Search Results for: shaw

Cable / Telecom News

Freedom Mobile serves up new low-cost data plans – topping Big Three’s mandated skinny wireless

Plan savings require pre-authorized payments CALGARY – With an eye on the upcoming back-to-school period, Shaw’s Freedom Mobile rolled out two cheaper entry-level data plans Thursday. The first plan offers 1 GB of data and unlimited text to Canada and the U.S. for $25 per month, while the second provides 250 MB of data, 100 minutes of Canada-wide talk, and unlimited text to Canada and the U.S. for $15 per month. As reported previously, Bell and Telus have offered 500MB for $30/month and Rogers 400MB for $25 in their proposed low-cost data only plans demanded by the CRTC earlier this year.  Shaw’s… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Everyone encouraged to report on telecom sales practices as CRTC opens public inquiry

Consumers, employees, stakeholders encouraged to come forward OTTAWA – Canadians who have been on the receiving end of misleading or aggressive retail sales practices from the country’s telecommunication companies will now have the opportunity to tell their story to the CRTC. We suppose those who've had good experiences can also tell their stories, too, should the urge strike them. The Commission said Monday it is kicking off an inquiry on whether high-pressure and unsavoury sales tactics are used by Canada’s large telecommunications service providers.  It wants to hear from consumers – including those who are vulnerable due to their age,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

THE INDEPENDENTS: Westman places rural communities “on level footing” with urban centres

IT’S NO SECRET that the lack of readily available high-speed internet has long been a headache for people who live in rural Manitoba. “Lack of access to reliable high-speed internet is hurting economic growth in rural and remote areas,” the agricultural weekly The Western Producer reported in 2017 in an exposé called Out of Touch. “Frustrated farmers, rural businesses and homeowners have said they have inadequate and expensive internet service…and for some producers without reliable data, the age of autonomous machines is stalled.” A 2016 study by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

LES INDÉPENDANTES: Westman – brancher le Canada rural

CE N’EST PAS UNE SURPRISE pour personne vivant au milieu rural: les difficultés d’accéder à une connexion internet à haut débit sont une casse-tête depuis longtemps. Les résidents et commerçants des communautés rurales au Manitoba en souffrent. “Le manque d’accès à une connexion internet rapide et fiable nuit à la croissance économique dans les communautés rurales et éloignées,” est-il écrit dans l’hebdo agriculturel The Western Producer, dans un exposé de 2017 intitulé “Out of Touch” (Hors Contact). “Des fermiers, des entrepreneurs et des résidents en milieu rural ont dénoncé le service… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw cranks up speeds with new Internet 300 plan

CALGARY – Shaw has rolled out a faster Internet plan known as Internet 300 that offers unlimited data plus doubles its fastest residential speeds. According to Shaw’s website, Internet 300 offers download speeds of up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps, unlimited data, an advanced WiFi modem rental, plus access to over 100,000 Shaw Go WiFi hotspots while on the go. The plan is available for an introductory offer of $55 per month for the first six months on a price-guaranteed two year ValuePlan.  The monthly price jumps to $105 per month for the remaining 18… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shaw helps businesses pick up speed with new SmartWiFi 300, Business Internet 300

CALGARY – Shaw Business has launched SmartWiFi 300 and Business Internet 300 — two new Internet plans designed to provide faster speeds and the unlimited data that businesses need to run their operations while keeping more of their customers’ devices connected. Business Internet 300 offers download speeds of up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 30 Mbps, making it easier for business employees to share files through cloud storage services, video conference with colleagues and operate point of sale systems more effectively, the company said Tuesday.  The plan is available at a promotional rate of $110 per… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Former B.C. premier Christy Clark joins Shaw’s BoD

CALGARY – Shaw Communications has named former B.C. premier Christy Clark to its board of directors. Clark (pictured) served as an MLA for nine years, and held Cabinet positions for four of those years before becoming premier in 2011 through 2017.  In 2005 she worked in the media sector as a columnist and commentator, and host of a radio show on Vancouver’s CKNW. "We are very honoured to have Christy join us as a Board member”, said executive chair JR Shaw, in the announcement.  “She brings to our Board a breadth and depth of relationships across Canada, both from politics and business,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Shaw rebuild leads to down Q3

CALGARY – Shaw Communications lost more cable and internet subscribers than anticipated during its third quarter, and reported a $91 million loss, while adding a large number of wireless customers. In a conference call with the financial community after the release of its Q3 results, Shaw executives pointed to the ongoing restructuring of its organizational operations for the disappointing quarter. The $91 million loss was attributed to a $284 million charge related to its investment in Corus Entertainment. Corus took a large write-down in its Q3 announced yesterday. Shaw showed a $133 million profit in the same quarter a year… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Licence writedown sees Corus report $936 million loss while company slashes dividend and unveils new strategy to combat OTT

TORONTO – As widely expected, Corus Entertainment today slashed its dividend as part of a plan to reduce debt and re-invest in its core business as it struggles to compete with Facebook, Google, OTT providers, internet radio and global change in content consumption. Corus is cutting its annual dividend by 79% to $0.24 per share for Class B shares (to take effect Sept. 1, 2018). It also announced a quarterly loss of $935.9 million tied to its devaluation of its broadcast licenses. The loss includes a $1.01-billion non-cash impairment charge related to broadcast licences and goodwill. Television business revenue fell 5%… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

ANALYSIS: Five questions need answers before we set new policy for a digital Canada

OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT promised a review of the Broadcasting and Telecommunication Acts in its 2017 budget and last week the CRTC took the first step down this path when it issued: Harnessing Change: The Future of Programming Distribution in Canada. While it floated a number of interesting, innovative and controversial ideas, we’re all anxious to hear what Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly will have to say about it this weekend when she addresses the Banff International Media Fest. There, we hear she is likely to announce the appointment of a worthy and carefully chosen panel of experts to undertake a year-long project… Continue Reading