CALGARY – The feud between one of Canada’s largest cable companies and one of its smallest took another turn Monday when Shaw Communications announced the CRTC had issued an administrative decision allowing the company to extend the authorized service area of its Courtenay B.C. cable system to include the community of Campbell River.
Campbell River is currently served by Campbell River Television, a community-owned cable co-operative with about 13,000 customers.
As Cartt.ca reported, Shaw made an offer to buy the company last fall, but the membership turned it down, so it looks like Shaw is ready to overbuild – or is playing hardball looking to force the co-op to sell.
"Shaw is pleased to receive approval to provide its full range of cable, Internet and digital phone services to the community of Campbell River," said Peter Bissonnette, Shaw’s president, in a press release. "This is a great opportunity for us to offer the residents of Campbell River a complete bundle of high quality services supported by outstanding customer service.”
Taking on Shaw is nothing new for CRTV, which is now girding for battle, according to its general manager, Jim Forsyth.
“(W)e were expecting that Shaw would go this path but I am quite surprised the route they followed as a CRTC Administrative Decision to extend the boundaries of the Courtenay Cable TV system,” said Forsyth in an e-mail to Cartt.ca.
“We look forward in competing with Shaw in the Campbell River area. It really comes down to Quality of Service, Price Tag, Community Television and Programming. If they think they can compete with a community owned co-operative… good luck. CRTV’s next decision is to apply for a license to extend our service to the Comox Valley.”
CRTV and Shaw have squared off on more than a few occasions, some of which have involved the courts and the Commission. Click here and here for some of the back story Cartt.ca has covered.
– Greg O’Brien
