Search Results for: shaw

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Sun News Network signs on with Bell

OTTAWA – Sun News has cracked the programming lineup at Bell. The network said Wednesday that it has secured “a long-term spot” on Bell TV's basic satellite television and in Bell Fibe packages, and will also soon be available for the first time ever to Bell Aliant customers.   Viewers can find Sun News Network on Bell Satellite TV on channel 506, on Bell Fibe channel 531 (or 1531 for HD) and on Bell Aliant channel 232. The network said that the agreements follow a CRTC ruling in December “that told cable and satellite TV providers to treat all Canadian news channels… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus, Mobilicity deal could be aided by mediation

TORONTO – Can court-ordered mediation help pave the way to a deal between and Telus and Mobilicity? The struggling wireless carrier said late Friday that Industry Canada has agreed to participate in talks “to mediate any outstanding issues relating to the successful completion” of issues related to Mobilicity's CCAA proceedings, which include Telus’ latest $350 million purchase offer. “If needed, Mobilicity expects that mediation would proceed over the next few weeks”, reads the statement.  Those meetings would be mediated by Warren Winkler, a former chief justice of Ontario who was also involved with Nortel Networks and the CanWest/Shaw Cable restructuring. In addition… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

History doc chronicles Canadian veterans’ arctic trek

TORONTO – Shaw Media and Muse Entertainment have begun production on March to the Pole, a documentary following four injured Canadian soldiers trekking into the High Arctic as part of their recovery. The Canadian veterans are recovering from physical and mental injuries sustained during tours of duty, and are part of the 2014 True Patriot Love Expedition to the Magnetic North Pole.  Paired with some of the country’s top business leaders for the two week trek, they are also joined by Canadian women’s hockey Olympic champions Caroline Ouellette and Geneviève Lacasse. The team left from Ottawa on April 19… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Laurence, Mehr, Blouin confirmed for 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit

TORONTO – Rogers president and CEO Guy Laurence, Shaw EVP and COO Jay Mehr, and MTS Allstream CEO Pierre Blouin are just three of the high level keynote speakers confirmed for the 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit which will take place June 16 – 18 at the Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto. Now in its 13th year, the Canadian Telecom Summit has grown to become Canada's most important annual telecommunications and IT event, attracting hundreds of attendees from around the world.  This year’s event will feature over a dozen keynote addresses and more than 50 panelists. In addition to the popular Regulatory… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Phil Lind to retire at the end of the year

TORONTO – Rogers Communications executive vice-president, regulatory and vice-chairman Phil Lind has let it be known inside Rogers that this will be his last year in an operations role at the company for which he has worked for 45 years. Lind has had a storied career with Rogers, working together with founder Ted Rogers until the latter’s death in 2008 (Lind is pictured here with Shaw Communications president Peter Bissonnette, left and Astral Media co-founder Ian Greenberg, right, upon his induction into the Cable Hall of Fame in 2012). He was seen as the man who… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus to take on federal government again with latest $350 million Mobilicity bid

TORONTO – Telus really wants to buy Mobilicity and has made another bid for the company, despite the knowledge the federal government really doesn’t want to see this deal happen. Late Thursday, Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Holdings and its affiliates (collectively, Mobilicity) announced Telus would acquire it for $350 million. The proposed transaction will move forward under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act rules. Mobilicity has been under creditor protection since September. "The transaction is a good outcome from Mobilicity's restructuring efforts and extensive sales process," said William Aziz, Mobilicity's chief restructuring officer, in the press release. "I am confident the transaction… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

COMMENTARY: Everything has been said. All has been analyzed. The thinking should be done. The CBC must act

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… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC to announce restructuring (perhaps a new vision?) today

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

RESEARCH: Consumer behaviour boils down to two theories

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Nothing fishy about it, World Fishing Network opens up for April

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,… Continue Reading