MONTREAL – Videotron and Rogers announced an agreement late Wednesday to bring LTE to even more customers in the province of Québec and the Ottawa region.
Under a new 20-year agreement, the two companies will pool their efforts to quickly build out and operate a shared LTE wireless network, the most advanced wireless technology in the world. This network will deliver an optimal user experience for consumers and businesses in both key markets (and perhaps let Videotron launch the iPhone, which does not work on its current AWS spectrum).
In addition to the network sharing agreement, Videotron and Rogers have also…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw Communications’ satellite TV division Shaw Direct announced today it has added more than 120 new HD channels to its channel lineup.
The launch, thanks to Telesat’s newest bird, the Anik G1 satellite, gives Shaw Direct customers the most HD channels in Canada, says the company, delivering more than 210 HD channels to its customers.
In addition to the HD channel launch, Anik G1 also allows Shaw Direct to expand its programming offerings to include more local Canadian channels, pay-per-view and Shaw Direct On Demand. "The launch of Anik G1 represents a significant investment by…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Blue Ant Media announced today that its specialty commercial-free, HD channels HIFI, eqHD and radX will be available to Shaw Cable customers in a free preview until July 4, 2013. Shaw Direct customers will also have access to Blue Ant’s channels until August 29, 2013.
HIFI, which celebrates music, art and design, is on Shaw Cable channel #249 and on Shaw Direct channel #132 (Classic) and #632 (Advanced). Featuring adventure programming and classic action ,movies, radX can be found on Shaw Cable channel #248 and on Shaw Direct #134 (Classic) #634 (Advanced)….
Continue Reading
NETWORK EXPANSION NEWS
Launches this week:
Shaw to provide public WiFi service for Edmonton
EDMONTON – Shaw Communications announced Thursday that Edmonton city council has given the go ahead to expand Shaw’s Go WiFi network to public areas across the city.
The planned WiFi network will grant wireless in pedestrian-friendly areas of the city, such as LRT stations, facilities and libraries.
The project is expected to take place over the next two years, with new access points being installed continually throughout this period.
www.shaw.ca
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Bell Canada and Astral Media say the list of new regulatory safeguards it has agreed to should allay any fears the CRTC has of a combined company – and that the deal should be approved.
In its final written submission to the CRTC filed late Tuesday, the companies say they have agreed to “an unprecedented package of regulatory safeguards relating to terms of trade with all independent producers, the negotiation of affiliation agreements (including tied selling, packaging flexibility, and other terms), the no head start rule, the availability of non-linear content, the timing of the Commission’s dispute resolution…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – Telus announced Thursday that, pending some government and debtholder approvals, it will acquire Mobilicity for $380 million.
If the deal receives the required approvals, it would ensure continued service to Mobilicity’s 250,000 customers without the risk of disruption, says the press release the companies issued.
Without this deal, Mobilicity would likely end up seeking bankruptcy protection in short order. Of course, it remains to be seen what government thinks of this and whether or not it will grant the request to shift Mobilicity’s spectrum to Telus immediately. DAVE, Mobilicity’s parent company, purchased the spectrum for $240 million in 2008…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – Shaw Communications, together with British Columbia's South Asian community, is lending its support to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation by broadcasting the 15th anniversary of A World of Smiles telethon on Sunday May 26, 2013.
The telethon will air live on Sunday, May 26 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and aims to raise money to purchase medical equipment and fund research into childhood disease and caregiver and family education programs. Each year, more than 81,000 children and their families from across the province visit BC Children’s Hospital for highly specialized care.
A World…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – To help advertisers engage more viewers during televised shows, Shaw is unveiling a new promotion this weekend that bypasses the traditional commercial break and makes the ad part of the program’s content.
Viewers watching Showcase’s airing of The Hangover on May 18 at 10 p.m. ET will see the new promotion Shaw is calling “live on screen” integration, which will feature a promotion of Warner Bros upcoming Hangover Part III that’s been seamlessly integrated into scenes of the movie.
Shaw’s director of marketing ventures, Ann-Marie Spurr, likens the ad-in-a-movie integration to a director’s…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Spend long enough in a hearing room and you’ll zone out for a bit. Yes, we admit, it’s happened to us. “I wonder if we’ll be done in time for the hockey game… I really have to cut the grass when I get home…”
Then, one or more of the parties says something that makes you say: Did he/she just say that? Sometimes those moments make it into a story. Other times, not. Here are a few of those other times: ************************* DURING ITS INTERVENTION on Tuesday, Rogers SVP of video content David Purdy told commissioners he sees…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Telesat announced its recently launched Anik G1 satellite has begun commercial service providing DTH services for Shaw Direct in Canada.
Anik G1 is located at 107.3 degrees West and is providing a range of communications services, including X-band services in the Americas and Pacific Ocean Region, and C-band and Ku-band services in South America.
www.telesat.com
Continue Reading
