ANOTHER ROUND OF LAYOFFS has led inexorably to another spasm of handwringing, navel gazing and a week of “what are we going to do about the CBC?” The reactions have largely been predictable, eye-rolling and boring – generally a waste of everyone’s time.
It was shocking when last Thursday’s big town hall meeting called by CBC leadership turned out to be, for the most part, just about cutting the public broadcaster’s head count yet again – with a vague promise about a new vision for the pubcaster to come sometime before the summer. Many honestly believed…
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TORONTO and CALGARY – An internal memo circulated to staff at Shaw Media this week told employees exactly what was to be cut and altered as its portion of the corporate restructuring announced late Monday.
The majority of cuts at the station level involve three areas: the consolidation of graphics production at Global Toronto, which will “eliminate overlap and duplication,” reads the memo. The company is creating a single centre for both broadcast and online graphics in Toronto which will have the capacity to produce more graphics than its current production centres allow, and regularly “create…
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CALGARY and MONTREAL – Last week the two biggest Canadian cable companies without traditional wireless assets told their shareholders and other investors they see their wireless future in Wi-Fi – and they plan to lobby the federal government hard for more spectrum.
On March 31st, the Federal Communications Commission altered some of its rules on unlicensed wireless spectrum, making more of it available to network providers in the 5 GHz band. “The new rules will make 100 MHz of spectrum more accessible for use in homes and congested spaces like convention centers, parks, and airports and increase the potential for…
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CALGARY – Late Monday afternoon, Shaw Communications announced structural changes to its operating units “that will improve overall efficiency while enhancing its ability to grow as the leading content and network experience company,” according to the press release.
Operation of the company’s residential cable, satellite, Internet and home phone services will be consolidated into a new Consumer business unit. Shaw's enterprise services – including cable, telephony, satellite and tracking – will be integrated into a new Business unit. Shaw's Media business will continue to be managed as a stand alone unit.
The company has also combined its engineering and IT functions…
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OTTAWA – Shaw Media and Catalyst Canada are teaming up with Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) on a new initiative designed to expand opportunities for women in Canada’s ICT sector.
Scheduled to roll out this fall, The Protégé Project will help to prepare senior, qualified women for positions of power and leadership in Canada’s largest communications, media and technology companies.
To date, 11 senior executives in leading communications, media and technology organizations have signed on to personally support the project. An equivalent number of up-and-coming female corporate executives and entrepreneurs will be selected and matched to these leaders, based on…
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CALGARY – The sale of French-language channels Historia and Séries+ to its corporate cousin Corus earlier this year helped to push up second quarter net income at Shaw Communications.
The company reported net income of $222 million for the quarter ended February 28, 2014, up from $182 million in the same period last year. The current period benefitted from a $49 million gain realized on the sale of the two channels, as well as lower interest expense and amortization, the total of which was partially offset by higher income taxes.
Consolidated revenue for the quarter of $1.27 billion increased 1.8% from…
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LOSING THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE rights (and revenues) will move from the realm of “what if” to real, tangible cuts which will be felt directly by many CBC staffers today (Thursday) when senior management hosts a series of town hall meetings to address the Corporation’s future.
We don’t know what, exactly, will happen but given the massive revenue hit the broadcaster will take next season – when it will still air games, but earn no revenue from hockey at all, while still being on the hook for Saturday night’s game productions – not to mention the very soft ad market…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications has released three new Shaw Go kids apps offering parents and children access to select programming from Family Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior programs anytime, anywhere.
Available exclusively to Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct subscribers, Shaw Go Family, Shaw Go Disney XD and Shaw Go Disney Junior are available for download immediately on iOS and Android devices at shaw.ca/shawgo or shawdirect.ca/shawgo.
Shaw Go Disney Junior utilizes a character-driven carousel and easy-to-navigate display perfect for children ages 2-7. For the teen and tween age categories, the Family and Disney XD apps feature intelligent streaming to…
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AN INTERESTING DECEMBER 2012 paper from the Australian Government's Department of Finance and Deregulation, Offices of Best Practices Regulation entitled "Influencing Consumer Behaviour: Improving Regulatory Design" is an instructive piece of research when viewed through the lens of our own TV business.
The paper explores two broad frameworks that influence consumer behaviour – Rational Choice theory and Behavioural Economics. Rational Choice theory holds that consumers maximize utility subject to their budgetary limitations. Behavioural Economics assumes choice is affected by social, economic, emotional and other factors. Examples from the health, finance and other sectors are used to…
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DENVER, CO – Anglers take note: World Fishing Network will be available on a free preview to cable, satellite and telco subscribers in North America for the month of April.
Dedicated to the angling lifestyle, the network’s programming includes instruction, tips, travel, tournaments, cooking, boating and outdoor recreation with exclusive series and original productions like Bill Boyce’s Baja, FORCE on FORCE, Guided with Mark Melnyk, Hookin’ Up with Nick & Mariko, JP DeRose Breaking Boundaries and World Fishing Journal.
Participating TV providers in Canada include Access, Bell, Cablevision du Nord du Quebec, Cogeco, Eastlink, MTS, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw Cable, Shaw Direct,…
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