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Canada's main answer to Netflix shuts down November 30th
It's tough to compete against the Netflix juggernaut, even if you throw a ton of money at the problem... just ask Shomi. The Canadian streaming video service is shutting down on November 30th, a little over two years after it got off the ground. Rogers, one of the two cable giants running Shomi, isn't shy about the reasons for the prompt exit. Simply put, the service's subscriber base "just isn't big enough" -- Rogers is expecting a loss of up to $140 million Canadian (about $106 million US), and its partner Shaw is likely to be hurting as well.
Canadian cable company Shaw just bought a phone network
Shaw Communications has announced that it's going to pay $1.6 billion CAD for Canuck carrier Wind Mobile. As MobileSyrup reports, there were rumors of a Verizon purchase back in 2013, but the US carrier ended up courting some internet company or something. Shaw will pick up Wind's mobile spectrum that covers Ontario British Columbia and Alberta. CEO Brad Shaw says the company plans to offer converged network solutions, which is the unsexy way of saying Canadians will be able to bundle their wireless needs in with their cable and internet -- if they like what Shaw's offering. The deal still needs to pick up approval from Canada's Competition Bureau, but Shaw expects the deal to go through by late 2016.
Canada's response to Netflix is available nationwide this summer
Canadian cable firms Rogers and Shaw have hogged the Shomi video service all to themselves during its testing phase, but they're loosening up now that they're nearly ready for prime time. The two have revealed that their answer to Netflix will be available to all Canadians this summer, not just the companies' internet and TV subscribers. As during the beta, you'll plunk down $9 CAD ($7 US) per month to get a mix of shows and (mostly older) movies, including Transparent and other series that are Amazon exclusives in the US. The service already works through Android, Apple TV, Chromecast and iOS devices, so you won't be hurting for places to watch.
Canadian cable giants launch a Netflix rival
Canucks don't have much choice for streaming video services. Netflix is the de facto pick, and its Canadian division's selection (historically smaller than in the US) isn't going to satisfy everyone. However, cable giants Rogers and Shaw think they have a better option for some viewers -- they've just unveiled Shomi, a mostly TV-focused service that might have a few aces up its sleeve. The offering blends automatic recommendations with handpicked selections; if you're looking for nothing but comic book adaptations or movies with dating disasters, you may have an easier time finding what you want. Shomi is also leaning heavily on exclusive deals for past seasons of big TV shows like Modern Family, New Girl and Sons of Anarchy, so it may be your best bet if you're looking for a Hulu Plus equivalent.
Rogers to buy Mountain Cable, license wireless spectrum from Shaw for $710 million
Reuters is chiming in this evening with word that Canadian telco Rogers is ready to spend $710 million ($700 million in Canuck cash) to buy Mountain Cablevision Limited and license wireless spectrum from cable giant Shaw Communications. If Rogers sees fit, it can even buy up spectrum licenses from Shaw in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northern Ontario and Saskatchewan thanks to the deal. Cable channel TVtropolis, which is jointly owned by Shaw and Rogers, will see the remainder of its Rogers-owned stake bought up by Shaw for roughly 59 million Canadian dollars. There's no word on when the deals will be finalized, but you can expect to hear Rogers and Shaw give themselves hearty pats on the back when they get rubber-stamped. Update: Eagle-eyed commenters have pointed out that it's Shaw which will buy the remaining steak in TVtropolis it doesn't own, not Rogers. We've updated the post accordingly.
Arris reveals Moxi DVR release 2.0 with web browser, apps and iPad remote
If your cable company is offering Arris' Moxi Whole Home DVR setup (we've seen it pop up on Shaw, BendBroadband and Wide Open West so far) you should have a few new features headed your way. This week at the NCTA Cable Show 2012 it's debuting Moxi software release 2.0 which adds in a WebKit-based browser, downloadable apps and an appstore the TV provider can customize itself, as well as APIs and SDKs aplenty to bring in third party developers. With the SDK, other companies can pair mobile devices and build in remotes or stream content, while Arris is also showing off its own iPad app (images after the break) for remote DVR scheduling. Unfortunately, we're told these upgrades won't trickle down to owners of Moxi's retail DVRs, but considering how close they came to total deactivation, we're not that surprised.
