Shaw Broadcast Services

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Shaw Broadcast Services, previously Canadian Satellite Communications Inc., or Cancom, is a Canadian company responsible for providing and managing the distribution of television channels to cable companies via satellite. Shaw also operates StarChoice, a Canadian direct broadcast satellite service.

Shaw Broadcast Services is wholly owned by Shaw Communications.

On October 5, 2006, Shaw announced that CANCOM would be renamed Shaw Broadcast Services, with CANCOM Broadcast becoming Shaw Broadcast Services, and CANCOM Tracking becoming Shaw Tracking. The rebranding is slated to be complete by the start of 2007. [1]

As Cancom, it was required by the CRTC to be operated independently of Shaw's cable holdings. However, in light of the name change, it is unclear if Shaw's satellite-based companies would remain independent from the cable division.

1 Shaw Broadcast Services
2 Shaw Tracking
3 CANCOM Logos
4 External links

[edit] Shaw Broadcast Services

Shaw Broadcast Services (originally CANCOM Broadcast) distributes both specialty cable channels and regular broadcast network affiliates via one of North America's largest full-service commercial signal distribution networks. It distributes affiliates of all the major Canadian commercial networks, along with several independent services.

The company also distributes a limited number of American network affiliates from markets such as Boston, Rochester, Buffalo, Detroit, Minneapolis, Spokane and Seattle. Some Canadian cable companies use Shaw for these services where cost or technical issues prevent the use of a closer non-Shaw signal, even when the station is from a different time zone. (However, use of the Shaw feeds is not required for these services; cable companies are free to use any signal provider whose distribution is technically feasible.)

As well, Shaw distributes a number of Canadian radio stations, and a few American stations, for cable FM and digital distribution. In total, over 380 English, French and multilingual signals are offered via 49 Anik F1 and F2 transponders.

[edit] Shaw Tracking

Shaw Tracking (originally CANCOM Tracking) provides commercial tracking via satellite. Specifically it provides tracking, two-way messaging and integrated transportation and logistics solutions to the Canadian trucking industry with over 31,000 units in use by over 500 companies. Of Canada's Top 25 trucking companies, Shaw claims that 23 use its services, and that it has over 85% of the mobile communications market place for long-haul trucks.