Shaw Direct

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Shaw Satellite G.P.
Trade name
Shaw Direct
TypeSubsidiary
IndustrySatellite television
Founded1996 (as Star Choice)
Headquarters
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Area served
Canada
Key people
Bradley Shaw (CEO),
Paul Macleese (President),
Cam Kernahan (Group Vice President)
ProductsDirect broadcast satellite, Pay television, Pay-per-view
ParentShaw Communications
Websiteshawdirect.ca

Shaw Direct is a direct broadcast satellite television distributor in Canada and a subsidiary of the telecommunications company Shaw Communications. As of 2010, Shaw Direct had over 900,000 subscribers.[1] It broadcasts on Ku band from two communications satellites: Anik G1 at 107.3°W, and Anik F2 at 111.1°W. Anik F1R, which had been in service for 15 years, reached its end of life in the latter part of 2020, when the services on this satellite were migrated between the remaining two.[2] These satellites are owned by Telesat Canada and otherwise are used primarily to distribute programming to various Canadian cable TV companies. The company was formerly known as Star Choice until April 15, 2009.[3]

A full list of channels carried by these two satellites is available from satellite-related sites such as Lyngsat.[4][5] The newer of the two satellites, Anik G1, was launched on April 15, 2013, and then later reached orbit on May 29, 2013.

Shaw Direct was founded in Lincoln, New Brunswick, but is now based in Calgary, Alberta. Its broadcast centre is in Mississauga, Ontario, and has call centres in Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal.

History[]

1990s[]

  • August 1996: Awarded broadcasting licence.
  • March 1997: Opened first customer care centre.
  • March 1997: Activated their first customer, Archie Gray, who purchased a receiver for $999 with 100 digital channels when he purchased $400 worth of programming.
  • September 1997: Added PPV to their lineup.
  • September 1999: Added 60 new channels to their lineup.

2000s[]

Logo used while under the name Star Choice from 2001–2009
  • January 2000: Launched HDTV programming with the broadcast of Super Bowl XXXIV, the first High Definition TV broadcast in Canada.
  • August 2000: Privatized by Shaw Communications Inc. through its acquisition of Cancom.
  • April 2001: Activated both Anik F1 and Anik E2 satellites, becoming the first Canadian provider to broadcast services from two satellites simultaneously.
  • March 2002: Moved its head office from Lincoln, New Brunswick to Calgary, Alberta.
  • May 2002: Sold its one millionth receiver.
  • August 2003: Launched its first fully integrated High Definition receiver, the Motorola DSR500 HD.
  • September 2003: WTSN was dropped from lineup because of the channel's demise.
  • February 2004: Added 16 additional standard-definition channels to their lineup, which is also including 2 high-definition ones.
  • July 2004: Announced the expansion of new channels as a result of the launch of the Anik F2 satellite.
  • May 2005: Launched the dual tuner High Definition Digital Video Recorder.
  • November 2005: TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is introduced to the Canadian market for the first time.
