CALGARY and OTTAWA – Shaw Communications CEO Jim Shaw told Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a letter yesterday that the CRTC is bent on derailing the conservative government’s goals.
The five-page letter date April 16th, which was also sent to Industry Minister Jim Prentice, Heritage Minister Josee Verner and CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein, first outlines Shaw’s broad support for the government’s deregulation thrust on the telecom front and then decries the actions, or lack of action, Mr. Shaw feels is happening on the broadcasting and cable file.
“(W)e were the only broadcast distributor to support your Government’s move…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications announced today that its channel line-up will be changing April 22, 2008 through April 24, 2008 in all markets to accommodate new high-definition (HD) channels and HD Pay Per View. The new HD content features TLC HD, Encore Avenue HD and additional HD Pay Per View movies and events.
The markets affected starting April 22, 2008 will include: – British Columbia – Powell River, Chilliwack, Fort St John-Dawson Creek, Castlegar, Trail , Nelson, Cranbrook, Creston, Kimberley, Invermere; – Alberta – Red Deer, Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Didsbury, Ponoka-Lacombe, Stettler, Drumheller; – Saskatchewan – Prince Albert, Swift Current,…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications acquired 6,524 new basic cable TV subscribers for a total of 2,241,503 at the end of the second quarter ended February 29, according to financial figures released Friday.
Its digital TV base grew 48,006 to 850,642, and the number of its Internet subscribers rose 31,517 to a total of 1,517,992. The number of its Digital Phone lines increased 56,536 to a total of 492,232. Its DTH satellite TV operator, Star Choice, signed on 4,977 new customers to bring the total number to 886,106.
“Quarterly subscriber gains in Digital Phone and Digital were the strongest additions…
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CALGARY – A press release issued by Shaw Communications this afternoon that some might term a little imprudent, took some new swings at the CRTC and in the overall direction the Calgary-based company believes this month’s Commission hearing is headed.
The three-week-long hearing has just completed its third day of proceedings (Shaw isn’t scheduled to appear until April 23) into the policies governing broadcast distribution undertakings and specialty services, but the company which owns Star Choice and Shaw Cable clearly doesn’t like the tone of the discussions so far.
"When it was first announced, we were optimistic that this…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications Inc. announced Monday it has submitted an application to participate in Industry Canada’s auction for spectrum licences for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS).
“There can be no assurance that Shaw’s bid will be successful in acquiring AWS spectrum in the auction. In addition, participation in the auction should not necessarily be interpreted as an indication that Shaw intends to build out a wireless network,” the TV distributor said in a statement. “If successful, the ownership of spectrum will provide strategic flexibility as it may be utilized in a variety of ways and in a timeframe yet…
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CALGARY – Shaw Cable said this week it has added Speed HD and will soon add NASCAR Hotpass to its available content.
Until June 1st, all Shaw HD customers will enjoy a free preview of Speed HD on channel 222. Speed HD programs include the Daytona Speedweeks, Gatorade Duel 150’s, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, and many other NASCAR events.
In addition, Shaw is also launching NASCAR Hotpass on February 17 with the 50th running of the Daytona 500. NASCAR Hotpass will be available as a free preview to all digital subscribers on February 17. The Hotpass season…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein tells Shaw Communications CEO Jim Shaw in a letter that the three commissioners overseeing the public hearing on the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) “have the most experience in the broadcasting industry.”
“Their in-depth understanding of television production is essential to achieve the above-mentioned goal ,” states his February 4 letter to Shaw.
Von Finckenstein’s response comes after Shaw sent a letter to the CRTC…
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CALGARY – The Shaw family purchased a million shares of their own company this week, which would have cost them about $19.5 million.
A month ago, it would have cost them about $25 million, but the stock price – along with many on the TSX, has drifted downwards in the past 30 days. Rogers Communications has dropped from $45 to $38 over the same time frame and Cogeco Cable has tumbled from $48 to the $39 range as well.
The Shaw family now holds 47,669,356 Class A and Class B shares of their company.
www.shaw.ca
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CALGARY – The familiar Shaw Communications logo is now emblazoned on a number of fast-moving Canadians and their specialized vehicles.
This week the company announced its sponsorship of the Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton teams with a $225,000 cash donation along with a commitment to employ BSC athletes at Shaw.
"Shaw is proud to sponsor the Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton teams," said Peter Bissonnette, president of Shaw, in a release. "We are pleased to be supporting these athletes and look forward to partnering with them on their exciting journey to excellence."
Through its ‘Hire an Athlete’ program, Shaw will provide flexible work…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications bucked the trend among its cable brethren somewhat by growing its number of digital subscribers.
Shaw added almost 40,000 digital cable customers in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, ended November 30, 2007, a 56% increase over last year’s Q1. As reported this week by Cartt.ca, both Rogers Cable and Cogeco Cable saw their digital growth slow over the same or similar time frame.
However, at just 36% digital penetration as compared to basic subs, Shaw has a longer way to go in terms of digital growth when compared to Rogers (59% penetration) and Cogeco…
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