Shaw announces new data centre for Calgary

Shaw Communications Inc. on Thursday announced that it will have a new "state-of-the-art" data centre in Calgary that will begin operations this fall.

It said in a press release the 40,000-square-foot facility will offer business customers options for storing data, cloud operations and related services.

Rogers buyout of Mobilicity closes

Rogers Communications Inc. said in a press release late Thursday afternoon that its acquisitions of Mobilicity and wireless spectrum from Shaw Communications Inc. have received all necessary approvals and are now closed.

Shaw writes off $55M on abandoned IPTV project

Shaw Communications Inc. on Thursday reported a decline in its quarterly income with much of the drop attributed to a $55-million write-down taken on an abandoned IPTV project.

Shaw said in a press release that it started work in 2013 on an "end-to-end IPTV solution," and then "paused" late last year to review the platform under development and assess other options. Ultimately, it decided to discard the work that had been done. The net effect of the writeoff amounted to $41 million after tax, Shaw said.

Telus announces 8,000 free WiFi hotspots for West

Telus Corp. announced on Monday that it will provide free WiFi at more than 8,000 hotspots throughout British Columbia and Alberta.

These are provinces where Telus competes with Shaw Communications Inc. in the provision of landline phone, Internet and television services. Shaw operates more than 60,000 hotspots in Western Canada, according to its website.

Shaw's hotspots are mostly for its own Internet customers, though it also partners with several municipalities to provide free WiFi to the general public.

CRTC scolds Rogers, Shaw for Letterman simsub errors

The CRTC has sent letters to Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. regarding mistakes the companies made in the simultaneous substitution of the last episode of the Late Show With David Letterman, which aired last week.

The regulator said it had received “several complaints regarding improperly executed simultaneous substitutions.”

PIAC complaint against Shomi to go ahead

An undue preference complaint against Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.’s streaming service will proceed despite the companies’ plans to widen its availability.

David Asch new SVP of Shomi

Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. have named David Asch senior vice-president and general manager of their video-streaming service, Shomi.

The move is effective immediately, the companies said in a press release Tuesday, adding that Ach “will oversee day-to-day management, business strategy and growth plans for the streaming service.”

Asch was previously senior vice-president of content at U.S. DVD rental company Redbox Automated Retail LLC.

Broadcasters, BDUs at odds over proposed wholesale code

While many broadcasters and TV providers expressed support for the CRTC’s proposed changes to its wholesale code, which governs carriage agreements for TV channels, they took differing positions on whether the code should be mandatory and whether it should ban minimum penetration and revenue guarantees.

CRTC allows PIAC complaint to proceed against Shomi

The CRTC will allow a complaint by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) against video-streaming service Shomi to proceed, despite requests from its owners that the matter be dropped.

PIAC re-launches undue-preference complaint against Shomi

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has re-launched an undue-preference complaint against Rogers Communications Inc.'s and Shaw Communications Inc.’s Shomi streaming service, following uncertainty about how a recent CRTC decision would affect the service.

Shaw names Trevor English SVP of corporate development

Shaw Communications Inc. said in a press release Thursday that it has named Trevor English its senior vice-president of corporate development and business planning.

The release noted that English’s new responsibilities include potential mergers and acquisitions, “investment opportunities as well as managing Shaw's relationships with its venture portfolio companies” and “the coordination of Shaw's business strategy process and future business planning activities.” 

The appointment is effective immediately.

Shaw loses profits, subs in Q2

Shaw Communications Inc. on Tuesday reported $1.34 billion in revenue in its second fiscal quarter, up five per cent from the same period a year earlier, though its net income during the three-month period ended Feb. 28 fell to $168 million from $222 million last year.

Shaw said in a press release that net income for the first two quarters of the year “included restructuring costs and higher amortization and net other costs and revenue, partially offset by improved operating income before restructuring costs and amortization and lower income taxes.”

Report shows 95,000 TV cord-cutters last year

Convergence Consulting Group Ltd. says in a new report that Canada lost 95,000 TV subscribers in 2014, the second year of decline, while TV subscriber revenue continued to grow.

A summary of the report posted to the Convergence website said TV providers saw subscription revenue of $9.1 billion in 2014, up two per cent from the previous year.

Shaw Media reorganizes execs

Shaw Communications Inc. said Thursday it has made a number of changes affecting the executive positions at its media division.

