LAS VEGAS – Being the primary video source for customers is a far different thing than being there for them as a wireline, wireless or data provider.
Cable companies know this inherently thanks to decades of experience and many, many mistakes over the years. Cable’s first alert that there might be a network problem used to be when a customer called in to report they had no TV service and it might have taken a few calls (and please be there sometime between 8 and 8…) before the problem was fixed.
Nowadays, large cable companies have sophisticated network operations…
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EDMONTON and VANCOUVER – The Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) has launched a public awareness campaign encouraging Canadians to ask the government to “stop the outrage” of Canadian companies outsourcing jobs to other countries.
TWU president George Doubt spoke to the media in Edmonton on Thursday to address Telus’ recent announcement to expand its newly opened facility in the Philippines from 900 workers to 3000 workers. TWU represents Telus employees.
“We’re concerned about jobs and resources that are being outsourced,” he said in a telephone interview with Cartt.ca. “Companies that earn their revenue in Canadian communities have a duty to…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications has officially renamed its direct to home satellite subsidiary Star Choice to Shaw Direct, as Cartt.ca reported last week.
The move builds upon the extension of the brand to include the divisions of Shaw Tracking, Shaw Business Solutions and Shaw Broadcast Services, the company explained in a press release.
"The renaming of Star Choice to Shaw Direct allows us to continue to offer our customers the same outstanding service while aligning all of our product and service offerings under one single brand," said Shaw Communications president Peter Bissonnette, in the release. "This will help…
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CALGARY – This year the Star Choice brand will begin to disappear altogether, Shaw Communications executives said today.
In its place will come a new brand, Shaw Direct, which directly ties the direct-to-home satellite company to its cableco owner.
Shaw CEO Jim Shaw made note of the impending change Wednesday afternoon during a conference call with financial analysts discussing Shaw Communications’ fiscal 2009 second quarter results.
Some of the analysts questioned (again) whether the DTH division was a core asset and if it was looking to sell Star Choice and its nearly 900,000 subscribers.
“It is core to us…
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CALGARY – “Solid” subscriber growth, including a “record” quarterly gain in digital subs, helped Shaw recognize a 10% jump in consolidated service revenue for its second quarter, compared to the same period last year.
Consolidated service revenue for the second quarter ended February 28, 2009 was $839 million, while service operating income of $381 million before amortization was a 9% improvement over the same time last year.
The company also reported funds flow from operations increased to $335 million compared to $304 million in the same year-over-year period. Free cash flow for the quarter was $138 million, flat compared…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications last week upped the responsibilities for five of its key executives.
Brad Shaw has been appointed senior vice president, operations for Shaw Communications, with responsibility for Shaw Cable, Star Choice, Shaw Broadcast Services and Shaw Tracking.
Jean Brazeau is now senior vice president, regulatory affairs, with responsibility for all regulatory matters related to Shaw Communications.
Jay Mehr is the new group vice president, operations, with responsibility for the overall leadership for Shaw’s Cable operations, including customer care, sales, technical operations and community program delivery.
Dennis Steiger is now group vice president, engineering, with accountability for…
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CALGARY – Shaw has added ‘Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) On Demand’ to its video-on-demand lineup.
The service features live events, single fights, classic programming, behind the scenes specials and athlete profiles.
"The UFC is one of the fastest growing sports organizations in the world. We are pleased to offer UFC On Demand to Shaw’s dedicated fight fans," said Peter Bissonnette, president of Shaw Communications, in the press release. "With new content each month plus all current live events, UFC On Demand brings every must-see fight right into our customers’ living rooms."
www.shaw.ca www.ufc.com
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TORONTO – Revenue from television subscriptions in Canada will grow by 8% in 2009, forecasts Toronto’s Convergence Consulting Group.
“TV access revenue”, says a key portion of one of its 2009 editions of “The Battle for the North American Couch Potato” was $7.2 billion in 2008 (from cable companies, satellite and telco TV providers), most of which comes from Canadian MSOs.
“Cable has added basic TV subs every year since 2004, and the report forecasts the segment will effectively maintain its dominant TV subscriber market share – from 73% of TV subscribers at the end of 2008 to 71%…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications announced plans to sell up to $600 million worth of senior unsecured notes due in 2014, pricing the bond offering at 6.50%.
The company said in a statement that the net proceeds of the offering will be used for its debt repayment or redemption, for working capital and “for general corporate purposes”.
Closing is scheduled for March 27, 2009. The notes are available in Canada and the United States, through an underwriting syndicate led by TD Securities Inc.
www.shaw.ca
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CALGARY – Characterizing the results as "solid", Shaw Communications today announced second quarter fiscal 2009 subscriber results that saw digital television subscriber growth rise by more than double as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
Basic cable subscribers increased 4,273 to 2,273,904 in the quartere ended February 28, digital and Internet customers grew by 106,489 to 1,076,373 and 26,130 to 1,626,334, respectively, and digital phone lines were up 50,848 to 719,376. Star Choice DTH customers increased 3,657 to 896,633.
Internet and phone sub growth was slower, however. The company’s growth rate on Internet subs was 46% slower…
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