Shaw TV

Shaw TV
Industry Media
Headquarters Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton
Key people
 J. R. Shaw (Executive Chairman)
Jim Shaw (Vice Chairman)
Bradley S. Shaw (CEO)
Peter J. Bissonnette (President)
Parent Shaw Communications
Website www.shaw.ca/ShawTV

Shaw TV is a locally based community channel service operated by cable TV company Shaw Communications, and is available to Shaw Cable subscribers in most major communities throughout western Canada.

Each station runs programming produced by staff and/or volunteers. Most stations broadcast a variety of programming, including news, live studio shows, city council meetings, sports and community bulletin board/televised advertisements.

Some programs are aired only locally, while others are aired throughout a province or region.

Shaw Direct airs many of the features and shows from "Shaw TV" on channel 299 (or channel 2 depending on the lineup). This channel is not branded as "Shaw TV" but as "Shaw Direct TV". It also airs selected other features relating to Shaw Direct programming such as a PPV (Pay-Per-View) movie preview show called "Movie Loft" and regional news for areas where a local station is not carried (notably CBC Newfoundland & Labrador). When features or inserts are shown from the various "Shaw TV" channels, the channel displays a DOG (Digital On-Screen Graphic) noting the area from which the insert came.

Stations and local programs

Calgary

Cranbrook/Castlegar

Edmonton

Hamilton

Although Shaw provides cable service in parts of the Hamilton market, regional monopolies in the region are also held by Cogeco and Source Cable. The three companies jointly operate a single community channel for Hamilton known as Cable 14, so there is no Shaw TV channel proper in the region.

Kelowna

Kelowna

Kenora

In addition to Shaw TV Kenora, Shaw Cablesystems also owns and operates CJBN-TV, a Global station in Kenora.

Lethbridge

Nanaimo

Shaw Cable also operates a separate channel for the residents in Nanaimo, British Columbia, also on channel 4. Nanaimo's Shaw TV content contains programming from Port Alberni, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Campbell River, Powell River and Victoria who all also produce their own programming.

Prince Albert

Saskatoon

Branded as Telecable Ten from 1978 until the late 1980s, the station offered much the same programming as today's Shaw TV, with the exception of greater coverage of local events (including complete Saskatoon Exhibition entertainment performances) and volunteer-made TV series and talk shows.

Sault Ste. Marie

Vancouver

Victoria

List of stations

Sports

Shaw TV provides both local and network sports coverage.

In terms of network coverage, Shaw has been in a partnership with the Western Hockey League since 2003 to all subscribers across the network in Western Canada known as WHL on SHAW. The schedule usually consists of random games before the December holiday break, with a regular game of the week on Friday nights plus select Saturday and mid week games.

In the playoffs, Shaw will select one series per round to cover. Play-by-play broadcasters for the 2012–13 season include Dan Russell and Peter Loubardias. Russell is in his ninth year as play-by-play announcer. Bill Wilms and Jeff Odgers provide colour commentary, with Andy Neal responsible for hosting duties.

In 2006, Shaw added Canada West Football as a sports property with a game of the week package known as Krown Produce Canada West Football on Shaw. Shaw carried the Hardy Cup Championship until 2011, when the conference elected to broadcast the game on TSN.

Jim Mullin is responsible for the play-by-play broadcast duties since 2007. Colour announcers are former Saskatchewan Huskies quarterback Laurence Nixon, former McMaster Marauders and Canadian Football League running back Jesse Lumsden and former CFL player Daved Benefield. Andy Neal handles the hosting duties. It was announced before the start of the 2012 season that Canada West had renewed their agreement with Shaw for another three seasons.

In 2009, Shaw broadcast provincial curling championships for men and women in Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. In 2013, Rogers Sportsnet obtained the rights for Manitoba's and Alberta's playdowns. It was announced by Curl BC prior to Shaw's coverage in 2013 that the broadcast rights for BC will move to Sportsnet for 2014.

In 2012, Shaw broadcast the CIS Final Eight Women's Basketball Championship a.k.a. The Bronze Baby from the University of Calgary and shared the feed with NBA TV Canada.

Controversies

Some concern has been raised about the company putting business interests over public-access/community interests, and has led one community group to consider creating an alternative, independent local public-access service in Vancouver.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Tan, Sid Chow; CMES (Community Media Education Society); ICTV (Independent Community Television Co-operative) (August 2001). "Shaw Cuts Community TV". Working TV website. Vancouver, BC, Canada. Retrieved 2010-04-16.

External links