CALGARY – On Monday, Shaw Communications released the dates and locations for customer consultation sessions to share thoughts on Internet usage allowances and billing.
"Last week, we said that we wanted to hear directly from our own customers before we introduce any kind of program on usage-based charges. Today we’re announcing the dates and locations for these meetings," said Peter Bissonnette, President of Shaw Communications. "We’ve been very pleased by some of the reaction we’ve seen to last week’s announcement. We want to explore all of the alternatives and we’re already seeing some constructive and interesting suggestions from customers…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – National media folks have written this morning that “big telco” rose up to defend itself yesterday in front of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology which met again Thursday to discuss wholesale usage-based billing.
We listened in – and to be honest took few notes. There was nothing said by the likes of MTS Allstream, CAIP, OpenMedia, Bell and Shaw that we have not heard many, many times already – be it over the past number of days, or dating back months to prior CRTC hearings.
(And we still believe UBB has now become a poisonous…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw Communications said today that thanks to the national backlash over the concept of usage-based billing, it is asking customers to participate in consultation sessions to share their thoughts on how the big ISP should handle Internet usage allowances and billing.
That’s despite the fact the whole UBB furor has little to do with Shaw as it has just a single third party ISPs riding on its network and hadn’t yet begun charging retail customers for exceeding the gigabit download thresholds the company had set (“High Speed” has a 60 GB file transfer limit, “Extreme” has a 100…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – A class action lawsuit filed has been filed in the Federal Court of Canada against Shaw Cablesystems alleging the company does not properly disclose the interest it charges on overdue accounts.
The suit was filed January 31, 2011 by the law firm of Poyner Baxter of North Vancouver (which also issued the press release), alleging a violation of the federal Interest Act. Such a suit is typically brought in the name of one or more individuals as "representative of a class," and, if successful, would apply to all charges imposed by Shaw on overdue accounts during the past…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Shaw Media wants to take a crack at sports broadcasting, while Astral hopes to add two new French-language services to its roster, according to 19 new broadcasting applications made public by the CRTC on Friday.
Shaw Media Sports will be an English-language category two channel airing competitive mainstream sports specialty programming, reads the application. Astral has asked for a channel called Investigation that will be devoted to exploring justice and forensic science, legal and police investigations, fraud and swindling, espionage, major trials and forensic pathology. It has also filed an application for a channel called Tendances which promises programming on fashion,…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Shaw Communications CEO Brad Shaw will be the featured speaker at next month’s Broadcast Executives Society event.
The luncheon is scheduled for 12 noon on February 15, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. Tickets for this event are limited – click here to purchase or for more information.
www.bes.ca
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Shaw Media has named Jamie Schouela as VP of marketing , where he will oversee the marketing, publicity, and creative efforts for Global and the company’s 19 specialty networks.
Schouela has more than five years of experience overseeing the marketing and publicity efforts for Shaw Media’s conventional network, Global. Before that he spent seven years with Alliance Atlantis leading image and show specific campaigns across its stable of specialty channels.
“We are confident that Jamie’s experience, coupled with his passion for our business will enable him to…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – While remaining mum on just who the manufacturer is, Shaw Communications says it will launch a new residential media hub/gateway in May.
The new customer premises device (which would replace existing set top boxes) is meant to compete with Telus’ Microsoft Mediaroom-driven Optik TV.
Telus’ TV service offers customers options cable doesn’t, like the ability to remote-program their DVR and multi-room DVR ability – meaning customers can watch shows on any room there is an Optik-connected television. Its more-flexible search functionality lets customers find shows or movies by the name of the actors or directors instead of…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – The acquisition of CanWest plus some one time CRTC fees battered Shaw’s first quarter profits, driving them down 82%.
Shaw said Thursday that its net income for the three month period ended November 30, 2010 plunged to $20 million, compared to $114 million for the same period last year. The current period included a $139 million charge for the discounted value of the $180 million CRTC benefit obligation related to the acquisition of CanWest (now Shaw Media), plus a one-time CRTC Part II fee recovery fee. Consolidated revenue of $1.08 billion was up 19% over the comparable period last…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw Communications today confirmed what some were hinting at earlier this week: It will delay the launch of its wireless service until 2012.
In its quarterly results released this morning which show nice revenue spikes but hits on income, Brad Shaw, CEO of the Calgary-based cable and broadcast giant said: "We remain committed to wireless and are excited about the opportunity wireless represents for our company going forward. With the rapid evolution of wireless technology and changing market conditions, we believe it is best to take a disciplined approach to our wireless rollout to ensure we…
Continue Reading
