JUST BECAUSE BELL Canada, Quebecor Media, Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications are all broadcasters, specialty service operators, TV distributors, phone companies and broadband providers doesn’t mean they think alike. They do, however, agree on this generation’s “Death Star”. We’re looking at you, Netflix.
In their submissions to the CRTC’s TV Policy Review, the four big vertically integrated behemoths are on board together with certain things, such as maintaining simultaneous substitution (which is actually something virtually every industry submission we’ve read demands be kept), decreasing the amount of Canadian content which must be shown, while spending more money on fewer big…
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TORONTO – “Contemporary lifestyle network” FYI will take the place of Twist TV as of September 1st, Shaw Media confirmed today.
As we reported in June, the new channel is geared towards “reflecting how people actually live their lives today,” says the company’s press release this morning. “Adding FYI to our portfolio cements Shaw Media’s stronghold on female viewers, especially those captivated by contemporary lifestyle programming,” said Barbara Williams, senior vice president of content, Shaw Media. “With its non-prescriptive and social format, FYI brings viewers big personalities and buzzed about series, a perfect blend for exciting on-air entertainment and engaging…
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CALGARY and DENVER – Shaw Communications announced today it will acquire a 100% interest in call centre company ViaWest from Oak Hill Capital Partners and other shareholders for an enterprise value of US$1.2 billion.
Based in Denver, ViaWest is one of the largest privately providers of data centre infrastructure, cloud technology and managed IT solutions in North America. It employs over 350 people and services more than 1,300 customers across Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Minnesota, Oregon Texas and Utah.
The Company has a strong record of financial growth and over the last decade, ViaWest has grown from five data centres in two…
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TORONTO – CBC announced Monday the appointment of Munro Cullen as the new senior creative director of CBC’s communications, marketing and brand department.
Cullen joins CBC with more than ten years’ experience building brands and prominent marketing campaigns. In his most recent position as senior copywriter at Shaw Media, he was integral to the creative direction of off-air print, radio and online advertising for more than 18 brands.
He was also the head writer for the Shaw Media upfronts, with the scope of his work including corporate brand-building. Prior to Shaw, Cullen worked at Alliance Atlantis, first as a promo producer;…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications is throwing its support behind emerging Canadian professional golfers Michael Gligic and Beon Yeong Lee as they compete at this year’s RBC Canadian Open.
Sporting the Shaw logo, Gligic and Lee (pictured) represent some of the up and coming Canadian golfers at this year’s national championship taking place July 21 – 27 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Quebec. The two golfers are the latest additions to Shaw’s roster of professional golf partnerships that include PGA Tour star Graham DeLaet and rising Web.com Tour pro Adam Hadwin.
“Supporting Michael and Beon represents Shaw’s desire…
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WINNIPEG and CALGARY – MTS is donating $25,000 to the Canadian Red Cross – Manitoba Division to support flood relief efforts in Manitoba, while Shaw has opened up its Shaw Go WiFi network to all the communities it serves along the Assiniboine River.
MTS is also waiving temporary disconnect fees for its home phone, Internet and TV customers who have been evacuated from areas where a state of emergency has been declared as a result of recent flooding. Noting that it expects that these customers will rely more on their wireless services at this time, MTS is also offering affected…
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CALGARY – Despite a slowing of the loss of its cable subscribers, Shaw Communications posted an 8.8% drop in profits for the third quarter ended May 31, 2014.
Shaw said Thursday that net income for the period was $228 million, down from $250 million in the same period last year.
Consolidated revenue for the quarter of $1.34 billion increased 1.2% from $1.33 billion over last year, while total operating income before restructuring costs and amortization of $601 million improved 2.7% from $585 million year-over-year. Free cash flow for the three month period was $240 million, up from $138 million last year. …
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TORONTO – We don’t remember Shaw Communications COO Jay Mehr speaking before the telecom industry in such a forum before, so rather than try to weave a narrative from his 30-minute fireside chat with CTS organizer Mark Goldberg Tuesday afternoon, we thought we’d pick out a few bullet points from his Toronto talk.
On handling change in the media and network space
“It seems kind of counter-intuitive in a world of rapid-fire change, that our focus is on orderly, managed change – and I know (CEO) Brad (Shaw) has been clear to our company that he doesn’t want to defend our…
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TORONTO – Shaw Media announced a series of original digital initiatives designed to build on, and extend, its Global, History Canada, Food Network Canada, and HGTV Canada brands.
According to the news release, the cross-platform content expands its conventional and specialty brands to enhance fan engagement and provide richer viewer experiences.
The new digital initiatives include:
The Second City Project (fall 2014)- Global TV is bringing the next generation of legendary Second City comedy talent to Shaw Media screens in The Second City Project, led by Bob Martin. Designed to bring premium sketch comedy to Canadian television as well as meet the insatiable appetite…
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TORONTO – In a rather interesting coincidence Friday, Shaw Media announced that its TV Everywhere product Global Go is now available to Bell Fibe TV and Bell TV satellite customers, while CTV announced that its CTV Go is now available to Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct subscribers.
Global Go, (pictured), is available to 94% of the Anglophone market in Canada, and allows users to log in with their service provider subscription credentials, and live stream their local Global station on the app or catch up on missed episodes of their favourite Global shows.
Shaw customers can now watch live CTV and…
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