Shaw plants 100Gbps fibers in Canada, watches them grow
Consumers can dream of 1Gbps, businesses might ask for 10Gbps, but here's the next step along that logarithmic curve: Shaw and Alcatel-Lucent just launched a new 100Gbps inter-city fiber optic network in Canada, following a successful trial between Calgary and Edmonton. The network can purportedly handle 133 million simultaneous voice calls, 440,000 HDTV channels, or transmit the equivalent of 44 Blu-ray discs in a single second. More redweed details in the PR after the break.
Shaw Cable's Netflix competitor bypasses bandwidth caps on its way to the TV
While US residents seethe over increases in Netflix's pricing, our neighbors in Canada are upset by the competing Movie Club package Shaw Cable is offering. The $12 per month service offers unlimited access to "hundreds of the best Hollywood movies" and plans to have high definition feeds later this summer for an additional $5 (cable companies in the US have a similar scheme under the name Vutopia.) Causing the issue are promises that "the only limit is the number of hours in your day" unlike bandwidth capped streaming from unnamed services like Netflix. While Movie Club viewing over the internet on a PC, tablet or other device is capped just like any other service, access via the cable box is not metered. That distinction doesn't sit well with subscribers and consumer groups arguing for net neutrality, particularly as the CRTC is in the midst of hearings over usage-based internet billing. While that case hasn't been decided, our own ruling is already in and is firmly against Shaw, or anyone else, advertising based on advantages that exist only due to policies it created in the first place.
Arris confirms the Shaw Gateway DVR's Moxi bloodlines, hints at more to come
The six tuner Shaw Gateway DVR we mentioned recently is built on Arris hardware, and now the company revealed more information about its Whole Home Solution setup at its core. The press release after the break details the specs used by Shaw's implementation (500GB hard drive, HD UI, four port router, MoCa and optional WiFi N) plus additional capabilities the Shaw Gateway hasn't taken advantage of yet (over the top video from the internet, VoIP, an integrated DOCSIS 3.0 modem and user media sharing). We spoke to Senior VP of Marketing and Development Stan Brovont and found out that this particular project has been under development for about a year now, and many of the features are in response to focus groups indicating that the number of tuners and hard drive space (the 500GB drive was up to Shaw) were among the most important features. While he did mention there were other partnerships not yet announced in the pipeline and couldn't comment on any potential return to retail for the Moxi-derived system, our friend Dave Zatz dug up a Multichannel News post mentioning a similar system coming to Oregon local provider BendBroadband. Check the Arris press release after the break for more details, we'll keep holding out hope for another retail DVR option in the marketplace.
Shaw Gateway DVR is the six tuner Canadian son of Moxi
Shaw Cable in Canada unveiled its DVR of the future today, calling the Shaw Gateway Experience "a new world of entertainment." As it turns out, that new world is actually very familiar, consisting of an Arris six tuner DVR and multiroom companion box. The Gateway (pictured above) is a six tuner DVR with a CableCARD slot, 500GB hard drive, WiFi, DLNA and an HD guide that looks just like the Moxi DVR technology Arris purchased over a year ago. The Total Home Portal is the multiroom box that appears to be a refreshed edition of the Moxi Mate extender that lacks its own tuner or hard drive but can stream live or recorded video from the gateway. The cost of one Gateway and Portal is $600 up front or $17/month, while an extra portal is $178 or $5/month. They're currently only available in Calgary and are due to arrive elsewhere in Canada later this summer. [Thanks, Daniel]
NHL Winter Classic game will be in 3D New Year's Day, find out where to watch
Whether or not you've been keeping up with HBO's 24/7 episodes, most hockey fans know that the yearly outdoor Winter Classic is scheduled for tomorrow between the Penguins and Capitals, but you may not know it will also be broadcast in 3D (the second one this season.) According to the NHL's page it will be available "worldwide" and we've confirmed Comcast, Cox, DirecTV, Cablevision Shaw and Telus are on the list. They're likely not the only ones, with Versus broadcasting if your provider has a dedicated 3D event channel and the sports network (especially if they broadcast the Oregon/Cal football game earlier this fall) it's a good bet it will be on but we'd check with them first. Here's hoping that next time around (the Heritage Classic game in February will be in 3D too) there's a slightly more coordinated effort to let those who might be interested in watching know where and how to tune in.
