Perry Hoffman
OTTAWA – It’s not very often the country’s telecommunications and cable firms agree with anything the regulator has to say, but on foreign ownership rules, they at least partially support the CRTC’s proposal to a Parliamentary committee studying the matter.
One after the other last week, they addressed the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on the need to liberalize current foreign investment restrictions for both telecommunications and broadcasting companies. They echoed the CRTC’s position that regulations can protect Canadian content on television and radio.
“While we do not believe there is a problem today, given…
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TORONTO – By the end of 2014, new wireless entrants will capture 22% of the Canadian wireless market, says a study from Toronto’s Convergence Consulting.
And the effect of the newcomers is already being felt – and will continue to be. Despite wireless data’s 36% revenue growth in 2009, total wireless service ARPU declined, says the report. New wireless entrants will increasingly put pressure on both data & voice prices (the US has already seen major impact in this regard) leading to lower ARPU (at least over the next three years), regional (West, Quebec, Atlantic) bundle battles, a shift in…
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CALGARY and TORONTO – Shaw Communications has apologized to Globalive’s Wind Mobile after the new wireless provider accused it of making “a racial slur” during a conference call with Shaw’s investment analysts last week.
While discussing the company’s latest financial results, Shaw president Peter Bissonnette and CEO Jim Shaw joked about Toronto-based Wind, whose customers have complained of poor network coverage in Toronto and Calgary.
At one point during the call, the duo laughingly asked, "Is the wind blowing in here?”, followed by "Or is that a camel?" and "Oh, it’s a camel."
According to a Canadian Press report, Wind Mobile…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications’ hotly anticipated wireless service will launch in “late 2011” once the company has invested an additional $100 million, confirmed CEO and vice chair Jim Shaw on Friday.
“We are advancing our wireless strategy to offer a competitive offering, and we are planning an initial launch in late 2011”, Shaw said on a call with industry analysts. “Accordingly, we are accelerating our wireless capital expenditure and expect to invest approximately $100 million more in 2010. We are excited about this opportunity to enhance our products and offerings with wireless service.”
Shaw paid $189.5-million for wireless spectrum in B.C., Alberta,…
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OTTAWA – CRTC audits of the community channels operated by some of Canada’s biggest cable companies show “numerous abuses”, according to the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).
From 2002 through 2005 (the last year in which the CRTC monitored them), CACTUS said that the audits prove that cable companies “routinely” exceeded the maximum of two minutes per hour of promotional ads, and the 15-second limit for sponsorship messages.
Calling out Rogers in particular, CACTUS said that one of its OHL hockey programs contained 24 ads in one episode, plus another 41 ads two nights later, yet none of…
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CALGARY – Shaw Direct has become one of the first BDUs to offer Yoopa, the newly-launched French language children’s channel owned by TVA.
"Shaw is proud to offer new French programming to our customers across the country," said president Peter Bissonnette, in a statement. "We are delighted to provide our younger viewers with exceptional programming like the Yoopa network."
Yoopa is available on free preview through May 31. Shaw Direct also debuted three new French-language programming packages on April 1st called ‘Le Classique’, ‘Populaire Francais’ and ‘Parfait Bilingue Extra’.
www.shawdirect.ca
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications will become the first Canadian communications provider to offer 3-D content after signing on as the exclusive Canadian 3D distributor of golf’s 2010 Masters Tournament.
Approximately two hours per day of live 3D coverage will be broadcast from the tournament, which is scheduled for April 7 – 11 in Augusta, Georgia. The limited 3D coverage will focus on the back nine holes of Augusta National Golf Club, and will allow Shaw customers to use different camera angles produced by the Masters.
"We are thrilled to provide this inaugural, never-before seen footage to our HD customers in Western Canada," said…
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CALGARY – Shaw got in to the spirit Thursday with some family-friendly Easter programming.
Through April 5, Shaw customers can watch bunnies eating hay, snuggling and playing; or highlights of kids’ face painting and the Pysanky, the traditional Ukrainian Easter egg painting art.
"Shaw has a long-standing history of providing our customers with exceptional holiday programming – from Turkey TV, the Fire Log channel and Pumpkin TV," said president Peter Bissonnette, in a press release. "Our Easter programs are sure to be a part of our viewer’s festivities as they come together to celebrate."
www.shaw.ca
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AS OF YESTERDAY, there were 17 months left for Canada to make the transition from analog over-the-air TV broadcasting to digital. Given the lack of action so far, hitting the August 31, 2011 deadline for the shut off of analog TV is now nearly impossible.
Everyone in and around the industry knows it. Everyone. It was openly talked about during the two CRTC hearings in the fall. It was as if the deadline meant nothing. But few want to acknowledge the industry’s and the federal government’s failure to act. In fact, as you’ll read, the federal government still hasn’t even…
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CALGARY – Shaw Direct’s additional capacity on a third satellite will increase its satellite television services by 30% by 2012.
Thanks to an agreement with Telesat, Shaw’s “significant investment” includes 16 new national transponders which will provide bandwidth for expanded customer choice, including new high definition and other advanced services, as well as in-orbit back-up capability for its DTH customers.
"Acquiring this capacity will increase our ability to deliver the best satellite television service in Canada – and is part of our commitment to providing our customers with exceptional experiences," said president Peter Bissonnette, in a statement.
www.shaw.ca
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