The company said it appointed Christine Shipton senior-vice president and chief creative officer, named Dervla Kelly vice-president of marketing and communications, and named Greg Treffry as vice-president of business development and media digital strategy.

News channels face funding challenges after CRTC decision

Canada’s national news channels face new obligations from the CRTC even as the regulator is taking away their place on basic cable, raising questions about their future finances.

Last month, as part of the CRTC’s wide-ranging review of its television rules, the regulator detailed a new basic package of cable channels that excludes the national news channels from BCE Inc. and Quebecor Inc. and any future entrants into that market.

Shaw names Vito Culmone as CFO

Shaw Communications Inc. said Tuesday it has named Vito Culmone as its executive vice-president and chief financial officer.

The appointment is effective June 1, the company said in a press release.

Culmone’s most recent position was as chief financial officer for WestJet Airlines Ltd., and he has also worked at Molson Inc. and PricewaterhouseCoopers, it added.

Shaw asks CRTC to reconsider wholesale Internet rates

Shaw Communications Inc. has filed a review-and-vary application with the CRTC in an attempt to get higher prices for providing wholesale Internet access to third-party providers.

Producers ‘shocked and stunned’ by terms-of-trade elimination

The CRTC’s decision last week up to eliminate an agreement governing contracts between independent producers and large broadcasters has angered and surprised the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA).

“What this fundamentally means is that if the commission is going to abandon safeguards to protect against the abuse of market power by vertically integrated carriers in broadcasting, then that is going to lead to a substantial diminishment of the independent production sector,” CMPA president Michael Hennessy said in a phone interview.

Broadcasters seeking compensation for 600 MHz changes

Broadcasters participating in a consultation on moving 600 MHz spectrum from its role of carrying television signals to mobile usage are intent on avoiding the kind of costs borne by the industry as a result of the 2011 conversion from analog to digital over-the-air TV.

Rogers includes NHL streaming, Shomi with new Internet packages

On Wednesday Rogers Communications Inc. announced a new brand of broadband Internet, Ignite, that comes bundled with subscriptions to two of Rogers' online video-streaming services.

The company said in a press release the new Internet packages will include Shomi, a joint streaming service owned with Shaw Communications Inc. that features movies and television series, and Rogers' own NHL GameCentre Live for hockey games. Individually, GameCentre costs $200 a season and Shomi is $8.99 a month.

Cogeco approved for wholesale Internet rate cut

While Shaw Communications Inc. has been trying to raise the rates it charges to smaller ISPs to use its network, Cogeco Cable Inc. has been seeking permission to lower rates and received it on Wednesday.

The CRTC said Cogeco has been permitted to lower the capacity-based billing rate it charges other ISPs to $1,181.79 per month, down more than 50 per cent from the $2,556 it was charging last summer.

CRTC sides with small ISPs on Shaw Internet pricing dispute

The CRTC ruled against Shaw Communications Inc.’s proposed new prices for third-party Internet access on Monday, approving interim wholesale broadband rates that are roughly half what the company was seeking.

Shaw partners with B.C. city to provide free WiFi

Shaw Communications Inc. has partnered with the City of Port Coquitlam, B.C., to bring free WiFi to the city’s parks and public facilities, the city and company announced Monday.

Under the five-year agreement, Shaw will provide its Go WiFi service in these public spots, accessible to all regardless of whether they are Shaw customers or not.

CTV Go picked up by Rogers, other BDUs

BCE Inc.'s online TV-everywhere service, CTV Go, is now available to customers of Rogers Communications Inc. and four other TV service providers, CTV said Thursday.

The network said in a press release that other broadcast distributors added include Bell subsidiary Northwestel Inc., Access Communications Co-operative Ltd., Cable Cable Inc. and Nexicom Systems Inc.

Shaw shutting call-centre operations in 3 cities

Shaw Communications Inc. said Wednesday it is shutting down call-centre operations in Edmonton, Calgary and Kelowna, B.C., with about 1,600 workers at these locations having a choice of whether to move, assume a different position or take a buyout.

The company said in a press release that it will realign its customer service along "centres of expertise," including technical service, sales and billing, loyalty care, technical field support, e-care, payment solutions and satellite operations.

CRTC extends deadline in Shaw wholesale dispute

The CRTC has extended the deadline for Shaw Communications Inc. to reply in a dispute over the company’s  proposed changes to the prices for wholesale access to its Internet network.