  • September 1, 2006: AMC (American Movie Classics) was debuted in Canada on Star Choice and Shaw Cable.
  • October 2006: A&E HD, Discovery HD and SRC HD (Montréal) launch on October 12, 2006. Super Écran HD launches October 30, 2006, bringing the total amount of free HD channels to 15.
  • December 2006: Showcase HD and National Geographic Channel HD launch on December 19, 2006 bringing the total amount of free HD channels to 17.
  • January 2007: Launched the DSR317 receiver, featuring a faster processor than previous Standard Definition receivers, and picture-in-guide. Super station WGN (found in the Super Stations theme pack) was swapped for the local Chicago feed on January 17, 2007.
  • February 2007: Launched the DSR207 receiver, featuring a faster processor than previous Standard Definition receivers, and picture-in-guide.
  • March 2007: Star Choice announces the addition of GOL-TV, WFN, WGN HD and HD Net.
  • March 2007: Star Choice celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary.
  • June 2007: Séries+ HD and Vie HD launch on May 31, 2007. Much Music and TLN move to essentials and PunchMuch is removed. Casino and Gaming Television was added on June 5, 2007 to the essentials package.
  • July/August 2007: A new interactive program guide was deployed to all DSR505's and DVR530's. The new interactive program guide introduced new features such as instant on capability (Guide will load within 3 minutes after power failure), support for Open TV and support for 8PSK modulation.
  • September 2007: PPV HD, MMore HD, Movie Central 2 HD, Canal Z and ABC West HD were added to the line-up.
  • October 2007: Added NHL Centre Ice package to the line-up.
  • December 2007: Teletoon Retro English was added to the line-up. Viewer's Choice and Canal Indigo PPV were both dropped from the lineup in favour of Shaw PPV.
  • February 2008: Speed Channel HD, NASCAR Hot Pass and Wild TV were added to the line-up.
  • May 2008: Sun TV Toronto, City TV Winnipeg, Global Maritimes, and CBC Saskatchewan are dropped from the lineup.
  • August 2008: TFO was dropped from the line-up.
  • September 2008: TSN2 and TSN2 HD was added to the line-up.
  • October 2008: HBO Canada 1, HBO Canada 1 HD, HBO Canada 2, HBO Canada 2 HD and The FRAME HD were added to the line-up. Also, X-Treme Sports is dropped from the lineup because of the demise of the channel.
  • December 2008: Star Choice launched the DSR209 receiver. Big Ten Network and Big Ten Network HD was added to the line-up. Also, CMT and YTV move to their Essentials package.
  • January 2009: Star Choice celebrates the sale of its 2 millionth receiver. Also, The Accessible Channel launches.
  • February 2009: Star Choice launched the DSR319 receiver.
  • April 15, 2009: Star Choice officially becomes Shaw Direct.
  • April 30, 2009: Shaw Direct drops the Buffalo, New York TV stations NBC Buffalo, WIVB-TV and WKBW-TV, and the Detroit Fox station WJBK-TV.
  • July 15, 2009: TV Land Canada, Court TV Canada, Discovery Kids Canada and BBC Kids are dropped from the lineup. However, rival Bell Satellite TV continues to use these channels.
  • October 2009: The Score HD launched, and DIY Network launched to replace Fine Living Canada.
  • November 2009: Nickelodeon Canada launched

