SOME BEHIND-THE-SCENES moves that look a lot like estate planning for Shaw Communications founder and controlling shareholder JR Shaw – along with the recent deal his company put together to sell the former Mountain Cable system and the rights to wireless spectrum out west to Rogers Communications – make it seem like the outright sale of Shaw is not to far over the horizon, says at least one Bay Street analyst.
"We believe the RCI-SJR (Rogers-Shaw) merger is inevitable but this is not likely to take place within the next 20 months and will likely take…
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AFTER SIX YEARS, SATELLITE radio produced its first-ever profit in Canada when earlier this month SiriusXM Canada reported it was $3.3 million in the black for the first quarter of fiscal 2013.
For executive chairman John Bitove, that Q1 result is vindication after plugging away just as XM Canada to begin with – in competition with Sirius Canada – and then finally merging with it in 2011 two years after the American satellite radio companies combined themselves. Satellite radio faced numerous launch obstacles, chiefly convincing people to want to pay for radio in the first place,…
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WIND MOBILE WANTS THE federal government to throw whatever book it can at Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications over their recent spectrum deal.
Last week – as part of a multi-faceted $700 million transaction – Rogers Communications paid $50 million to Shaw Communications for an option which assures Rogers will purchase Shaw’s AWS spectrum when it is allowed to come on the open market in late 2014.
As a new entrant to the wireless game, Shaw paid $190 million for spectrum in the 2008 auction that was set aside just for wireless newcomers. Wind Mobile, Videotron, Shaw,…
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OTTAWA – It’s common these days to see Internet speeds still advertised with “up to” speeds that rarely ever approach the average speeds that subscribers will actually experience in practice. The problem is that most consumers believe they are getting, at least some of the time, the advertised speeds says the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) because they are not being properly informed. It’s calling on the Competition Bureau and CRTC to play a more active role in monitoring the compliance of ISP speed and performance claims in advertising and to develop rules for broadband labelling.
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OTTAWA – Five consumer and public advocacy groups have demanded that Minister of Industry Christian Paradis take action to prohibit Rogers Communications from acquiring spectrum from Shaw Communications, calling the deal “contrary to the original AWS auction rules of the set-aside” and contrary to “your Ministry’s clear policy to preserve that spectrum for new wireless entrants.”
The groups signing the January 21 letter were the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC), OpenMedia.ca, the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) and the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of British Columbia (COSCO).
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TORONTO – Shaw Media is planning to launch two new morning news programs at Global Montreal and Global Maritimes called the Morning News. Both weekday programs will provide viewers a “mix of timely information and in-depth conversation,” says Shaw. The shows are scheduled to debut Monday, January 28th from 6-9am ET/AT.
“As Canada’s fastest-growing news organization, the launch of the Morning News in Montreal and Halifax caps off what has been a highly successful morning show expansion across Canada,” says Troy Reeb, Senior Vice President, News and Station Operations. “Having launched morning shows in all local…
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TORONTO – CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada is facing off on the 2nd screen in a big way this Saturday to kick of its 60th season. Budweiser is sponsoring Facebook and Twitter pages where fans can login during national broadcasts and interact with in-game features that reflect the live game action.
HNIC says Hockey Night in Canada: 2nd Screen presented by Budweiser gives viewers new ways to interact and engage with the game through smartphones, tablets and computers. Fans can login at Facebook and test their knowledge and try their luck at predicting team and…
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TORONTO – Can’t go a minute without your fix of Big Brother Canada? No worries, this February Canadian fans have the chance to eavesdrop on the houseguests 24-hours a day, vote on twists and turns, engage with the houseguests and play the Big Brother Canada Power Play game.
Shaw Media and Insight Productions have teamed up with Emmy Award-winning interactive agency Secret Location to develop a robust digital platform that will be integrated into the production of the series. The experience will offer fans the opportunity to influence and impact what transpires week-to-week on screen. The…
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TORONTO – Moody's Investors Service says Rogers Communications pending $700 million transaction with Shaw Communications to acquire Hamilton Ontario-based Mountain Cablevision and to secure Shaw’s AWS spectrum holdings in 2014 is “credit-positive and ratings-neutral since investment returns realized over time will off-set initial credit metric dilution.”
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CALGARY – With the NHL schedule finally underway this Saturday, Shaw is offering free previews and special pricing on NHL Centre Ice and TSN Jets for Shaw and Shaw Direct customers.
"We love hockey and know our customers want to get in on all the action of 2012-13 NHL season," said Peter Bissonnette, President, Shaw Communications Inc. "This year, in addition to the many sports channels that are included as part of our basic cable and satellite packages, we're also excited to offer free previews and special pricing on NHL Centre Ice and TSN Jets."
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