The regulator said in a letter posted to its website Wednesday that Shaw now has until Feb. 19 to respond to the applicants and provide more information about its proposal.

Business market growth elusive for some telecoms

Canadian telecommunications providers are looking to the business market to pick up the slack from the increasingly competitive consumer space, yet financial data from the incumbent service providers shows, in the opinion of one analyst, that competing in that low-margin segment is a challenge.

Macquarie Capital Markets analyst Greg MacDonald said that entering the business market as a new competitor would be "very, very difficult" but that there could be opportunities in serving small businesses.

5% of Rogers, Shaw customers trying Shomi: SRG

More than half of Rogers Communications Inc.'s and Shaw Communications Inc.’s customers are familiar with their Shomi streaming service, but just five per cent are using it, according to a survey. ‎

According to a study from Solutions Research Group (SRG), 54 per cent of Shaw and Rogers’ customers had heard of the service within a month after it was launched but were not using it, while five per cent said they were testing it out, and 41 per cent had not heard of it.

Shaw enters partnership with Canada Games

Shaw Communications Inc. said Friday it has entered into a partnership with the Canada Games for the next three events to take place in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Shaw will be the official telecommunications provider for the games, and provide “cash and in-kind support,” the company said in a press release.

“Shaw will also provide spectators and athletes with complementary guest access to its Shaw Go WiFi network throughout the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George [B.C.],” the press release added.

Shaw fights back in wholesale Internet pricing dispute

Shaw Communications Inc. is fighting back against accusations from small ISPs that its new pricing proposal for third-party Internet access is exorbitant, saying in a recent filing with the CRTC that higher costs are necessary to deal with “dramatic” growth in Internet usage.

Shomi gets rights to original Amazon content

Canadian video streaming service Shomi said Thursday it has secured the Canadian rights to original content made for Amazon.com Inc.'s Prime streaming service in the U.S.

CRTC decisions, new streaming services top TV agenda for 2015

It seems all eyes are on the two newest services in the Canadian TV industry.

This fall, the country’s biggest telecom and media companies launched streaming services meant to compete with Netflix Inc.’s, and how they end up performing in the coming weeks and months is “the thing that everyone’s watching,” said broadcasting consultant Peter Miller.

Shaw launching faster Internet packages

Shaw Communications Inc. will be revamping its Internet packages early next month with faster speeds, a spokesman said Tuesday.

"We are announcing new Internet packages for new customers in the new year," Shaw spokesman Chethan Lakshman said in a phone interview. "They don't affect existing packages or existing customers."

Early problems emerge with Shomi service

Some TV-industry analysts who are among the early adopters of Rogers Communications Inc.'s and Shaw Communications Inc.’s Shomi are detailing problems they've experienced with the streaming service in its first weeks.

CRTC urged to look toward future on wireline regulation

GATINEAU, Que. — On Wednesday, the first day of replies in the CRTC’s wholesale wireline hearing, the regulator was consistently asked to look to the future in determining how best to regulate Canada's fibre and copper connections. Yet the groups presenting before the commission differed on what that future entails.

Rogers says no decision yet on Shaw spectrum deal

Rogers Communications Inc. says the federal government has not yet informed it of a decision on whether it can buy wireless spectrum from Shaw Communications Inc.

A report on the news website Cartt Thursday cited anonymous sources as saying that Industry Canada officials have notified both Rogers and Shaw that the transfer of 20 MHz of AWS spectrum across British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, plus another 10 MHz in select areas of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and northern Ontario, was not likely to be approved.

Shomi adds Disney content

Shomi, the new streaming service from Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc., announced Wednesday that it had signed a content deal with the Walt Disney Co.

Under the terms of the deal, Shomi will offer a selection of Disney’s film library, as well as current and past TV shows from ABC and affiliated content holders, according to the press release. Shomi said the deal makes it the exclusive streaming provider of ABC’s popular current shows Scandal and Revenge.

OTT expected to cause Internet capacity crunch

Netflix isn’t the only game in town anymore.

Shomi signs deal for BBC content

Shomi, the video-streaming service being launced next week by Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc., said Friday it has signed a deal with BBC’s commercial arm that will grant it exclusive access to some BBC series.

