Search Results for: shaw

Radio / Television News

Register by May 10 for CTAM Canada strategic marketing course

TORONTO – A final reminder from CTAM Canada that registration is closing Friday May 10 for its 2013 Strategic Marketing Course taking place May 29-30. The two-day executive strategic marketing program is an opportunity to join executives from a number of companies, including Astral, Bell Media, Blue Ant Media, Cogeco, Corus, Rogers, Shaw, Shaw Media, Stingray Digital, TVO and more. Space for the two-day event is limited to 50 participants and are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis.     Led by Harvard Business School Professors Bharat Anand and Rajiv Lal, this year’s program… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

BELL/ASTRAL II: Bell softens, yet sharpens, pitch for Astral in face of tough Commission questions

MONTREAL – Bell Canada and Astral Media executives attempted a bit more of a conciliatory approach in presenting its new, sharper, different, application to the CRTC which seeks permission to bring the two companies together under changed conditions compared to last time; but the questions from the panel of commissioners were equally as tough as the first go-around in September 2012. (The details of the deal – already approved by the Competition Bureau, can be found here – and the company’s opening presentation unveiled nothing new, as demanded by the CRTC. So, the real story was… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Northern Ontario provides backdrop for TVO’s first drama series

TORONTO – TVO is set to debut its first commissioned drama series that tells the story of eight medical students and the challenges they face practicing rural medicine in Northern Ontario. Featuring a Canadian ensemble cast headed by actor Patrick McKenna, Hard Rock Medical premieres with two 30-minute episodes on June 9 at 8 p.m. ET. Loosely inspired by the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, TVO says the series provides a fresh and entertaining look at the unique challenges of delivering healthcare in Ontario’s north. Hard Rock U's… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw warns customers of scam phone calls

CALGARY, ALTA. – Shaw says a spate of recent phone calls to its customers that claim to be from the company are fraudulent and warns customers should not provide any personal information. The company has received numerous complaints from customers saying they have received phone calls from someone posing as a Shaw agent. The calls, which usually originate from a blocked caller ID or from overseas, claim to be calling for various reasons. From account information requiring an update, to billing issues or a customer… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Obituary: Charles King

OTTAWA – Shaw Communications vice-president of government relations, Charles King, died on Monday of cancer. He was 47. King was well-known and respected in Ottawa circles as a straight shooter who could build relationships and for his clients and employers, no matter the party in power. A long-time Liberal, he worked in the party’s Ottawa headquarters in the 1980s and 1990s under the likes of Don Johnston and Lloyd Axworthy. In 1996, King joined the Canadian Cable Television Association and later worked for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and for Earnscliffe Strategy Group, where he had many broadcasting and telecom clients…. Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Tangible benefits, wireless code, among priorities in CRTC’s three-year plan

OTTAWA – In its updated three-year plan released today, the CRTC said it will give top priority to projects such as revamping its tangible benefits policy, developing a national broadband performance testing program, and creating a new mandatory code for wireless providers. Those initiatives are among a number of goals that the Commission has outlined for completion during 2013-16 under three key pillars it has identified as “connect,” “create” and “protect.” The Commission's activities under the "Create" pillar ensure that Canadians have access to compelling creative content, from diverse sources, on a variety of… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw closes $225 million deal to buy fibre net provider Enmax

CALGARY – Shaw Communications announced yesterday it has completed its acquisition of fibre-optics network provider Enmax Envision Inc. from Enmax Corp. for approximately $225 million. The transaction, announced by Shaw on April 8, expands the company’s business initiatives in Calgary and the surrounding area. “The combination of Enmax Envision and Shaw Business will create a strong value proposition for Calgary’s business community,” said Shaw CEO Brad Shaw in a release. “The addition of the Envision team and their expertise significantly enhances the profile of Shaw Business in the competitive Calgary business marketplace and demonstrates our… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw adds online content partners to shawconnect.ca

TORONTO – Shaw Media announced yesterday that it has created content partnerships for its website, ShawConnect.ca, with sportsnet.ca, Auto123.com and 49st.com. Sportnet.ca is now Shawconnect.ca’s official sports channel, while Auto123.com is its new Autos channel. The partnership with 49st.com connects users visiting events.shawconnect.ca with information on concerts, sports, performing arts and community activities in their local area as well as other Canadian cities “ShawConnect.ca has proven to be one of our fastest growing sites across our network” said Paul Burns, vice-president, digital media for Shaw Media, in a release. “The addition… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CWC: Linear TV is still primetime for broadcasters

TORONTO – Canada’s biggest broadcasters still haven’t found a way to make their digital ventures pay off in this on-demand world, and continue to rely on their linear television channels to drive the bottom line. Speaking Tuesday evening at a Canadian Women In Communications-sponsored panel entitled ‘Perspective on the Broadcast Landscape Revolution’, Christina Litz, vice president of digital content and engagement for Corus Entertainment, said that her department’s mandate is to leverage social media specifically to drive live tuning to the company’s women and children-focused television channels. “And we don’t see that going away any time soon”, she said, adding that… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

9(1)(h) Hearing: Distributors want no more must-carries (corrected)

GATINEAU – Shaw Communications was the first broadcast distributor to take the stand before the CRTC?s 9(1)(h) hearing on Monday and it appealed to the Commission to ensure that it maintained high standards when considering additional channels for mandatory carriage. Jean Brazeau, senior VP of regulatory at Shaw, noted during his opening remarks that exceptional importance should be the minimum threshold that channels need to meet to achieve mandatory carriage status. ?Once satisfied, the applicant still must meet the additional criteria. This includes demonstrating ?extraordinary? need among an intended audience and widespread acceptance by Canadians of an increase in the… Continue Reading