STAR CHOICE TEAMS UP WITH SHAW COMMUNICATIONS
By Adnews Staff
Star Choice Communications of Toronto has bought Shaw Communications' direct-to-home satellite TV service to expand its DTH service and get it to market quicker, Star Choice chairman and CEO Brian Neill told Adnews yesterday. In return, Shaw will have a 50% stake in Star Choice. With the deal in place Star Choice will launch its DTH service in April, providing 80 channels. By the fall it will offer over 100 channels. Shaw of Calgary received its license for DTH service in January. Advertising for Star Choice is done in house with the help of SGC Communications of Sackville, New Brunswick. Bristol Communications of Toronto does PR. Star Choice is also filing a civil suit against Toronto-based BCE Inc. and has filed a complaint under the Competition act alleging that BCE is abusing its dominant position in telecommunications. BCE wants to take control of ExpressVu Inc. of Mississauga, Ont., which wants to launch its DTH service in September. BCE started out owning one-third of ExpressVu. It now owns 39%.