The deal includes exclusive rights for Shomi to the Canadian premiere of the series A Young Doctor’s Notebook & Other Stories and Way To Go, and exclusive rights to other shows, including The Honorable Woman and Top of the Lake, it said in a press release Friday.

Shomi signs deal with Warner Bros.

Shomi, the online-streaming partnership of Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc., said in a press release Friday that it has reached a deal with Warner Bros. that gives it the rights to a number of Warner Bros. movies and TV series.

The deal involves exclusive rights to series like 2 Broke Girls, Two and a Half Men and the upcoming iZombie, Shomi said, and “second-window” rights to shows like Veronica Mars and The West Wing.

Rogers-Netflix collaboration benefits both, experts say

While the announcement that Rogers Communications Inc. and Netflix Inc. are working together on an original TV series marked an unprecedented collaboration between the two rivals, it’s a logical move, experts said Monday.

Shaw gets naming rights to Ottawa Convention Centre

Shaw Communications Inc. has reached a sponsorship deal with the operators of the Ottawa Convention Centre, resulting in the venue being renamed the Shaw Centre, effective immediately.

Shaw said in a press release that the arrangement is for 10 years. No financial terms were disclosed. The facility is owned by the Ontario government.

"The Shaw Centre reflects our commitment to strengthening our presence with our customers, communities, regulatory and government stakeholders in the nation's capital," Shaw CEO Brad Shaw said in the release.

Shaw offers TSN, Sportsnet TV-everywhere apps

Shaw Communications Inc. said Thursday its customers can now access TV-everywhere products for BCE Inc.’s TSN and Rogers Communication Inc.’s Sportsnet specialty channels.

Shaw CFO Steve Willson to retire

Shaw Communications Inc. said Wednesday that Steve Wilson, its executive vice-president of corporate development and chief financial officer, will retire next year.

It said in a press release that Wilson, who has been the company’s CFO for a decade, would stay on for the rest of the year in a “transitional phase.”

Shaw applies for news channel broadcasting licence

Shaw Communications Inc. has applied to the CRTC for a broadcasting licence for a new national all-news channel.

The company said in a press release Monday that the channel would “feature a national newsfeed bookended by local news segments tailored specifically for each of the markets it serves.”

It will use “next-generation technology” and offer a “continuous data feed of hyper-local headlines and community events,” Shaw said, adding that the local news feeds will be available for up to 28 communities.

Shaw promotes Barbara Williams

Shaw Communications Inc. on Tuesday announced it is promoting Barbara Williams and giving her two new titles.

The company said in a press release that Williams is now president of Shaw Media and executive vice-president of broadcasting. She was previously Shaw Media's senior vice-president of content.

Leonard Asper approved for extreme sports channel

A company controlled by former Canwest head Leonard Asper has received approval from the CRTC for an extreme-sports television channel.

Shaw gives Ontario city free WiFi preview

Shaw Communications Inc. said Monday it would provide free access to its WiFi network in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., until Sept. 14.

The company said in a press release that people in the northern Ontario city can enjoy access to almost 900 hotspots, whether or not they are Shaw customers, for the next few weeks.

Shaw lobbying federal officials ahead of CRTC TV review

Shaw Communications Inc. is stepping up its lobbying ahead of the CRTC’s Let’s Talk TV hearing in September, meeting with various MPs in their ridings as well senior public servants in Ottawa over the last month.

Shaw reported the second-most communications with public office holders in July, the federal lobbyist registry shows, with 11, all on the subject of broadcasting, though some dealt with telecommunications as well. The cable and Internet provider trailed only the Mining Association of Canada, which reported 12 communications.

Shaw launching new lifestyle channel

Shaw Communications Inc.’s media division will launch a new specialty channel on Sept. 1 that it described as a "contemporary lifestyle network."

The company said in a press release Friday that the channel, named FYI, would have “an adventurous and personalized approach to peoples’ taste, space, look, story, and more. Its off-script format brings viewers a diverse mix of programs exploring lifestyle genres like design and romance, health and wellness, and food and fashion.”

Shaw buys U.S. data centre company for $1.2B

Shaw Communications Inc. said in a press release Thursday it will acquire 100 per cent of  Colorado-based data centre provider ViaWest Inc. for $1.2 billion.  

Shaw said ViaWest, which will operate as a Shaw subsidiary from its current Denver headquarters, was “one of the largest privately held and most respected providers of data centre infrastructure, cloud technology and managed IT solutions in North America.”

