CALGARY – Shaw Cable has added the HD versions of Sportsnet, Sportsnet One and TSN to its basic HD offering as part of some recent packaging changes.
The move comes amid cable subscriber losses at the Calgary-based company, many to its Western-based rival Telus’ Optik TV service.
"As a Canadian company, Shaw understands the importance of national and regional sports across our country and in the communities we serve," said president Peter Bissonnette, in the announcement. "We are excited to expand access to these popular sports channels to our cable customers through their availability in our basic High-Definition TV…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications has entered into a five-year $1 billion bank credit facility with a syndicate of ten financial institutions.
With a maturity date in January 2017, this facility replaces the prior credit facility which was scheduled to mature in May 2012.
The company said that the new facility will be used for general corporate purposes.
www.shaw.ca
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TORONTO – Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) has unveiled their annual award winners for 2012.
Karen Sheriff, president and CEO at Bell Aliant, has been named the CWC Woman Of The Year. This award recognizes an outstanding woman who has made a significant contribution to the communications industry throughout her career, and who has contributed materially to the advancement of women within the industry.
In the category of CWC Employer Excellence Awards, IBM Canada Ltd. was named employer of the year, while Industry Canada has been recognized for sustainability in gender diversity.
The CWC Leadership Excellence Awards celebrate women of achievement who…
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CALGARY – Shaw Direct has launched Food Network Canada in mouth-watering high definition.
Customers with HD-capable equipment can tune in as part of a free preview on channels 268/338 (Classic/Advanced) until April 6, 2012. Following the free preview, the Shaw Media-owned channel will be available as part of the ‘HD Extra’ and ‘HD Extra Lite’ programming packages.
"The launch of Food Network HD adds yet another option for high-definition programming on Shaw Direct," said president Peter Bissonnette, in the announcement. "We are excited to bring Shaw Direct customers the programming and content they love, especially with channels like Food Network Canada."
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VANCOUVER – Global News has named broadcast veteran Carol Wang and journalist Frank Qi to the on-air team of its new Mandarin-language newscast.
Global National Mandarin will debut Monday (Chinese New Year) on Shaw Multicultural Channel 116 in Vancouver, and on Shaw Multicultural Channel 89 in Calgary. Going forward, the 30-minute newscast will air Monday through Friday at 7pm and 11:30pm PT in Vancouver and at 10pm in Calgary.
With over 12 years of television anchoring and reporting experience, Wang moved to Vancouver in 2001 where she was a reporter and anchor for Fairchild Media’s Talentvision before hosting OMNI News: Mandarin Edition…
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MONTREAL – Bell TV is facing a class action lawsuit over its late fees.
According to a statement by Montreal-based law firm Paquette Gadler Inc., the suit is open to all persons who have paid late fees since June 1, 2010 as part of a contract for television services with Bell ExpressVu.
The statement claims that Bell ExpressVu levied an annual interest rate of 42.58% on late payments, a 58% increase compared to the annual interest rate of 26.82% charged to customers prior to June 1, 2010.
Describing the new late fee interest rate as “abusive”, the statement continues that this suit…
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CALGARY – Revenue and profits at Shaw Communications are on the rise for the first quarter of 2012.
Consolidated revenue for the three month period ended November 30, 2011 was up 19% to $1.28 billion, while total operating income before amortization was $566 million, an 18% increase over the same period last year.
Net income was $202 million for the quarter compared to $16 million for the same period last year, though the company did record a $139 million charge related to its acquisition of Shaw Media, plus restructuring expenses of $58 million. Excluding the non-operating items, net income for the…
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VANCOUVER – Canadian crime drama series Endgame premiered for U.S. audiences this week on Hulu and the Hulu Plus subscription service.
Produced by Thunderbird Films in association with Front Street Pictures, the series stars Shawn Doyle as a former world chess champion who uses his analytical skills to solve crimes. It premiered in March 2011 on Shaw Media-owned Showcase and earned five Gemini nominations, but was not renewed for a second season.
Lionsgate acquired the series for North American distribution, and Endgame is distributed internationally by Endemol.
"The emergence of new digital partners like Hulu has dramatically extended the longevity and significantly increased the syndication…
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CALGARY – Shaw Direct customers can now sign up for NBA League Pass to catch every dribble and pass from up to 100 out-of-market NBA games each month.
The service is available in both high-definition and standard-definition for $5.06 per month, and the NBA League Pass channels are also available as part of Shaw Direct’s HD Sports theme package.
"As sports fans, we're excited to deliver NBA League Pass, bringing Shaw Direct customers the best in high-definition basketball and sports entertainment," said president Peter Bissonnette, in the announcement. "Customers can look forward to more HD channels and offerings with the launch…
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TORONTO – Rogers Media has named Christos Nikitopoulos as vice-president of revenue planning and strategy, effective immediately.
Nikitopoulos was most recently VP of sports at Shaw Media, and VP of programming and revenue planning at Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. Reporting to Shannon Valliant, VP of financial operations, he will lead the development of a centralized revenue planning and strategy team that will work across Rogers Media’s television, publishing, digital and radio platforms to deliver maximum yield and growth for the company’s assets.
“As Rogers Media continues to drive the individual and collective expansion of our powerful brands, Christos brings added…
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