Quarterly results reporting begins this week
By Greg O’Brien
TORONTO – Both Cogeco Inc. and Shaw Communications will release their fiscal 2020 second quarter results this week, but since their quarters ended February 29th, those numbers will resemble more of a time capsule than an account of what is going on in the market right now and the real news will be what the companies have to say about what’s happened since with the Covid-19 crisis.
“We believe Canadian telcos and cablecos remain structurally sound and even after our target price revisions, we believe the sector will provide investors attractive potential total…
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TORONTO — Having raised $445,000 for the Canadian Red Cross already as a result of its Sunday night broadcast on Much, MTV, CP24 and iHeartRadio Canada, Bell Media’s iHeart Living Room Concert hosted by Elton John will be rebroadcast on CTV and VRAK this weekend.
The encore presentations of the benefit concert will air on CTV on Saturday, April 4 at 8 p.m. ET, and on VRAK on Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET. VRAK is a French-language specialty channel for kids owned by Bell Media. The benefit special is streaming now on demand on CTV.ca and Crave.
Airing commercial…
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TORONTO — With Rogers Media’s free preview of its FX specialty channel now extended until May 11, the broadcaster announced the new Mrs. America limited series starring Cate Blanchett will premiere in Canada on FX and online on FX Now starting April 15.
The nine-part miniseries, featuring Blanchett as conservative firebrand Phyliss Schlafly, tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash it brought about. Portraying some of the most iconic women of the era, the cast also includes Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids) as Gloria Steinem, Margo Martindale (American Crime Story) as Bella…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications announced Monday it is providing families with free access to digital educational programming for children and youth as school facilities are closed and students move to virtual learning modules due to the threat posed by Covid-19.
Shaw is partnering with Washington, D.C.-based EVERFI, which offers a digital learning platform, to make available research-backed online programming designed to give K-12 students access to curriculum-aligned topics, including personal health, financial education, mental health, digital wellness and more, says the news release.
The free, self-guided, online course modules are available for Canadians by visiting shaw.ca/shaw-helps/everfi. The digital…
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LOS ANGELES — As it gears up to launch next week, short-form mobile video streaming platform Quibi announced its roster of scripted and unscripted shows which will be available during April.
Designed specifically for smartphones, Quibi content will be available in what it calls “Quick Bites” of 10 minutes or less. Among the movies that will be available, in chapters, at launch are: dystopian action-thriller Most Dangerous Game, starring Liam Hemsworth and Christopher Waltz; and against-the-elements drama Survive, starring Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins. Unscripted series and documentaries available April 6 will include: I Promise, an uplifting documentary series executive…
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OTTAWA – CBC/Radio-Canada has announced it is delivering special access to content across all of its platforms, including news, educational resources for kids and parents, and a wide variety of programming to keep Canadians entertained when they need a break.
“The situation continues to change each day. Canadians need to know what’s happening and to understand what it means for them and for their family and friends. Our news teams are working around the clock to keep all Canadians on top of the latest developments here in Canada and around the world,” said CBC CEO Catherine Tait in a statement.
“We’re…
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TORONTO – The fourth and final season of acclaimed drama Cardinal will begin airing Mondays at 10 p.m. starting April 6 on CTV and Crave.
The show received 14 nominations for the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards including best drama series, best supporting actress, drama, best lead actor, drama series, and best lead actress, drama series and in 2019, won seven.
Joining Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse in season four are Shawn Doyle (Frequency) as Scott Riley, Currie Graham (Pompeii) as Neil Cuthbert, Carmen Moore (Blackstone) as Sheila Gagne, Cas Anvar (The Expanse) as Taj Roy.
Cardinal has also been nominated for international…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications said today it is donating $1 million to Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) to support food banks and agencies across the country, while also providing two months’ service credit to Shaw Internet customers using the federal Connecting Families program for low-income families.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives and has significantly increased the demands placed on the organizations that are helping to provide food and resources to the most vulnerable Canadians,” said Brad Shaw, CEO of Shaw Communications, in a news release Tuesday. “As long-time partners of Community Food Centres Canada…
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Canadian communications giant dead at 85
CALGARY – Shaw Communications founder, executive chair and former CEO JR Shaw is being remembered not only as a pioneering cable and telecom builder, but a family man, philanthropist, and a one-of-a-kind gentleman who inspired deep loyalty and unity.
Known throughout the North American communications industry simply as JR, Shaw was a pioneer in Canadian business and a Canadian telecommunications sector visionary. He passed away in his sleep Tuesday at the age of 85.
“My family and I are at a loss for words and are deeply saddened at JR’s passing,” said Brad Shaw, CEO of…
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By Greg O’Brien
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, millions of Canadians are working from home, or sadly just staying home after their job was placed on indefinite hold. Students don’t know when they will go back to class and seniors are being told going for groceries is dangerous because of the deadly Covid-19.
Politicians of all stripe are telling us to stay home – a call which most of us are thankfully heeding – and one which we will need to obey for some weeks to come to try and slow the spread of the virus.
We’ve hunkered down at home with our…
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