TV providers divided on set-top ratings system

Canada’s biggest television providers are divided over the future of audience measurement via the next generation of set-top boxes.

As part of their submissions in the CRTC’s ongoing Let’s Talk TV consultation, BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp., Quebecor Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. all weighed in on the creation of a new audience measurement system based on set-top box (STB) data.

Shaw sees earnings decline in Q3

Shaw Communications Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter earnings took a hit as its television subscriber base continued to decline and its media division took in less money.

The company said in a press release that net income for the three months ending May 31 was $228 million, down from $250 million a year earlier. Revenue was up 1.2 per cent to $1.34 billion, the company said.

Shaw announces partnership with streaming service

Shaw Communications Inc. and music streaming service Rdio Inc. have entered a “marketing, content and promotion partnership,” the companies said Thursday in a release.

Shaw CEO Brad Shaw said Rdio is “a great complement to our leading broadband and Shaw Go WiFi services.”

He added that the partnership “will develop great offers that will enable Shaw customers and everyone across the country to enjoy this service.”

Shaw to offer public WiFi in Calgary

Shaw Communications Inc. will provide public WiFi in city-owned locations in Calgary.

The City of Calgary said in a release Thursday that it is currently in discussions with Shaw “to establish the details of the WiFi program and will work together to install WiFi zones at city facilities with high public traffic such as recreation facilities, parks and LRT stations.”

Shaw’s Go WiFi service is currently available to Shaw customers, while the public WiFi will be available to the general public, the release said.

Jean Brazeau leaving Shaw

Jean Brazeau, senior vice-president of regulatory at Shaw Communications Inc., left the company, The Wire Report has confirmed.

Brazeau was appointed to the position in 2009, and previously served as vice-president of telecom regulatory affairs at Shaw.

Corus makes case for Teletoon, Historia, Séries+

Corus Entertainment Inc. told CRTC commissioners that it is in the best interest of the Canadian broadcast industry that it acquire control of Teletoon Canada, Historia and Séries+ from BCE Inc.

CRTC denies Rogers reorganization of Mountain subsidiary

The CRTC denied aspects of a Rogers Communications Inc.’s corporate reorganization as part of a $400-million deal to purchase Shaw Communications Inc.’s cable subsidiary Mountain Cablevision Ltd., saying the change would have separated the broadcast licence owner from the company owner.

Shaw profits fall on cable sub losses

Shaw Communications Inc.’s profits fell 12 per cent in the past 12 months as the company lost more cable subscribers in the fourth quarter.

Shaw said in a release Thursday that it lost 29,522 cable subscribers in the three months ended Aug. 31, for a total of 2,040,247 subscribers as of Aug. 31, while profits fell 12 per cent to $117 million from $133 million in the same period a year earlier.

The company’s fourth-quarter revenue was $1.25 billion, rising three per cent from $1.21 billion in the same period a year earlier, the release said.

CRTC dives into TV review, says public complaining about channel packaging

The CRTC officially launched its public consultation on television services, asking the public for input into questions related to the Conservative government’s promise to unbundle television channels.

Want pick-and-pay? You may end up paying $9 for TSN, consultant says

If TV subscribers are about to receive individual channels on a pick-and-pay basis, as the Conservative government says it will mandate, they may be surprised at the standalone pricing for some of their favourite channels.

Broadcast consultant and former CRTC commissioner Michel Arpin said that for an idea of the cost of individual channels with high-value programming like sports or movies, observers may want to look at current standalone pricing for pay channels like The Movie Network (owned by BCE Inc. division Bell Media).

Telus faces wireless battle in West as millions in East still unserviced

It shouldn't be surprising that Canada's incumbent wireless carriers are targeting Alberta.

It has the fastest-growing population in the country, and more than 80 per cent of its residents are concentrated in urban areas.

Alberta residents were also by far the most lucrative for wireless carriers in 2012, new CRTC data shows, with carriers earning 16 per cent more per month from each Albertan subscriber than from subscribers in other provinces.

Shaw launches lifestyle channel

Shaw Media, a division of Shaw Communications Inc., is rolling out a new lifestyle specialty channel named Dtour.

The channel will launch on Aug. 26 with a national free preview, the company said Thursday.