2010s[]

First Shaw Direct logo, 2009-2012.
  • March 1, 2010: Sex TV and Drive-In Classics will be removed from the Shaw Direct lineup. They will be replaced by W Movies on channel 634/216 and Sundance on channel 635/217. This was decided by the broadcaster. OASIS HD launches and is included in the HD Extra Bundle. In addition, YOOPA launches, as Yoopa makes the first satellite TV debut solely on Shaw Direct since Big Ten in December 2008, and the first TV channel to debut under the Shaw Direct name but not on rival Bell Satellite TV.
  • August 2010: Shaw Direct launched a more advanced dual tuner High Definition Digital Video Recorder (HDPVR630), their first receiver to be MPEG4 compatible.
  • October 2010: Sportsnet One added to the lineup.
  • November 2010: Shaw Direct launched a new advanced High Definition receiver- HDDSR605
  • November 4, 2010: Shaw Direct adds NBA League Pass, AUX, Bite and The Pet Network to the lineup.
  • January 31, 2011: Global Maritimes is re-added to the lineup, following Shaw's acquisition of Canwest Global's broadcasting arm.
  • July 4, 2011: Shaw Direct launched a new compact, essential High Definition receiver- HDDSR600
  • September 2011: RDS2, Teletoon Retro French, Mlle and TVA Sports added to the lineup.
  • October 6, 2011: A software error knocks out Anik F2, one of the two satellites serving Shaw Direct customers, for approximately one day.[6][7][8]
  • February 2012: Shaw Direct began implementing simultaneous substitution for the Global HD station (ch. 256) for all of its customers, a practice they had previously only applied to areas where they were legally required.
  • March 2012: HD Net dropped in favour of Space HD and ABC Spark launched to replace Dusk.
  • October 11, 2012: FX Canada HD and Disney Junior's English service are added to the lineup.
  • April 15, 2013: Shaw Direct launched their 3rd satellite, Anik G1. New HD channels will launch later in the Spring of 2013.
  • May 30, 2013: Shaw Direct launches new '2nd Home Program' and charges existing customers an additional 50% of their home Shaw Direct bill for using their service at customers 2nd home. This '2nd home program' replaces the 'home away from home program' that customers have enjoyed at no cost for years. (Shawdirect.ca)
  • May 29, 2013: 90+ high definition channels are launched including various locals and speciality channels.
  • April 1, 2015: Shaw Direct removed Fox Sports Racing.
  • August 2015: Makeful launched to replace Bite TV.
  • September 1, 2015: Disney Channel Canada launched, and Cartoon Network Canada started to replace Teletoon Retro.
  • September 18, 2015: Disney XD HD launched, and the Canadian English and French Disney Junior channels were renamed Family Jr. and Télémagino.
  • October 9, 2016: Disney XD was renamed Family Chrgd.
  • October 29, 2015: Cartoon Network HD, TV5 HD and ARTV HD launched.
  • November 17, 2015: E! HD and CTV News Channel HD were launched, and TCM was moved before the launch of the new Disney XD HD and Disney Junior channels.
  • November 24, 2015: English Holiday Favourites, French Holiday Favourites and the Shaw Firelog Channel are launched just in time for the Holidays.
  • December 1, 2015: The new Disney XD HD and Disney Junior channels are launched.
  • February 29, 2016: The Biography Channel relaunches into Viceland.
  • March 1, 2016: Shaw Direct adds the Pick and Pay option and Skinny package as per CRTC Requirements. Also, Movie Central relaunches into The Movie Network and Encore Avenue relaunches into TMN Encore.
  • July 2, 2016: Argent and Pet Network are removed from the lineup and Télémagino and BBC Kids take their places.
  • July 13, 2016: Added Family Chrgd to the lineup at channel 526/186 in the Fun Stuff bundle.
  • August 15, 2016: CHNU-DT (aka Joytv) launched to replace ichannel.
  • September 1, 2016: Gusto TV launched to replace M3.
  • December 1, 2016: Treehouse TV HD, CMT HD, DTOUR HD, GSN HD, CCTV-Documentary, CCTV-News, CTV Two HD, Prise 2 HD, and Deutsche Welle are added to the lineup.
  • January 1, 2017: Shaw Direct announces the addition of CIIT-DT (aka Hope TV), CablePulse24 HD, BNN HD, Disney XD Canada SD, Disney Junior Canada HD, FXX Canada HD, Silver Screen Classics and FYI HD
  • March 1, 2017: Spike was added to the lineup in HD. Also, CBC Ottawa HD and Fight Network HD are added to their lasting line of HD channels.
  • July 10, 2017: Shaw Direct launched a new High Definition receiver (HDDSR800) and a new Dual Tuner High Definition Digital Video Recorder (HDPVR830) to replace their previous 600 and 630 models. Both new models include built-in Wi-Fi for accessing on-demand content, as well as the ability to order PPV movies via remote. The HDPVR830 has a 1 TB internal hard drive, allowing for up to 300 hours of HD recordings.
  • August 31, 2017: OLN started replacing G4.
  • March 1, 2018: Sundance has been removed from the lineup due to its discontinuation.
  • April 1, 2018: Viceland is removed after Rogers & Vice terminated their relationship. Also, CNBC is launched in HD and Family Chrgd is launched in SD.
  • November 20, 2018: BC Legislature HD, Telelatino HD, Super Channel Vault Hd, and GINX eSports TV HD will be added to the lineup.
  • December 31, 2018: BBC Kids was removed from the lineup following its demise, with Showcase HD and FX HD taking its place.
  • Fall 2019: All channels will be carried in HD.
  • April 1, 2019: Adult Swim launched to replace Action.
  • June 11, 2019: Shaw Direct launched an all-new channel lineup replacing both the classic and Advanced lineups.
  • September 30, 2019: IFC and Cosmopolitan TV were dropped from the lineup due to the demise of both channels.
  • December 31, 2019: FYI was removed from the lineup due to the channel's demise.

2020s[]

  • September 2020: Anik F1R reaches end of life and is removed from service.
  • December 31, 2020: BBC Canada is removed from the line-up following the channel's closure.
  • February 22, 2021: BookTelevision and FashionTelevision were removed from the lineup because of the closure of both channels.

