Search Results for: shaw

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw launches broadband VOD player

CALGARY – Not to be outdone by its cable brethren, Shaw Cable has launched a broadband video-on-demand player to offer its customers “complete control” of their entertainment experience. The new broadband VOD player allows customers to search and order programs on VOD.SHAW.CA to enjoy either on TV or on their computers.  In addition, customers with Movie Central as part of their TV package can order and stream movies and shows from the channel at no additional charge. "Technology continues to evolve with the ability to watch content on multi-platforms," said president Peter Bissonnette, in the announcement. "That’s why Shaw is investing… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Commentary: SunTV News launch brilliant so far. Regulatory battle likely to play key promo role

IF EVERYONE PLAYS their expected part, Canadians may end up clamouring for the new SunTV News channel that its owner, Quebecor Media, envisions. The launch strategy, it appears, is so far playing out brilliantly. After a couple of weeks of leaks (“It’ll be like Fox News, but in Canada!” “They’re going to spend $100 million!” “They’ve asked the CRTC for permission! “We’ve hired some reporters!”) which were linked and retweeted everywhere across the country – and especially in Ottawa – newspaper, TV and radio reporters, camera folks, online newsers (including yours truly) and bloggers crowded… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Content, access linked to brand’s worth, say Canadian youth

BANFF – Today’s youth expect a fully integrated, holistic content experience – not just games and contests on-line, according to a Shaw Rocket Fund study. The 2010 Media and Technology Landscape Study, which garnered over 1100 responses among 9 to 17 year-old Canadians, captured young people’s expectations on how they wish to consume and interact with media both today and into the future. At a presentation earlier this week at the Banff International Television Festival, Shaw Rocket Fund president Agnes Augustin and Decode strategist Jacquelyn Salnek outlined some of the study’s highlights, including: – Youth have a much different view of the… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Al Jazeera English launches on Shaw, adds to Canadian team

TORONTO – International news channel Al Jazeera English has launched on Shaw Cable and officially opened its Canadian news bureau. Available to Shaw’s digital TV subscribers on channel 175, the network will be available on a free preview through August 31, 2010.  It also available on Bell TV, Rogers and Videotron. "We are pleased to continue our expansion throughout Canada and bring AJE’s groundbreaking news and programming to Shaw customers”, said Tony Burman, the managing director of AJE, in a statement. “Since launching in Canada in May, AJE has provided a much-needed alternative perspective to global events. There… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Tuesday was World Cup announcement day

EVEN THE NON-SPORTS fan will know there’s a bit of a soccer tournament about to begin in South Africa this weekend. And yesterday was press release day on the TV front. In Canada, the CBC is leading the coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with broadcast across multiple platforms, a World Cup CBC mobile app – and the third place and final games are to be available in 3D for the dozens (?) of fans who have new 3DTVs. After CBC sent out it’s announcement, so did Shaw Cable, Telus, Shaw Direct, Cogeco, Rogers… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telesat taps Space Systems/Loral, ILS for new Anik G1

OTTAWA – Telesat has chosen Space Systems/Loral to manufacturer its new Anik G1 satellite and International Launch Services (ILS) for its launch into geostationary orbit, scheduled for the second half of 2012. The powerful new multipurpose bird will carry 16 transponders operating in the extended Ku-band for Shaw Direct, as the DTH company announced in March.  Co-located at the 107.3 degrees West Longitude orbital location with the Anik F1R satellite Shaw Direct presently uses, the satellite could boost Shaw Direct’s satellite television services by 30%. Anik G1 also will also have satellite capacity operating in the X-band frequencies with geographic coverage of the… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTS 2010: Do the pipe owners need their own content, the industry is (still) asking

TORONTO – Can connectivity and content achieve a happy marriage or should they just stay friends? Dvai Ghose, the outspoken managing director and head of Canadian research for Canaccord Genuity, came down firmly on the side of ‘friends’. “There is no evidence to suggest that owning content assets helps connectivity providers,” he said at the Canadian Telecom Summit during a panel discussion Monday afternoon called ‘Business Models 3.0: Financial Implications for Content and Carriage’. While acknowledging that content ownership could make sense for “defensive reasons” or as a “regulatory hedge,” he was also quick to point to the “convergence nightmares” of the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

MSOs go back to basics in front of Commission panel

GATINEAU – CRTC commissioners were given a lesson in basic cable architecture on Wednesday as Rogers, Shaw, Cogeco, Videotron and EastLink faced the panel considering CRTC 2009-261, the wholesale high-speed access services proceeding. The overall message appeared to be a detailed reminder to the Regulator from cable that “we’re different. Cable is a shared network that can’t be unbundled.” Some have asked, for example, that a single 6 MHz channel (the space in which one analog TV channel is transmitted but which can be crammed full of digital and IP data and is by MSOs) be set aside for wholesale access by… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Asper family, other shareholders still trying to stop Shaw purchase of Canwest, says report

TORONTO – According to a new story in the Financial Post, certain Canwest Global Communications shareholders, including the Asper family, are seeking to block the purchase of the company’s television divisions by Shaw Communications. The shareholders say the sale process was flawed, leaves them with nothing after the transaction is completed and needs to be re-done. The story (click here to read it) says the likes of Quebecor Media and Rogers Communications are tacitly backing the bid to halt the sale. However, a very senior Rogers executive told Cartt.ca recently on condition of anonymity that the sale of Canwest to Shaw… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Shaw Rocket Fund adds new digital funding stream

CALGARY – The Shaw Rocket Fund has added a new digital funding stream to help finance digital content related to the Canadian television programs that the Rocket Fund has invested in. The new stream, which will allocate up to $2 million annually towards digital content, will support the creation of digital content on various platforms to enhance the viewing experience for the audience and support the exploitation of the programs.  The deadline for applications is June 16, 2010, and any digital content related to a Canadian television program that the Rocket Fund has invested in is eligible for funding. The Shaw… Continue Reading