EVEN WITH CHANNEL Zero’s encouraging purchase of two over-the-air TV stations from Canwest Global this week, we are now left with six small market TV stations whose owners have set August 31st as the final day they intend to have the transmitters turned on.
In case you missed it – and you might have, given the timing of the news – Shaw Communications told CTV late Tuesday that, essentially, it had lost its nerve and was backing down from its confrontation with CTV over local television. The western cableco, despite its now apparently false bravado claims of how…
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MONTREAL – Bell Canada finished off a pair of acquisitions today that will boost both its wireless subscribers as well as its branding and distribution capabilities.
First off, the company has completed its previously announced $135 million purchase of Canadian electronics retailer The Source. Now operating independently as The Source and as La Source in Québec, the company is already selling Bell TV, and will offer Bell and Virgin Mobile wireless products exclusively in January 2010. The stores used to sell Shaw Direct (formerly Star Choice) gear, but no more.
The Source had been owned by the bankrupt…
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GATINEAU – Earlier this week, the CBC attempted to give the CRTC a little advice before the Regulator releases its public notice announcing the September hearing into an overhaul of the regulation of the TV business in Canada this coming Monday.
As reported by Cartt.ca, this past Monday the CBC offered up a proposed new distribution order which would govern new fee-for-carriage negotiations between broadcasters and cable and satellite companies (actually, the broadcasters are trying to “re-brand” the fee-for-carriage battle to one entitled value for signal, but we digress…)
Together, Shaw Communications, Telus, Rogers Communications, Cogeco and Bell…
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TORONTO – CTV issued a terse press release this afternoon to announce that Shaw Communications will not purchase the broadcaster’s stations in Brandon, Man., Wingham and Windsor, Ont. after all.
In a newspaper ad on April 30, Shaw offered to buy the three stations from CTV after hearing the broadcaster tell the CRTC and the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage that they couldn’t find anyone to buy the, not even for a buck.
Shaw called CTV on it, saying it would take the stations off their hands for a loonie each. CTV then called what has now proved to…
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VANCOUVER – Telus Satellite TV is now available across British Columbia and Alberta, the western-based telco announced this morning.
Cartt.ca originally had this story announcing the launch was coming back in May.
Telus Satellite TV is available to more than 90% of homes in the two provinces and residents can now add it to their suite of services from Telus. “Bundling Telus TV with Internet, home phone or long distance services helps consumers simplify their lives – and save money at the same time,” says the press release.
Telus Satellite TV will help the company more quickly compete with…
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CALGARY – The global economic downturn hasn’t seemed to have taken much of a bite out of Shaw Communications.
The company today announced its third quarter results which showed healthy, near across the board growth in most metrics.
Consolidated service revenue for the three and nine month periods (ending May 31st) of $861 million and $2.52 billion, respectively, was up 9% and 10% over the same periods last year. Service operating income before amortization of $395 million and $1.14 billion, respectively, improved 11% and 10% over the comparable periods. Funds flow from operations increased to $356 million and $1…
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CALGARY – The Radisson Hotel in Saskatoon is the first hotel in Canada to offer an ‘HD Free-to-Guest’ television system.
The high definition in-room entertainment system (IRES) eliminates the need for an in-room device like a set top box by using a decryption management card in the TV. This allows the channel lineup to be controlled at the television itself.
Using coax lines, hoteliers can now provide a “cost-effective digital IRES” which allows guests to enjoy the benefits that digital technology provides over traditional analog television.
"We are extremely pleased with the product and service and have seen that reflected…
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OTTAWA – The Penthouse Channel will be joining the Rogers Cable lineup after completing a multi-year distribution agreement.
Currently available to Shaw Cable customers, the adult programming network is distributed in Canada by Ottawa-based Ten Broadcasting.
“We are pleased that Rogers chose to carry this top international and well-known and respected domestic brand in adult TV programming, said Ten Broadcasting president and CEO Stuart Duncan, in the announcement. “This carriage agreement comes with additional carriage not only for the channel but with enhanced distribution of the Penthouse brand potentially across many Rogers distribution platforms.”
www.tenbroadcasting.com
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TORONTO – Moody’s Investors Service has rated Shaw Communication’s senior unsecured component of $2.5 billion multiple seniority shelf registration Baa3, while the preferred share component was rated Ba1.
The shelf registration was filed on March 11, 2009.
Moody’s also affirmed Shaw’s existing Baa3 senior unsecured rating along with its ‘stable’ outlook.
www.moodys.com www.shaw.ca
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CALGARY – Shaw surpassed its million dollar goal for Canadian athletes last weekend with its second nation-wide auction called ‘Making It Happen’.
Combined with the funds earned at the first auction held last November, Shaw raised a total of $1.06 million, earmarked to go directly to Canada’s high-performance athletes through the Canadian Athletes Now Fund.
"We want to say a sincere thank-you to all of our viewers and Canadians across the country who participated in the Making it Happen auction," said president Peter Bissonnette, in the press release. "Our athletes work hard to represent Canada at international competitions and at…
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