Search Results for: shaw

Radio / Television News

Quebecor Fund provides $2.9 million for 8 TV projects

MONTRÉAL – A total of eight Canadian production companies will receive financial support from the latest round of disbursements from the Quebecor Fund. A total of $2.88 million was allocated to the following production companies: Idéacom International Inc., PVP Projet Jar Dwellers Inc., Productions La Voix Inc., TVA Productions Inc., Cité-Amérique Inc., Communications Swan Inc., Québec Inc. (Triplex Films Inc., Jimmy Lee Inc., Groupe Média Upside Up Inc.) and Les Productions Kenya Inc. The eight selected productions will air on TV5 Québec Canada, TVO, History (Shaw Media), Société Radio-Canada, TVA, Télé-Québec, Canal Savoir, Astral… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Rabbit ears users rejoice! CRTC extends Shaw’s LTSS program

OTTAWA – Some 31,500 rural Canadians who relied on rabbit ears or antennas to view local TV now have another year to apply for Shaw Direct’s Local Television Satellite Solution (LTSS), to ensure the transition to DTV and loss of OTA transmitters doesn’t leave them behind. Under LTSS Shaw provides a free dish, receiver and installation to rural viewers so they can continue to receive local channels. The CRTC in a letter to Shaw has agreed to extend the eligibility period for LTSS for 12 months to November 30, 2013. It also approved Shaw’s requested… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Ontario cable company finds its VOD TV Everywhere solution by giving away free Apple TVs

FENELON FALLS, Ont. – In surprising a move that is sure to make many raise an eyebrow or two and set some industry tongues wagging, independent cable operator Cable Cable has decided the TV Everywhere video on demand option it will offer its customers is Apple TV. The company (with about 5,000 cable customers and over 6,000 broadband customers in the Kawartha Lakes region) launched a Christmas promotion this week where triple-play customers (cable, broadband and home phone) can call to receive a free Apple TV box (regular retail price: $109). The company is not walking away from its cable… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Kids go batty for My Babysitter’s a Vampire – wins $50,000 Shaw Rocket Prize

OTTAWA – Fresh TV and Teletoon sucked the life out of the competition with My Babysitter’s a Vampire by winning the 2012 Shaw Rocket Prize for best in Canadian kids' programming at an industry gala held this week in Ottawa. Selected as one of the top five finalists by an international jury of esteemed industry professionals, My Babysitter's a Vampire was judged for quality and content of both the show itself and its online presence. The kids jury from across Canada selected it as the grand prize winner after screening the five finalists… Continue Reading

In-Depth

Cartt.ca IN-DEPTH: Former CRTC vice-chair Len Katz says steering this industry isn’t easy

AFTER A LONG CAREER in telecom in Canada, Len Katz calls his time at the CRTC the best years of his career. The 61-year-old former vice-chairman, telecom (and former Bell Canada and Rogers executive) is spending some time now taking a deep breath, a bit of a break, after seven-plus extraordinarily busy years at the Commission. While he admits some boredom has already set in since leaving last month, he is happy to be able to spend extra time with family before deciding what to do next. Despite some rumours in the summer, his health is good after recovering from a… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Channel Zero targets Gen X with Rewind; asks Canadians to recycle their VCRs

TORONTO – Sixteen Candles, one of the most popular teen movies from famed 1980s movie director the late John Hughes, will be the first movie shown on Rewind, Channel Zero’s latest specialty channel brand, when it launches Saturday. Replacing Movieola in channel lineups (the short film channel moves to its new online home) Rewind will feature flicks such as The Godfather, Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Moonstruck, Edward Scissorhands and many others – all targeted towards Generation Xers who came of age in the 70s, 80s and 1990s. In fact, the whole first weekend is being dubbed “High School… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC/Radio-Canada: Shaw supports push for greater flexibility; CMPA calls out CBC on terms of trade

GATINEAU – CBC’s call for greater regulatory flexibility to help it deal with the new realities of the broadcasting environment got some support on the fourth day of its licence renewal hearing. Shaw Communications Inc. appearing later Thursday afternoon, said that all broadcasters should have additional room to operate in an environment that is being challenged by the emergence of non-traditional players such as Apple, Google, Netflix and Amazon. “Regulatory micro-management is neither necessary nor efficient,” Paul Robertson, president of Shaw Media, said in his opening remarks. “All of us in the broadcasting sector require the ability to respond quickly to… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Shaw Direct adds Disney Junior

TORONTO – Astral Media’s Disney Junior will launch today on Shaw Direct on channel 167 Advanced/538 Classic. Dedicated to providing the best in engaging, educational and entertainment-based series and short-form content for younger viewers and their families, Disney Junior’s programming will also be available to Shaw Direct subscribers via Disney Junior OnDemand. “With its lively programming featuring entertaining and development-based series, Disney Junior showcases the best in children’s series from Disney paired with award-winning Canadian programs,” said Joe Tedesco, senior vice president and general manager, Astral Kids. Disney Junior offers exclusive, first-run programs from Disney together with celebrated Canadian series to create… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Small telcos push back on subsidy, changes to toll interconnection

GATINEAU – The small incumbent local telephone companies (SILECs) are urging the CRTC to reject proposals calling for changes to the local subsidy regime for lost telephony customers (lost NAS). They also say a regime that will force them to raise local rates to make up for a shortfall in toll interconnection revenue won’t work. The large incumbents, as well as Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications, want the Commission to only allow the 50% subsidy rule to apply to lost customers who port their number to a competing carrier. The SILECs counter that this is not what the CRTC had… Continue Reading