GATINEAU – Since video-on-demand is one of the key components in the cable company arsenal when battling the new, over-the-top video providers for viewers, the CRTC needs to scrap most of its regulations governing VOD, according to Shaw Communications.
In its final reply to the vertical integration hearing (as well as in its OTT fact-finding submission), Canada’s largest TV distributor suggest preserving Canadian content exhibition requirements for VOD, but not much else.
In its final submission on the vertical integration proceeding, the company identifies seven rules that need to go and first on its priority list is the double-dip of…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications is breaking ground on a new energy efficient data centre in Calgary that it says will provide a power boost to its next-generation broadband technology.
The centre, which is scheduled to be completed in spring 2014, incorporates ‘free cooling’ which allows the data centre to keep cool without heavily relying on traditional air conditioning. The low impact technique is in keeping with the company’s commitment to reducing their environmental footprint, Shaw said. In the last year, Shaw has eliminated 5,176 tons of carbon by using renewable wind energy in three of their buildings, the equivalent of taking…
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GATINEAU – Shaw Communications Inc. says that while it prefers a volume-based billing model for wholesale services, it’s prepared to do the work to implement a peak period approach if directed to do so.
The company noted during its appearance on Day 3 of the CRTC’s usage-based billing hearing that if three specific criteria are met either approach could give the independent ISPs the flexibility they need to compete in the market while also appropriately compensating the wholesale network providers.
“We must be able to recover our investments; we must be able to charge more for higher speeds; and there…
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GATINEAU – Shaw Communications used its submission to the CRTC on 2011-344 (the Commission’s fact-finding exercise on over-the-top video) to make some very specific requests the company says will bring regulatory parity between it and OTT providers such as Netflix.
The country’s largest BDU and second-largest broadcasting company wants the Commission to scale back and then eliminate the Canada Media Fund and abolish the Local Programming Improvement Fund, among other things.
Characterizing the entire Canadian TV regulatory framework as “no longer sustainable” in the face of global competition where Canadians can increasingly get access to media from anywhere at any time,…
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CALGARY – Shaw Direct is offering what it calls Canada’s smallest and powerful high definition satellite receiver.
Known as the Essential HD Receiver, the device retails for $99.99 and provides access to Shaw Direct’s HD lineup, its interactive on-screen guide with 14-day look ahead, dynamic search capability and enhanced parental controls. It is also MPEG-4 and 1080p compatible and Shaw says that it’s “future ready” for programming and technological enhancements.
"Shaw Direct continues to be a leader in technology," said president Peter Bissonnette, in the announcement. "The launch of the Essential HD Receiver demonstrates our commitment to providing our customers with…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications continues to add pockets of new subscribers after confirming Thursday that it has purchased the assets of Sun Country Cablevision (approximately 4,500 subscribers).
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. It’s worth noting, however, Shaw paid approximately $3,500 per sub for the 1,000-customer system Lake Broadcasting in 2010.
Based in the central interior region of British Columbia (in Salmon Arm. about 100 kms north of Kelowna), Sun Country began operations in 1984 and provides television, phone and Internet offerings to its customers.
"Sun Country has built an excellent system which represents a terrific addition to our existing cable…
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CALGARY – Third quarter profits at Shaw Communications were up 28% on revenues that cracked the $1 billion threshold, the company reported Wednesday. But it offered no glimpse into the future of its wireless plans beyond what CEO Brad Shaw told Cartt.ca last week.
Consolidated revenue for the quarter ended May 31, 2011 were $1.28 billion, a 36% increase over $943 million in the same period last year, while net profits grew 28% year-over-year to $202.7 million from $158.2 million. Shaw credited the improvement to its acquisition of Shaw Media, as well as rate increases and growth in its cable and satellite…
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GATINEAU – Having stopped its HSPA wireless network build earlier this year, Shaw Communications is nearing a decision on what to do, finally, on the wireless front.
“We’re in certain conversations, strategically, looking at options. We’re certainly looking at LTE 4G as where technology is going but we’re still in that process,” said company CEO Brad Shaw to reporters after his appearance in front of the CRTC’s vertical integration hearing.
“We’ll soon make an announcement, I think, over the next month.” The company put the brakes on its HSPA network build in February in order to reassess its wireless goals…
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TORONTO – Shaw Media announced today it has made a couple of new hires in its marketing department.
Sherida German has been appointed to the newly created role of senior director, marketing, Global News. In this role, she will oversee all news marketing and community relations strategy for the Global stations across the country, as well as Global National. German first the company in 1998 and most recently negotiated the largest co-marketing initiative in the company’s history with Johnson & Johnson’s brand Motrin, which resulted in brand exposure for TVtropolis and Wipeout Canada in 1,400 major national retail outlets.
She will…
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CALGARY – Shaw officially unveiled its new broadband plans Tuesday after announcing last month that it planned to boost its bit caps.
The company is offering two new Internet packaging and pricing options. The first allows customers to keep their existing Internet packages and receive higher data levels at no extra charge. For example, customers with Shaw High Speed Internet will see their monthly data levels increase from 60 GB to 125 GB per month.
The second includes new broadband packages for customers who require greater data levels, and can be subscribed to on their own or bundled with phone or…
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