and a meeting with journalists. Here’s what we heard.
Wireless
“It’s been 10 years that you’ve asked me that question,” Cogeco CEO Louis Audet told journalists, and he had it again in the investor conference call. But the logic hasn’t changed, even as Shaw’s acquisition of Wind Mobile makes Cogeco the largest Canadian cable or telecom provider without a wireless service.
“Our perception since the beginning is that if we enter this industry it has…
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Terms of Trade even more essential
TORONTO – The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) is today calling for a formal review of the need for enhanced Terms of Trade between broadcasters and producers in light of Corus Entertainment’s proposed acquisition of Shaw Media.
“This acquisition has troubling implications for the independent production sector,” said Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO of the CMPA, in the organization’s press release. “If approved, it will lead to even greater consolidation of control in an already exceptionally consolidated broadcasting industry. It will mean that two players – the merged Corus/Shaw and Bell Media – would control…
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TORONTO – Gains in its television division helped to lift first quarter revenues at Corus Entertainment by 1%, the company announced Wednesday.
For the first quarter ended November 30, 2015, net income attributable to shareholders was $41.3 million, down from $51.9 million year-over-year, and included business acquisition, integration and restructuring costs of $2.4 million, though excludes amortization of Pay Television assets reclassified as assets held for disposal of $1.4 million. Adjusting for the impact of these items results in an adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of $42.5 million in the quarter.
Consolidated revenues for the period were $228.3 million, up 1% over $227.1…
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Shaw to use cash to fund Wind buy; Corus scales up for pick and pay
TORONTO – While many often assumed the opposite would happen, Corus Entertainment and Shaw Communications this morning announced the former would buy the latter’s media properties for $2.65 billion.
The two companies have been planning the transaction for a while. “For a few months now, we’ve been hard at it,” Corus CEO Doug Murphy told Cartt.ca Wednesday in an interview. “Many felt it might go the other way, but the industrial logic, if you would, of bringing these two businesses together make a lot of sense…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications has added top-ranked Canadian golfer David Hearn to its roster of brand ambassadors, and agreed to multi-year contract extensions with fellow Canadians and PGA Tour stars Graham DeLaet and Adam Hadwin.
With this sponsorship, Hearn (pictured), DeLaet, and Hadwin will wear the Shaw logo on their golf apparel on this year’s PGA Tour, beginning with the Sony Open in Hawaii from January 11-17, 2016.
Shaw's renewed commitments to DeLaet and Hadwin also include significant donations to the players' charitable causes in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, respectively.
"Shaw's golf sponsorship portfolio has provided us with a powerful branding platform…
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