TORONTO — Moody’s Investors Service said this week it has placed the long term debt ratings of Shaw Communications on review for possible upgrade.
The rating action “was prompted by the company’s ongoing strong financial performance and solid credit protection measures,” says the Moody’s release.
The review will focus on Shaw’s future prospects in the context of its business and financial strategies, management’s commitment to strong and stable credit protection measures, liquidity planning, term debt refinance plans, and cable licence renewal. Moody’s will also review Shaw’s plans to exploit its recently acquired wireless telephony spectrum and anticipates that the…
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CALGARY – Shaw’s board of directors has appointed Michael O’Brien as lead director to replace retiring board member Don Mazankowski.
In this role, O’Brien will “provide independent leadership to the board and maintain and enhance the quality of the company’s corporate governance practices”, said the release announcing his appointment.
O’Brien has been a member of Shaw’s board since 2003, and served as chair of its audit committee since 2004.
Ron Joyce, co-founder of Tim Horton’s, is also retiring from the board after 9 years.
www.shaw.ca
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CALGARY – Thanks to a new box rental program, Shaw Cable has now surpassed the one-million mark when it comes to digital subscribers.
While that didn’t happen in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, ended November 30th, 2008, it has happened since, the company said late Wednesday.
Consolidated service revenue and service operating income before amortization of $817 million and $368 million, respectively, improved 10% and 11% in the first quarter of the fiscal year, compared to Q1 2008. Funds flow from operations increased to $312 million compared to $286 million in the same period last year.
During the…
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CALGARY – Shaw has launched The Big Ten Network in HD and SD, and the Golf Channel in HD, and both sports networks will be available in free preview mode until January 31, 2009.
The Big Ten Network covers the Big Ten Conference and its 11 member institutions in the U.S., offering live coverage of football, men’s and women’s basketball, and other NCAA-sponsored sports, as well as other campus news and highlights.
The Golf Channel covers 47 PGA Tour events and world golf championships such as the Mercedes Championship, the Sony Open, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the European…
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TORONTO and VANCOUVER – Shaw Cable customers in Sportsnet’s Pacific and West regions will now get more programming in HD.
Shaw launched the regional Sportsnet HD channel feeds in place of the national one in these markets earlier this week, meaning those viewers can now watch programming that was previously blacked out due to regional restrictions. For example, BC viewers can now see Vancouver Canucks games on their Sportsnet HD Pacific channel, rather than an alternate channel.
The regional HD feeds are available only to viewers in Shaw markets that are fed via fibre. Shaw communities who receive satellite…
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TORONTO and VANCOUVER – Shaw Cable customers who watch Rogers Sportsnet HD on channel 211 will now receive Sportsnet West HD or Sportsnet Pacific HD on the same channel.
Effective immediately, Shaw Cable viewers will receive regular regional HD programming when scheduled, along with HD editions of sports highlight show Sportsnet Connected on weeknights.
www.sportsnet.ca
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CALGARY – Shaw and Star Choice customers can get in to the holiday spirit with the return of the fire log and Christmas tree channels.
Starting today, customers can tune to a channel dedicated to a “natural”, flickering fire, or enjoy coverage of a 50-foot Colorado Spruce that has been decorated with more than 6,000 multi-coloured lights and hundreds of festive ornaments, the company announced.
"With both the Fire Log and Christmas Tree channels airing over this year’s festive season, Shaw customers will experience holiday programming like never before," said Peter Bissonnette, president of Shaw Communications. "Our Fire Log…
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GATINEAU – When Star Choice took Sun TV (Quebecor’s Toronto station, CKXT) and CBKT Regina (CBC) out of its channel lineup in May, it did not violate its conditions of licence, the CRTC ruled Thursday.
Back in May, the DTH company (a division of Shaw Communications) took five stations out of its basic package, including the two mentioned above as well as CTV Calgary, which was quickly reinstated after customers complained. French-language CBC news channel RDI was also taken off, but the Commission forced Star Choice to reinstate it last week, as Cartt.ca reported.
This followed a stern Commission…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications’ telethon helped raise $300,000 in support of high-performance Canadian athletes.
The "Making It Happen" telethon was held November 16th on Shaw TV in western Canada and nationally on Star Choice. Shaw matched viewer contributions up to $150,000 for total of $300,000 donated to the Canadian Athletes Now Fund (CAN Fund).
For eight hours, 70 Canadian athletes, such as members of the 2008 Men’s 8 Gold Medal Rowing Team, wrestling gold medalist Carol Huynh, and Paralympic 100m Gold Medalist Earle Connor, managed phones bids on 400 auction items.
"Shaw has initiated a number of innovative fundraising efforts…
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TORONTO – GameTV is launching on Shaw digital cable.
"GameTV brings an impressive programming mix of ‘winning’ shows, from reality TV to classic game shows to Hollywood movies and our popular Watch & Win segments – so we know viewers in Western Canada are excited about our launch on Shaw," says Mark Rubinstein, president of digital media for Insight Sports.
"Now, they’ll have 24/7 access to GameTV’s exciting lineup, a lineup that is even bigger and better this Fall.”
Game TV is the former Casino and Gaming Television.
www.igametv.com www.shaw.ca
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