“The exclusive schedule is chock full of big personalities and powerful experiences, including overhauling RVs with legendary rocker Bret Michaels, exploring the wildest fan events imaginable, sampling bizarre foods and taking a closer look at the ins and outs of the hotel industry,” the company said in a release.

Charges for paper bills justified, providers say

Canadian consumers need incentives to make the switch to environmentally friendly electronic bills, SaskTel said in response to CRTC questions about telcos' charges for paper billing. 

Competition Bureau looking into Shaw-Rogers spectrum deal

The federal Competition Bureau received a Federal Court order compelling Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc. and Globalive Wireless Management Corp. to turn over information as part of an inquiry into Rogers' option deal to purchase Shaw's spectrum licences, court records show.

Rogers-Videotron deal expected to be first test of new spectrum transfer rules

Rogers Communications Inc.’s proposed deal for Videotron Ltd.’s unused Toronto-area spectrum is expected to give incumbent mobile providers the first indication of whether they can obtain new entrant spectrum after a five-year moratorium expires, industry analysts say.

D’Avella to leave Shaw in August

Michael D’Avella, Shaw Communications Inc.’s senior-vice president of planning, will retire at the end of August, the company said Friday.

CEO Brad Shaw said in a third quarter conference call with analysts that D’Avella will retire at the end of Shaw’s current fiscal year, which ends on Aug. 31.

He will continue to assist the company in an “advisory capacity,” Shaw said.

“Michael has dedicated over 22 years to Shaw and has added tremendous value to our organization throughout his tenure,” he said.

Shaw profits rise, hopeful of spectrum transfer

Shaw Communications Inc.’s profits rose to $250 million in the third quarter of 2013 as the company reported further cable TV customer losses in competition with Telus Corp.

The company’s net income, for the three-month period that ended May 31, rose from $248 million in the same period a year earlier, Shaw said in an earnings statement Friday.

Shaw offering free previews of Blue Ant channels

Blue Ant Media Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. reached an agreement to offer Shaw cable subscribers free previews of three Blue Ant specialty channels.

Shaw cable customers will have free access to HIFI, eqHD and radX until July 4, and Shaw Direct satellite TV will offer the free previews until August 29, Blue Ant said in a release Monday.

HIFI and eqHD offer documentary programming and radX features adventure and action films.

Shaw Direct launches 120 new HD channels

Shaw Communications Inc. launched 120 new high-definition channels on its Shaw Direct satellite TV system, the company said.

Shaw, City of Edmonton, expand WiFi network

Shaw Communications Inc. and the City of Edmonton reached an agreement to expand the company’s Shaw Go WiFi network to public areas in Edmonton.

In a release Thursday, the parties said the expansion would take place over two years with new access points installed in pedestrian areas, light rail transit stations and libraries.

Shaw, Corus approved for digital transmitters

The CRTC said Shaw Communications Inc. can use digital transmitters to broadcast Global TV over-the-air signals in Red Deer, Alta. and in Kamloops and Prince George B.C.

Telesat launches Anik G1 satellite

Telesat said it launched its new Anik G1 satellite.

In a release, Telesat said the new satellite would be located at 107.3 degrees West and would provide direct-to-home (DTH) TV services in Canada, as well as C-band and Ku-band services in South America and X-band support for government applications in the Americas and Pacific Ocean region.

Consumer groups oppose TVtropolis transaction

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and a consortium of consumer groups said they oppose Shaw Communications Inc.’s bid to acquire the remaining share of the TVtropolis specialty channel.

Shaw profits rise; TV subs decline

Profits for Shaw Communications Inc. reached $182 million in the second quarter of 2013, up from $178 million in the same period of 2012, the company said Friday.

In a financial earnings statement, Shaw said consolidated revenue for the three-month period ended Feb. 28, 2013, was $1.25 billion, up 1.6 per cent from $1.23 billion for the same period a year earlier. Earnings per share were steady at 38 cents, Shaw said.

Shaw said cable TV customers reached 2,136,707 by Feb. 28 after losing 29,829 subscribers in the second quarter.

Shaw, Alcatel-Lucent demo 400 Gbps fibre

Shaw Communications Inc. and Alcatel-Lucent S.A. completed a field trial of a 400 Gbps data transmission over a fibre link carrying live network traffic, the companies said Tuesday.

Shaw acquires Enmax Envision

Shaw Communications Inc. entered an agreement to acquire Enmax Envision Inc., a subsidiary of Enmax Corp., for about $225 million, Shaw said Monday.