Shaw Cable offering 3D video on-demand, but not the good kind
In the race to bring home 3D Shaw Cable has taken an early lead, although we're not sure everyone would agree it's worth it. Together with Corus Entertainment, it's loading up the VOD library full of films, sports, concert events and other content all in anaglyph (red/blue) 3D and distributing glasses free of charge to all of its subscribers. No word on how much ordering up the content will cost or when it will be available, but the biggest factor in our disappointment is that while it will work on any television, the quality simply doesn't compare to proper stereoscopic 3D. Still, Canadians haven't been able to call "First" many times, we guess we'll let them have this one. [Warning: PDF read link][Via Digital Home Canada]
Shaw launches Big Ten Network HD / Golf HD in Canada
It's a few days behind schedule, but Shaw Cable customers in Canada are now getting not one, but two new sports-related HD channels. Effective immediately, subscribers in the Great North can tune to Big Ten Network HD and Golf HD, both of which are available in free preview form until January 31, 2009. Both networks are falling into the carrier's HD Plus service, which goes for an extra $9 per month.
Star Choice launches Big Ten Network HD December 16
Some would say it's too late for football, but with plenty of time left on college hockey & basketball schedules, the Big Ten Network is headed to Canada's Star Choice. The SD version should be available now, with the high definition feed scheduled to launch December 16. No word what package you'll need to get the channel full time, but a free preview is promised all this month on channel 265.
Shaw regroups HD channels so you don't have to search
It's a proven fact that most HDTV viewers take for granted that their high-def favorites are grouped together in the EPG, but high-def onlookers in Shaw territory have been hunting and pecking for ages... until now. The Canadian cable provider has just announced that it will soon be shuffling its lineup around in order to "give Shaw customers a better viewing experience by grouping high-definition channels together for ease of channel surfing." The changes are slated to take place on November 18th for Calgary, Canmore, Banff, Edmonton, Redwater, Edson, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Brooks, Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Winnipeg, rural Manitoba, Kenora, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, while all other markets will see the difference the day after.
The Frame brings high-def art to Canadian HDTVs on Star Choice
We'll go ahead and say it: Canada is in desperate need of some fresh HD channels, and while we're sure Canucks will take any one they can get, we have all ideas The Frame isn't high on their list of wants. Nevertheless, the all-HD-art channel that hit Shaw Cable back in August has finally arrived on subsidiary Star Choice, and as expected, it will provide a 24-hour feed of high-def art sans commercials. From "exclusive fine art collections to award-winning photographs," The Frame promises to give your HDTV a workout when there's absolutely nothing else on. Those somehow looking forward to this can catch it on slot 268 this Thursday.[Via Digital Home]
Shaw launching TSN2 HD Friday
Slightly more exciting than a 24/7 art channel, Shaw Cable is the latest to add TSN2 HD. Starting Friday September 19 subscribers can check out (hopefully sans-pixelization) all the curling, hockey, NASCAR, CFL and other sports action in high definition on channel 226 (HD Plus) or 269 (Star Choice). We know we had you at curling.
Shaw Cable launches The Frame HD channel: high-def art, all the time
Apparently this whole "showing off HD art on the HDTV" fad is quite popular. Not only are certain HDTV manufacturers partnering with content providers, Canada's Shaw Cable is actually launching a 24/7 channel that broadcasts high-def art around the clock to entertain guests and show off just how pixelated pay-TV can be. The commercial free station, dubbed The Frame, essentially converts your set into an HD canvas that shows off art from Canada Collects, Animal Kingdom, Water World, Birds of a Feather, The Seven Seas, Canadian Horizons, City Lights, Sands of Time, Gardens of Delight, and many others. The galleries rotate every half hour and the images change every 30 seconds. As of now, the station is on slot 225 in Calgary, while the carrier intends to roll it out in more markets by September.
Shaw gets CRTC approval to expand services to Campbell River, B.C.
We can't imagine Campbell River residents being enthused about having access to heavily pixelated HD content, but nevertheless, Shaw has just received CRTC approval to extend the authorized service area of its Courtenay British Columbia cable system to include the aforesaid community. The thumbs-up gives the carrier the ability to offer up its full range of cable, internet and digital phone services in Campbell River, but it doesn't seem as if anything new is coming to the new locale. Here's to hoping you folks have better luck than most everyone else with the picture quality.
Shaw shuffles lineup, adds in HD programming
We're not sure if Shaw subscribers in the Great North are still experiencing those retched pixelation issues, but nevertheless, the Canadian cable provider is getting set to shuffle the lineups in a number of locales to accommodate new HD programming. Certain parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will see an undisclosed amount of channels swap spots starting next week, but we'd say the aggravation will be well worth it when TLC HD, Encore Avenue HD and a handful of new HD pay-per-view movies show up. If the quality is up to snuff, that is.
