GATINEAU – Earlier this month, a group of 14 broadcasters met for the first time to begin figuring out how to develop a subscription television set top box data measurement system.
In its TV Policy Review decision, the CRTC said building such a system would be a very good thing and set a deadline of April 13th for an industry-wide working group to start moving. Representatives from Bell Canada, Blue Ant Media, CBC, Cogeco, Corus, Eastlink, the Independent Broadcasters Group, MTS, Pelmorex, Quebecor, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw and Telus met on April 8th saying in its first…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications has named Trevor English as senior vice president, corporate development and business planning, effective immediately.
With more than 11 years at Shaw, English has played a leadership role in all of Shaw's corporate development activities, investor relations initiatives, and the management of the company's financing strategies in the debt and equity capital markets, reads Thursday’s announcement.
In his new role, English's responsibilities will include all aspects of potential M&A, investment opportunities as well as managing Shaw's relationships with its venture portfolio companies. He will also be responsible for the coordination of Shaw's business strategy process and future…
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BANFF – CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais will deliver a keynote address on Sunday June 7, 2015 to open the 36th annual Banff World Media Festival.
In the wake of the Commission’s decisions from its Let's Talk TV hearing, Blais will speak about where the CRTC is heading next, and, why the recently launched review of basic telecommunications services is important – not only for the Canadian content industry, but also for all sectors of the Canadian economy.
Banff organizers also announced the return of the ‘Media Leaders’ series, offering delegates the unparalleled opportunity to listen in on exclusive conversations between top media leaders…
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MONTREAL – Bell said Friday that it now serves 1 million IPTV customers, making Fibe TV and FibreOp TV among the fastest growing product lines in the company’s 135-year history.
With the growth of Fibe TV in Ontario and Québec, and FibreOp TV in Atlantic Canada, Bell said that its IPTV coverage footprint now reaches 6.1 million homes, up from 5.1 million at the start of 2014. Fibe is also making “significant inroads” with small and medium business such as medical and dental offices, restaurants, and repair shops.
With service established in major cities across six provinces, Bell pledged to extend…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications executives acknowledged yesterday a shift in strategy when it comes to selling home phone to its customers. In effect, it’s loosening its triple play bundle for those who want that option.
The company surprised the Bay Street analyst community yesterday with a measurable drop in home phone subscribers of more than 12,000 in Q2 2015, which is in stark comparison to an addition of more than 8,000 in the same quarter of fiscal 2014.
This is part of the company’s plan, said Shaw EVP and COO Jay Mehr, when quizzed about it by analysts during Tuesday’s Q2…
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OTTAWA – Making sure to set aside cash for TV broadcasters from the auction of 600 MHz wireless spectrum just might drive the prices to be paid for that spectrum too high for some to participate.
Arguments from the integrated wireless/broadcasting companies that they should get a portion of the proceeds from an auction of the 600 MHz band to pay for the transition to new over the air (OTA) frequencies should be dismissed, argues Wind Mobile.
The company notes that setting aside money from a 600 MHz auction could result in higher spectrum licence costs because the integrated…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications second quarter revenue came in at $1.34 billion and at $2.73 billion for the first half of the fiscal year, which are increases of 5% and 3%, respectively, the company announced this morning.
Total operating income before restructuring costs and amortization of $557 million improved 5% over the comparable quarter while the year-to-date amount of $1.16 billion improved 2% over the prior year. The company’s Q2 and first half ended February 28.
Chief Executive Officer, Brad Shaw said, "The positive operating momentum continues across our businesses. We are seeing the financial and operational benefits of…
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LAS VEGAS – With revenues in the traditional subscription TV business trundling along at 1-2% growth – even though subscribers are not cutting or trimming their subscriptions in real numbers yet – expect all the big media companies to jump into the over-the-top pool, if they haven’t already. The potential global growth is too big to ignore.
That was part of the message this morning during a National Association of Broadcasters Super Session panel diving into the burgeoning business that is OTT video.
While the number of people who say they want to cut or trim their subscription TV bill still…
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TORONTO – Guy Laurence insists he’s merely in the foothills of a long climb, pulling along with him the Rogers Communications brand.
He’s surely been active in his 15 months as Rogers CEO (Can it only be 15 months? So much has been done.) Since the announcement back in September 2013 that he would be the new CEO (Laurence officially started December 2 that year), Rogers purchased the national NHL rights in a $5.2 billion, 12-year deal; spent another $3.3 billion on wireless spectrum; unveiled a new Rogers 3.0 plan that is driving the restructuring of the…
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TORONTO – Shaw Media today announced various organizational changes as the media company reshapes its business to better compete in an “evolving media landscape,” the company announced this afternoon.
The changes are based on its plans to redefine the organization from that of a traditional broadcaster to the broader focus of a media organization, reads the release. The organizational realignment is focused around strengthening the two core pillars in Shaw Media's business: Content – the creation, acquisition, scheduling and promotion of content across platforms; and Revenue – the measurement, delivery, monetization and optimization of content across all platforms.
The immediate result…
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