In a release, Shaw said Envision is Enmax’s high-speed data communications subsidiary, which operates one of Calgary’s largest fibre-optic networks. The company also specializes in high-bandwidth services for business that need to connect multiple locations over private networks or need a dedicated Internet connection, Shaw said.

Shaw to fight for spectrum sale to Rogers for competitive reasons, analysts say

Shaw Communications Inc. will fight to sell its AWS spectrum to Rogers Communications Inc. instead of a new entrant carrier, industry analysts say.

Shaw, which acquired AWS “set aside” spectrum as a new entrant carrier in 2008, said in January it had reached a deal giving Rogers, an incumbent, an option to buy that spectrum when a moratorium on transferring it to incumbents expires in September 2014.

OpenMedia campaigning against Shaw-Rogers deal

Online advocacy group OpenMedia.ca launched a campaign encouraging Canadians to oppose a $700-million deal for Rogers Communications Inc. to acquire AWS mobile spectrum from cableco Shaw Communications Inc.

Shaw profits higher as cable TV losses continue

Shaw Communications Inc. reported higher profits for the first quarter of its 2013 fiscal year despite further subscriber losses in its cable TV segment.

On Wednesday the company reported profit of $235 million for the first quarter ended Nov. 30, 2012, compared to $202 million the same period a year earlier.

Consolidated revenue for the three month period was $1.32 billion, up 3 per cent from the same quarter of 2011, a release said.

Shaw focuses on broadband, customer service, as Telus takes subs

Shaw Communications Inc. is focused on improving customer service, leveraging its new WiFi network, and selling more Internet service subscriptions to retain customers in its battle with Telus Corp. in Western Canada, said Peter Bissonnette, Shaw’s president.

“This is about making ourselves much more customer centric,” Bissonnette said in a phone interview this week. “Whatever our customers are demanding in terms of their experience, our objective is to meet that experience.”

Corus ad revenues rise 7% in Q4

Corus Entertainment Inc.'s fourth-quarter television revenues fell three per cent as advertising revenues for its specialty channels rose seven per cent, the company said in a quarterly and year-end financial statement Thursday.

Shaw, Rogers, focus on sustaining overall wireline customers

Canada's largest two cable companies are trying to offset subscriber losses in their television segments by cutting costs and focusing on growing their Internet customers, the companies and analysts said.

Shaw Communications Inc., in its fourth-quarter results, reported higher revenues and profits as it lost a net 70,703 cable TV subscribers in the 2012 fiscal year, nearly 20,000 more than its net loss of 50,988 in 2011. Shaw on Thursday reported its 2012 year-end results for the fiscal year that ended Aug. 31, 2012.

CRTC expedites anti-competitive complaint against Shaw Go service

The CRTC will consider and expedite a Telus Corp. complaint against Corus Entertainment Inc.’s exclusive handling of Movie Central and HBO content offered on Shaw Communications Inc.'s Shaw Go mobile TV service, the commission said.

Shaw seeks to join U.S. WiFi consortium

Shaw Communications Inc. is interested in joining a U.S. consortium of cable companies that have agreed to let each other’s customers roam freely on their WiFi networks, Brad Shaw, the company’s CEO, said Wednesday.

Shaw agrees to carry Travel+Escape

Blue Ant Media Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. have reached an agreement to offer the Travel+Escape specialty channel over Shaw’s cable and satellite-TV packages, Blue Ant said Tuesday.

Blue Ant said in a release that the deal will bring the adventure-themed channel into 1.8 million Shaw subscribers’ homes, and will increase the number of Travel+Escape subscribers to 2.7 million.

Blue Ant said the Travel+Escape channel will debut with Shaw Cable on Sept. 5 and Shaw Direct on Sept. 6.

Broadcasters partner in digital ad exchange to take on Facebook, Google

A new real-time, online advertising bidding service allows Canadian broadcasters to offer unsold display space, receive bids and display the ads in a process that takes about 100 milliseconds, said CBC/Radio-Canada, a partner in the service.

Shaw restores services following electrical fire

Services were fully restored to Shaw Communications Inc.’s Calgary customers following an electrical fire at Shaw Court last week, the company said Saturday.

In a release, Shaw said service was fully restored to customers and that call centres throughout Canada were operational, enabling hundreds of customer care and technical service representatives to help Shaw customers.