Shaw to let viewers determine pricing for new channels

  • el
  • pt
  • 8/30/01

    Calgary - Shaw Cablesystems announced today that it will be launching over 30 new digital channels in September and is asking customers for their feedback on how they would like to see these new digital channels packaged.

    Shaw will be providing customers with a free preview of the new digital channels before it decides on any pricing or packaging options. This preview period will give Shaw customers the opportunity to determine which channels are of interest to them.

    On September 17th, customers can go to www.shaw.ca and complete an interactive survey, which will help us provide customers with the best packaging options. Customers can go online and get more information about each channel including a profile of the channel, channel lineup and video trailers to sample the programming.

    "As we collect feedback from our customers throughout the preview period, Shaw will carefully consider the bundling of channels and competitive pricing options, says Peter Bissonnette, President of Shaw Communications Inc. "We want all of our customers to have a voice and choice in picking programming that is right for them."

    The new 30 digital channels will only be available to customers who have purchased or rented a digital cable terminal. The new channels will be available within the 80 to 150-channel lineup range. All digital cable customers have the option of blocking any
    channel or program during the free preview by using the parental control feature of the digital cable terminal.

    The following is a brief look at some of the more than 30 channels Shaw will be launching:

    Category 1

    Biography Channel - Devoted to biographies of showbiz celebrities and other famous people. The Biography Channel will feature a fascinating mix of biographies, documentaries and movies. (Rogers, Shaw, A&E;)

    Book TV - News, argument, entertainment and experiment in the world of books.(CHUM, Learning and Skills Television of Alberta)

    Country Canada - Exploration and celebration of rural Canada, providing a window on the vast landscape beyond Canada's urban centres. Country Canada focuses on our national resources, from the food on our table, to the gas in our cars, to environmental issues. (Corus, CBC)

    Discovery Health - Programming about the wonders of medical science and the human body. Get an insider's look at interesting and thought-provoking personal stories, medical breakthroughs and frontline emergency care. (Alliance Atlantis, Discovery
    Communications)

    Documentary - Issues and events through the medium of the documentary. (Corus, CBC, NFB and other independent producers)

    Fashion TV - A specialty channel spin-off of Citytv's FashionTV show. Focuses on design, beauty, architecture, photography and art. (CHUM)

    Independent Film Channel Canada - ("IFCC") is dedicated to the best of independent film from Canada and around the world. (Alliance Atlantis)

    Issues Channel - Programming that focuses on everyday issues. Catherine Clark will be an on-air personality. (Cogeco, Stornoway Communications)

    MenTV - What do men really want? Find out on M (MenTV). Tastes and trends in men's health, lifestyle and fashion, this is television with a shot of testosterone. (Global)

    MTV (Connect) - The U.S. music TV channel with a Canadian flavor. Providing the best in music videos, concerts, celebrity profiles and entertainment news. (Craig, MTV)

    Mystery - From spine-tingling thrillers and horror stories to police drama...Mystery has it....The best Movies of the Week based on the novels of Mary Higgins Clark, and Great Detective series based on the works of some of the most famous authors in the
    Mystery genre including Ruth Rendell, P.D. James and Agatha Christie. (Global)

    One: Body, Mind & Spirit - is a digital television service that presents entertaining television and web-based content about personal growth, alternative health and making a positive difference in the world around us. (Vision TV, Alliance Atlantis)

    Pridevision - Programming aimed at gays and lesbians. (Levfam Holdings, Alliance Atlantis)

    Tech TV - Computing, technology and the Internet. It is the first channel in Canada to realize the promise of the digital age. (Rogers, Shaw, Techtv, formerly ZDTV)

    Travel - Travel news and tips. Valerie Pringle will contribute. (CTV, TVA)

    WTSN - (Women's Sports Network): The world's first 24-hour channel devoted to women's sports. (CTV)

    Category 2

    Animal Planet - Creatures both wild and domesticated and their relationships to humans. (CTV, Discovery Communications)

    BBC Canada - presents the very best of British television from the best-known broadcaster on the planet -- with a contemporary feast of edgy comedies, gritty dramas, and classic favorites. (Alliance Atlantis)

    BBC Kids- features a high-quality and engaging lineup of children's programming -- from one of the world's leading broadcasters. (Alliance Atlantis)

    Classic Sports - Classic sports events and movies. (CTV, ESPN)

    The NHL Network - The best in hockey highlights and news. The channel will feature the latest breaking news of the NHL including players, game highlights and interesting statistics and trivia. (CTV, NHL)

    DejaView - A channel that's like a cathode-ray time machine. Retro cool tv for nostalgia buffs with the shows that everyone remembers and loves the best - from the lovable antics of Gilligan's Island and Barney Miller to the best of Taxi, Dragnet,
    and The Saint. (Global)

    Discovery Kids -Focuses on nature, science, technology and wildlife programming for children. (Corus, Discovery Communications)

    Discovery Science & Civilization - People and ancient cultures, great cities and cherished monuments. (CTV, Discovery Communications)

    Fox Sports World Canada - The entire world of international sporting news and events comes to Canada. Soccer, rugby, and cricket from around the world. (Global)

    Lonestar - From Clint Eastwood to John Wayne, the power of the Western genre continues. Lonestar has wrangled some of the best including Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, The Virginian, Zorro, Big Valley, and The Man From Snowy River. (Global)

    MSNBC Canada - NBC's spinoff specialty news channel, which operates in collaboration with Microsoft. (Rogers, Shaw, Microsoft, NBC)

    National Geographic Channel -has unsurpassed cinematography and access to some of the world's most remote destinations. The channel brings one of the world's best-known brands into the homes of Canadian viewers - 24 hours a day. (Alliance Atlantis)

    Showcase Diva - features a star-studded lineup of heartthrobs and heroines in some of the best love stories of all time. (Alliance Atlantis)

    Showcase Action - delivers an uncut and adrenaline-packed line-up of high-speed action movies and explosive series. (Alliance Atlantis)

    Xtreme Sports - High-energy entertainment, spectacular scenery and the wildest extreme events in world-class, adrenaline-pumping TV sports entertainment. Surfing; skateboarding; BMX and Motocross racing; street luge; sky surfing and much more. (Global)

    All customers will be encouraged to provide Shaw with feedback on the new digital channels by visiting www.shaw.ca after September 17th.

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