Search Results for: shaw

Cable / Telecom News

Freedom launches in Nanaimo

CALGARY – Freedom Mobile announced Friday it has launched its network in Nanaimo, B.C. “We look forward to providing Nanaimo residents with a real alternative to the Big Three wireless carriers,” said Paul McAleese, president, wireless, Shaw Communications, in the press release. “Nanaimo residents will benefit greatly from the increased competition we are bringing to their community.” The 90,000 residents of the community about 110 kms north of Victoria can sign up for Freedom Mobile service today by visiting one of three retail locations: Woodgrove Centre (6631 N Island Hwy), Loblaws’ The Mobile Shop (6435 Metral Drive), as well as… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw goes lower with Freedom’s new Absolute Zero (updated)

Back-to-school promo offers the latest phones, Big Gig Unlimited, starting at $50/month CALGARY – Shaw Communications’ Freedom Mobile has dropped wireless pricing again by reducing the cost of wireless for Canadians with its Big Gig Unlimited plans and Absolute Zero promotions. Both are featured in a new national advertising campaign marking the return of the notorious “Monolithic Wireless” and highlighting “unfair treatment of Canadian wireless customers,” reads the Freedom press release. Top-end handsets such as the latest iPhones can be had for a $75/month Big Gig plan for 10GB of unlimited data (slowed after the monthly benchmark is reached), with no extra… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

m/SIX hires Tricia Allen as president

TORONTO – Ad agency m/SIX, a division backed jointly by GroupM and The&Partnership, announced today it has named media veteran Tricia Allen as president, Canada. Allen brings 23 years of experience building agency businesses in both Canada and the U.S. to the role, says the press release. She joins the company from IPG’s Orion Worldwide where she served in a variety of roles including as managing director, Canada and managing director, North America. Prior to Orion, Allen was director of media strategy at Shaw Media where she oversaw all media strategy development and execution of consumer campaigns for Shaw’s… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Freedom launches in Medicine Hat

CALGARY – Shaw Communications announced today it is launching Freedom Mobile in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Residents in Medicine Hat (pop. 63,000) can now get Freedom by visiting one of two launch locations: Walmart (2051 Strachan Rd S.E.) and Loblaws’ The Mobile Shop (1792 Trans Canada Way S.E.). The company will be opening its first branded retail location at the Medicine Hat Mall in late August. “Our Big Gig plans are disrupting the wireless marketplace and have reset Canadians’ expectations of what their wireless provider should do for them. We’re excited to offer Medicine Hat residents the choice and as of… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Canadian Specialty Services Report: CRTC filings show trends, and confounds, too

Some numbers truly unexpected as we break down the report on individual specialty services INDEPENDENT CANADIAN SPECIALTY services are punching well above their weight when it comes to making and delivering Canadian content, despite the fact they live in a far lower margin world than those owned by vertically integrated companies. Collectively, independent, or non-vertically-integrated specialty channels spent a whopping 59% of their revenue on Canadian content in 2018, far outpacing VI channels, which collectively spent 38% of revenues on Cancon in the 2018 broadcast year, which ended August 31st. These numbers are according to the CRTC’s 2018 Individual Discretionary and… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Will net neutrality force the CRTC kill the new $75 wireless plans?

Slowed speeds after 10 GB might be against the rules GATINEAU – Who would have thought a routine process of monitoring Internet pricing to make sure Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMPs) don’t violate consumer rights would bump up against the much ballyhooed new $75 wireless data pricing plans? The CRTC has long been concerned about some differential pricing practices that could be viewed as unfair, so it decided two years ago to “closely monitor the retail prices and data caps for both wireless and fixed-line Internet services, which will enable it to assess the degree to which… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

TiVo extends agreement with Shaw

SAN JOSE, Calif. – TiVo Corporation announced Monday that Shaw Communications has entered into a multi-year extension of its agreement for TiVo’s i-Guide and its intellectual property (IP) license. It also expanded its Rovi patent portfolio IP license to also cover the TiVo patent portfolio. “Extending our agreement with Shaw Communications underscores the benefits of TiVo’s advanced interactive program guide (IPG) and demonstrates the value of our IP and technology,” said Matt Milne, chief revenue officer, TiVo. “With these offerings, Shaw Communications can continue to deliver captivating entertainment discovery experiences to its customers.” Within the expanded scope of this long-term deal,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

“Strong momentum” at Freedom Mobile pays off for Shaw in Q3

CALGARY – A surge of over 62,000 new wireless customers helped to propel third quarter revenues and profits at Shaw Communications, the company said Thursday. For the three month period ended May 31, 2019, consolidated revenue increased by 2.7% to $1.32 billion year-over-year, and operating income before restructuring costs and amortization dipped 1.5% to $530 million.  Excluding adjustments related to a $13 million retroactive roaming benefit in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and a $15 million payment to address intellectual property (IP) licensing matters this quarter, consolidated operating income before restructuring costs and amortization increased 3.8% to $545 million. Net income… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Canadian newcomers: How rising housing costs hits wireless and telecom spending

TORONTO – Over 90% of new Canadians have a smartphone, and they are power users of their devices – and while they’re somewhat familiar with Canadian wireless and broadband providers, their rapidly growing housing costs look to impact what they are able buy from those companies. Canadian newcomers are far more likely to use their mobile phones for messaging, calling, online banking and video streaming compared to the general Canadian population according to a new report, Newcomers to Canada 2019 from Toronto’s Solutions Research Group The company conducted extensive research among very recent immigrants who arrived in the 2013-2018 time… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CMF adds to BoD

TORONTO – The Canada Media Fund (CMF) has added two new members to its Board of Directors following its recent AGM in Montreal. Barry Chapman and Gary Pizante succeed outgoing directors Dave McLennan and Rob Scarth, joining current directors Alain Cousineau; Alison Clayton; Lori DeGraw; Guy Fournier; and Michael Schmalz. Chapman has over 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry at the executive level, extensive knowledge in regulatory affairs, mergers and acquisitions, as well as strategic and financial planning.  He also brings extensive corporate governance experience, having sat on numerous boards.  Chapman held the role of vice-president, regulatory affairs at Bell Canada… Continue Reading