CALGARY – The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has approved the sale of CanWest’s TV assets to Shaw Communications.
However, the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals from the CRTC and the Competition Bureau. Sources told Cartt.ca that the CRTC hearing on the deal has been tentatively scheduled for the week of September 20th.
Wednesday afternoon’s approval comes after a group of Canwest Global shareholders and the Asper family challenged the deal in court on Tuesday, calling the $2 billion sale “unfair”. The dissenting group will receive $11 million under a new version of the deal hammered out on Wednesday.
"This is an…
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CALGARY – Not to be outdone by its cable brethren, Shaw Cable has launched a broadband video-on-demand player to offer its customers “complete control” of their entertainment experience.
The new broadband VOD player allows customers to search and order programs on VOD.SHAW.CA to enjoy either on TV or on their computers. In addition, customers with Movie Central as part of their TV package can order and stream movies and shows from the channel at no additional charge.
"Technology continues to evolve with the ability to watch content on multi-platforms," said president Peter Bissonnette, in the announcement. "That’s why Shaw is investing…
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TORONTO – International news channel Al Jazeera English has launched on Shaw Cable and officially opened its Canadian news bureau.
Available to Shaw’s digital TV subscribers on channel 175, the network will be available on a free preview through August 31, 2010. It also available on Bell TV, Rogers and Videotron.
"We are pleased to continue our expansion throughout Canada and bring AJE’s groundbreaking news and programming to Shaw customers”, said Tony Burman, the managing director of AJE, in a statement. “Since launching in Canada in May, AJE has provided a much-needed alternative perspective to global events. There…
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TORONTO – According to a new story in the Financial Post, certain Canwest Global Communications shareholders, including the Asper family, are seeking to block the purchase of the company’s television divisions by Shaw Communications.
The shareholders say the sale process was flawed, leaves them with nothing after the transaction is completed and needs to be re-done.
The story (click here to read it) says the likes of Quebecor Media and Rogers Communications are tacitly backing the bid to halt the sale.
However, a very senior Rogers executive told Cartt.ca recently on condition of anonymity that the sale of Canwest to Shaw…
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CALGARY – The Shaw Rocket Fund has added a new digital funding stream to help finance digital content related to the Canadian television programs that the Rocket Fund has invested in.
The new stream, which will allocate up to $2 million annually towards digital content, will support the creation of digital content on various platforms to enhance the viewing experience for the audience and support the exploitation of the programs. The deadline for applications is June 16, 2010, and any digital content related to a Canadian television program that the Rocket Fund has invested in is eligible for funding.
The Shaw…
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CALGARY – The Shaw family has bought an additional 235,000 Class B non-voting shares in Shaw Communications.
The Shaw Family, and entities owned or controlled by them, now hold 48,199,104 Class A and Class B shares of the company. In a statement on Thursday, the Shaw’s have also advised the company that they will “continue its practice of purchasing shares on a regular basis”.
www.shaw.ca
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LOS ANGELES – The Canadian cable TV industry was out in force at the Los Angeles JW Marriott Tuesday night to honour industry pioneer JR Shaw, who was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame with five others.
Ted Rogers was the first Canadian inducted, back in 2002. Shaw joins an illustrious list of cable leaders, from Ted Turner and John Malone to Brian Roberts and Gerry Levin.
The rest of the 2010 class included Pennsylvania cable pioneer Yolanda Barco, retired Scientific Atlanta EVP Allen Ecker, Atlanta Braves CEO and former TBS CEO Terry McGuirk, Falcon Cable and Mapleton Investments’…
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THE LEADERS OF SHAW Communications took a look at the media landscape around us and decided that if they’re going to be a player in the new always on, video on demand culture, one which is expanding by the second, they had better own some hit shows. Some good brands.
And Monday it announced a $2 billion deal to purchase the TV assets of Canwest Global outright – a move that will cement it as the leading media and distribution company in Canada. The prior deal Shaw announced earlier this year was to purchase just 20% of the company.
Rogers…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications has bought Canwest Global Communications Corp. for $2 billion, the companies announced early Monday morning.
The deal includes 100% of CanWest’s over-the-air and specialty television businesses, including all of the equity interests in CW Investments Co., the CanWest subsidiary that owns the specialty television channels acquired from Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. in 2007.
The Calgary-based cable giant also announced that Paul Robertson will have overall responsibility for CanWest, including the Canadian Television Limited Partnership and the CW Media Group subsidiaries. Robertson, who was most recently president of Corus Television, will report to Shaw CEO and vice chair…
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CALGARY – After confirming plans to offer the quadruple-play, Shaw is looking to hire staff for its Engineering and IT departments “to build trail-blazing products and services”.
Earlier this month, the Calgary-based cable company formally announced its plans to launch a next generation wireless service by late 2011.
"Next generation wireless encompasses much more than just cell-phones," said president Peter Bissonnette, in an announcement Monday. "We’re approaching wireless in an innovative, leading-edge way that will allow for a variety of exciting new mobile opportunities in and out-of-home for our customers."
www.shaw.ca/wirelesscareers
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