OTTAWA – The CRTC is asking for input on whether it may conduct Canadian ownership and control reviews on a public basis, as opposed to a confidential basis, in certain instances.
Telus sent a letter to the Commission on April 20, 2009 asking it to conduct “an open and transparent process” to review whether wireless newcomer Globalive Wireless Management is under Canadian ownership and control, as required by section 16 of the Telecommunications Act. Shaw sent a letter two days later in support of Telus’ request.
But Globealive opposed the move, saying the Commission has a “longstanding practice” of conducting…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw Communications has extended its partnership with the Western Hockey League (WHL) through the 2013/14 hockey season.
Shaw aired live coverage as the local broadcaster of all 56 games in the 2009 season from 21 cities and towns across Western Canada, and said that more than 2.5 million Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct customers tuned in over the regular season.
"As a family run company Shaw understands the importance of staying connected to our communities and to local events," said Shaw president Peter Bissonnette, in the announcement. "Our coverage of the 2009 WHL season drew more than…
Continue Reading
SO I SET MY PVR to record about two and a half Saturday afternoon hours of CTV Newsnet (CTV News Channel, as of this morning) this past weekend in order to watch the charade I expected to see.
Heading into the weekend, viewers of CTVglobemedia properties were fed a steady dose of some very one-sided ads promoting the company’s cross-country open houses meant to help “save local TV”, along with a web site of which the best one can say tells a very incomplete story.
While it wasn’t the travesty I had assumed was coming (far from it, actually),…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – CTV has, predictably, refuted the allegations made by Rogers and other BDUs regarding its ‘Save Local TV’ public advocacy campaign.
In a statement sent late on Friday afternoon, the network said it has remained in “full compliance” with both the Broadcasting Act and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Code of Ethics, and called the complaint by the BDUs an “underhanded move by cable and satellite companies” and “an abuse of process designed to suppress freedom of speech and mislead the public”.
"The fact that the first we’re hearing about this is through a Rogers’ press release and still…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – With open houses and barbecues taking place at all CTV stations and A Channels across Canada this Saturday, the company’s all-news channel, CTV Newsnet, will broadcast it’s mother corp.’s appeal for more money for two hours this Saturday.
The coverage, to be hosted by CFTO anchor Ken Shaw, will includes interviews and highlights from each of the local open houses. It’s all part of the broadcaster’s “Save Local” campaign which it has been pushing hard on-air, online and on its specialty channels (not to mention on Parliament Hill).
Newsnet’s two hour show will begin in Halifax and…
Continue Reading
ONE OF THE FORMER rules of thumb when it comes to opinionating was: Never Use “I”.
Saying “I think” or “I believe” in a column is redundant and lazy. To paraphrase what more than one editor has said in my presence over the years: “Readers already know it’s what you think, your name’s at the top of the piece. Be more creative in how you write.”
So, with apologies to all of my former bosses, I must say: I have a headache. I’ve grown just a little weary of thinking about the so-called crisis in conventional television. And judging…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw is staging a second nation-wide auction in support of the Canadian Athletes Now fund and Canadian athletes.
The ‘Making it Happen’ auction will be held on June 7 from 12:00 – 8:00 pm PST, and will be broadcast live on Shaw TV and Shaw Direct. An integrated online auction component will run simultaneously to allow for bids from the web.
"Our goal is to help raise $1 million for Canadian athletes by the end of the year,” said Shaw president Peter Bissonnette, in the press release. “Shaw will match up to $500,000 dollars. When our athletes…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – In an effort to bring a stronger fourth leg to its connectivity bundle (wireline phone, Internet, wireless and digital TV), Telus today announced it will add satellite television this year.
The company has signed a partnership agreement with Bell Canada – and the two have already been working together on the project since the beginning of 2009, Telus CEO Darren Entwistle told a press conference after the company’s annual general meeting today in Ottawa.
On the wireline digital TV side, the western-based telco said today it surpassed 100,000 subscribers in April, which are spread across its territories…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw Communications announced its subscriber figures for the last two months, and re-confirmed its financial guidance for fiscal 2009.
Basic cable subscribers grew 7,053 to reach 2.28 million, while the company added 74,833 digital cable customers for a total of 1.15 million by April 30, 2009. Shaw also reported 1.64 million Internet customers and 758,155 digital phone lines.
It’s direct to home satellite subsidiary Shaw Direct (formerly Star Choice) lost just over 2,000 customers in that same time period, bringing its total to 894,573.
"Cable subscriber results exceed the two month customer figures from a year ago and it is clear…
Continue Reading
CALGARY and TORONTO – Shaw Communications and Corus Entertainment are teaming up to provide the largest offering of 3D TV in Canada, coming this summer.
Shaw’s video-on-demand and Corus’ Movie Central will roll out a range of on-going 3D content ranging from box office feature films, family programming and sports to concert events and specials.
"We are convinced that 3D is the next big breakthrough for enhancing the in-home entertainment experience, and we are committed to developing the content and advancing the technology to support this," said Jim Shaw, CEO and vice chair, in the press release. "With the recent success of…
Continue Reading
