SHAW SPLITS UP INTO TWO COMPANIES
By Adnews Staff
Shaw Communications of Calgary is splitting itself in two. The company plans to create a separate media and cable company. The media firm, temporarily named Mediaco, will be based in Toronto and will operate radio stations and specialty channels such as YTV, Treehouse and Country Music Television. Shaw will continue to operate its cable TV distribution, satellite and telecommunications services. The split was made in hopes of impressing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. In July, the CRTC said it was concerned that cable operators were buying too many TV channels and giving them preferential treatment to the channels' distribution. Shaw has also signed a deal to acquire 12 radio stations and TV holdings from Vancouver-based WIC Western International Communications. The agreement is still subject to approval by the CRTC.