Technical information[]

A Shaw Direct 45x60cm dish, with new triple satellite LNB compatible with Anik F1, Anik F2 and Anik G1

The system requires an elliptical antenna of at least 45x60cm in size with a special LNB pair built as one unit to accommodate the narrow 3.8° spacing between satellites; the receiver uses the Motorola-proprietary Digicipher II system which has so far been virtually free of the problems with pirate decryption that have plagued other providers such as rival Bell Satellite TV.[citation needed] The standard 18" DBS antennas used by other providers are not compatible with this system as the signals differ in both frequency and polarization. Shaw Direct is relayed via FSS satellites, Anik G1 and F2.

Services and pricing[]

A 2005-07 Ford Focus wagon from Star Choice

Shaw Direct currently features over 760 channels including all major Canadian and American networks, popular specialty services, PPV, sports packages and over 400 High Definition channels.[9] Key services include:

  • multiple feeds from various affiliate stations of U.S. networks, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS; these feeds come from Detroit (prior to 2009, Fox wasn't excluded), Rochester (Fox only), Seattle and Spokane.
  • The Movie Network and Super Channel (English-language premium movie services)
  • Super Écran (French-language premium movie service)
  • Pay Per View movies and events in Standard and High Definition from Shaw PPV
  • NBA League Pass
  • NFL Sunday Ticket
  • NHL Centre Ice
  • Sportsnet World (Premium sports service airing soccer and rugby)
  • Hustler TV, Penthouse TV, Playboy TV and Red Hot TV (Adult channels)
  • 40 commercial-free digital music channels provided by Stingray Music
  • 49 Canadian commercial radio stations
  • 7 local FM radio stations from Spokane

The monthly packages range from $30 for the basic service, up to $107.99 for specialty and movie channels. Individual premium and specialty channels can also be purchased. The receivers range from $99 for a basic system to $399 for a high-definition personal video recorder.

In addition, Shaw Direct provides specialty services

  • 2nd Home: Allows for programming at a secondary location
  • Seasonal Break: Allows you to temporarily suspend programming anywhere from 14 days and up to 180 days, with an automatic reconnect date
  • Refer-A-Friend: When referring new customers to the service, you are eligible to receive up to a month of free programming

Starting in 2011, Shaw Direct offered a free satellite dish, receiver, installation and a handful of SD channels to Canadians who lost their over-the-air (OTA) access to television as a result of Canada's digital television transition.[10] The offer was part of Shaw's little known Local Television Satellite Solution (LTSS) program [11] approved by the CRTC as part of Shaw's purchase of Canwest Global in 2010.[12] The period to apply to the program ended August 31, 2014, three months earlier than the original extended application deadline of November 30, 2014. On April 12, 2019, the CRTC opened a public call for comments regarding Shaw Direct's licence renewal request that included its plan to end the LTSS as of August 31, 2019. According to Shaw Direct, more than 31,500 Canadian households subscribed to the no-fee LTSS. While Shaw Direct did end up offering the LTSS beyond August 31, 2019, according to Shaw Direct customer service all remaining LTSS subscribers had been disconnected as of December 20, 2019.

See also[]

  • Shaw Broadcast Services (formerly CANCOM)

References[]

  1. ^ "Shaw Direct acquires capacity on third satellite" (PDF). Shawdirect.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  2. ^ Eshpeter, Kelly (Jan 22, 2020). "Anik F1 End Of Life". Shaw Broadcast.
  3. ^ "Star Choice Becomes Shaw Direct". Marketwire. April 15, 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  4. ^ "Shaw Direct on Anik F1R/G1 at 107.3°W". LyngSat. Archived from the original on 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  5. ^ "Shaw Direct on Anik F2 at 111.1°W". LyngSat. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  6. ^ "Satellite problems ground Nunavut flights - North - CBC News". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  7. ^ "Canadian Satellite Malfunction Leaves Thousands Without Communications | Anik F2 Satellite Communications & Satellite GPS | Satellite Failures & Satellite Technology". Space.com. 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  8. ^ "SERVICES RESTORED ON TELESAT'S ANIK F2 SATELLITE AFTER ANOMALY" (PDF). Telesat.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  9. ^ Eshpeter, Kelly (7 May 2021). "Shaw Direct" (PDF).
  10. ^ "The Canadian Transition to Digital Television". Archived from the original on 17 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Reallocation of tangible benefits and extension of deadline to complete analog to digital conversion". 9 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-15. Retrieved 2010-11-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

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