CALGARY – Consolidated revenue at cable TV, internet, satellite TV and media company Shaw Communications for the three month period of $1.28 billion was basically flat (down 0.5%) compared to the same period last year.
Revenue for the nine month period ended May 31, 2012 of $3.79 billion was up 6% over last year. Total operating income before amortization of $567 million declined 3% over the comparable quarterly period while the year-to-date amount of $1.63 billion improved almost 4%.
Free cash flow for the three and nine month periods was $203 million and $379 million, respectively, compared to $240 million and…
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NEW YORK – North America media companies that ramp up shareholder initiatives to woo investors could be putting their credit quality at risk, according to Moody's Investors Service.
In a special comment entitled ‘North American Media and Entertainment: An Arms Race: Limited Growth Spurs Rising Equity Returns Amid High Cash Levels’, Moody’s said that companies such as Shaw Communications and Time Warner Inc. paid dividends in 2011 that exceeded a third of their free cash flow. That means their credit quality is at risk if these high payout rates continue to trend upward without other credit improvements, unless risk related…
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TORONTO – Mobilicity has confirmed plans to extend its coverage in Ontario, BC and Alberta as well as launch in four new cities.
The wireless carrier will widen its network west of Toronto into Milton, Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton, plus will launch in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa, cities located east of Toronto. Mobilicity will also build out its network in the Barrhaven, Orleans and Cumberland regions near Ottawa.
In addition, Mobilicity confirmed it is in the process of extending its network within the Greater Vancouver Area to include White Rock, Pitt Meadows and the Richmond-Surrey commuter corridors, while in Edmonton, it will expand…
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TORONTO – Bell Media and CBC/Radio Canada have ended their Olympic bid partnership after two failed bids for the exclusive Canadian media rights for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
During their partnership, the organizations submitted two bids for the Canadian broadcast rights that were turned down flat by the IOC. The duo said in a joint statement on Monday afternoon that they will formally dissolve their bid partnership as a result.
"We presented not one, but two fiscally responsible bids that are reflective of the Canadian marketplace," said Phil King, president of CTV programming and…
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CALGARY – Shaw Direct has begun using adaptive streaming technology to deliver on demand content, including more than 1,500 standard and high-definition movies and TV titles, directly to customers’ set-top boxes.
Users will need to connect their satellite receiver to a high-speed Internet connection to access the new content. Customers who own an Essential or Advanced HD receiver (HDDSR 600 or HDDSR 605) or an Advanced HDPVR receiver (HDPVR 630) will receive a free software update which enables the VOD services to be connected.
"Streaming video on demand is the next step in giving our customers access to Shaw Direct's exceptional programming…
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PETERBOROUGH, ON – Capella Telecommunications has bought ESA Communication Systems, the voice, video and data systems distributor announced Monday. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Oshawa-based ESA Communication Systems sells, leases and installs satellite, terrestrial microwave, radar and HF antennas for the broadcast industry. The company will continue to operate under that name and serve its value added reseller network, though the shop will relocate to Capella’s head office in Peterborough.
“Our past work together on projects in Canada and the Caribbean confirmed for us ESA’s well-deserved reputation”, said Capella president Norm Slater, in the announcement. “Wayne Soules’ experience…
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HALIFAX – Veteran broadcast executive Jim Haskins has been named station manager/news director for Global Maritimes.
Haskins, who began his career as a reporter and anchor for CJIC TV and CKCY radio in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, was most recently at CBC Television and CBC.ca where he was responsible for media sales and marketing across Alberta. He was also VP and GM with Craig Media (later CHUM Ltd.) and served as president and GM of the Grand Prix of Edmonton.
In his new role, Haskins will oversee all editorial and station operations for Global Maritimes, and will help the station transition…
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BANFF – Social TV audience measurement company, Seevibes, used the Banff International Media Festival to inaugurate Seevibes TV Ratings.
This service, accessible at www.seevibes.com/top, allows users to view the ratings of Canadian TV shows via the experience viewers share on social media. Seevibes offers broadcasters and media professionals exclusive data on the television audience to help them valorize their TV programming and optimize their cross-media ad campaigns.
For Seevibes president Laurent Maisonnave, "Canadians spend more than 28 hours a week watching television and the latest studies show they still love their TV. But social media have changed their relationship with…
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CALGARY – Shaw’s second national food bank drive raised 1.2 million pounds of food and more than $630,000 for food banks across the country.
The four week long Fill the Food Banks campaign saw more than 300,000 Canadians watch Shaw's Fill the Food Banks video, resulting in a $250,000 donation from Shaw and 250,000 pounds of food from Campbell Canada. The campaign wrapped up during Hunger Awareness Week, which ran from May 7 – 11, 2012.
“All across the country, we've been inspired by the people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to help others in need," said CEO…
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BANFF – The questions have been delivered in almost every conference room, certainly every hallway of the Banff World Media Festival this year. It has also been postured in many forms: How will Google, Apple and Netflix influence the Canadian broadcast industry? Is the CRTC’s present policies helping or hindering the equation? What about vertical integration?
Times, They Are A-Changin’, so what should we do?
At the Canadian Media Leader session late Sunday afternoon, there was some consensus on the state of affairs in the industry and the direction of video production and development in the country.
For starters, Bell Media president…
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