Look Communications

Look Communications was a Canadian telecommunications company built around digital wireless cable technology. It began in 1997 as Look TV, a wireless cable operator based in Etobicoke, Ontario, and initially focused on delivering multichannel television without a conventional wired cable network. The company launched television service in Southern Ontario in 1997 and expanded into Quebec and Eastern Ontario the following year. Its technology used a Multichannel Multipoint Distribution System, or MMDS, operating in the 2.5 GHz band. Television, audio, and data signals were received at a headend, carried through fibre-optic links to transmission sites, and broadcast over the air to subscriber antennas. This gave Look a distinctive position in markets where traditional cable infrastructure was unavailable or less economical. In 1999, Look TV merged with Internet Direct, an Internet service provider serving several Canadian provinces. The combined company adopted the Look Communications name, with Look TV shareholders receiving 60 percent of the merged entity and Internet Direct shareholders receiving the remaining 40 percent. The transaction broadened the business from wireless television into Internet access and related data services, including web hosting. Look promoted the consumer proposition with the slogan “At Look, it’s simple!” and at its peak served approximately 60,000 television customers. The company faced severe financial pressure. Look Communications sought bankruptcy protection in 2001 and emerged from protection in 2002, but it did not return to sustained profitability. Unique Broadband System began acquiring an ownership position in 2002 and held 51 percent of Look by the end of 2003, making Look a subsidiary. Around that period, Look moved its headquarters from Oakville to Milton, Ontario, where UBS was headquartered, while many of its departments and employees remained based in Montreal. Look’s business was also associated with former Canadian crown corporation Teleglobe and Chinese Internet provider Inter Pacific Online, although the core operating identity remained that of a Canadian wireless broadband and television provider. Continuing losses eventually led to a withdrawal from the operating telecommunications business. On December 1, 2008, Look announced that it would sell its assets. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the sale to Inukshuk Wireless Partnership on May 14, 2009. In November 2009, Bell Canada acquired Look’s television customer base and incorporated it into Bell Satellite TV, while Telnet Communications absorbed the consumer Internet base. Look had then ceased serving customers and terminated its employees, but the legal entity remained in existence while its residual assets were liquidated. The company later pursued a fundamental change of business. In March 2013, Look announced an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Sunwave Gas & Power Inc., an energy-products supplier. The transaction closed in July 2013, and on July 12, 2013, Look Communications Inc. changed its name to ONEnergy Inc. The renamed company no longer represented the former Look telecommunications business. Accordingly, Look Communications is best understood as a defunct Canadian communications brand whose principal legacy was its attempt to combine wireless cable television and Internet services through MMDS spectrum, followed by asset sales, customer transfers, and a final corporate transition into the energy sector.

Look Communications originated as Look TV in August 1997. Based in Etobicoke, Ontario, the company used digital wireless cable technology rather than a conventional wired cable network. It began serving Southern Ontario in 1997 and expanded into Quebec and Eastern Ontario in 1998. Its MMDS system operated with approximately 90 MHz of capacity in the 2.5 GHz band. Look held Canadian broadcasting permissions for its wireless distribution system and transmitted television, audio, and data signals from headends through fibre-optic links to broadcast sites. Subscribers received the signals through antennas installed at their homes or businesses. The company expanded beyond television through its 1999 merger with Internet Direct, an Internet service provider with operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. Look TV shareholders received 60 percent of the combined company and Internet Direct shareholders received 40 percent. The merged organization became Look Communications and offered wireless television, Internet access, and web-hosting services. Its slogan was “At Look, it’s simple!” The company reached approximately 60,000 television customers at its peak. Look encountered financial problems and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2001. It emerged in 2002, but continued to report losses and did not achieve lasting profitability. Unique Broadband System acquired an interest beginning in 2002 and owned 51 percent of Look by the end of 2003. Look consequently became a UBS subsidiary and moved its headquarters from Oakville to Milton, Ontario, while much of its workforce and several operating departments remained in Montreal. The company ultimately abandoned its consumer telecommunications operations. On December 1, 2008, it announced a plan to sell its assets. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved a sale to Inukshuk Wireless Partnership on May 14, 2009. In November 2009, Bell Canada acquired the television customer base and integrated it into Bell Satellite TV. Telnet Communications took over the consumer Internet base. Look no longer had customers or employees after these transfers, although the corporate entity continued while its remaining assets were liquidated. In 2013, the company attempted to transform itself rather than simply wind up. It announced a proposed acquisition of Sunwave Gas & Power Inc., a supplier of energy products and services, on March 26. The acquisition was completed on July 9, and on July 12 Look Communications Inc. changed its name to ONEnergy Inc. This ended the Look identity as a telecommunications operator. The brand’s historical significance lies in its use of Canadian MMDS spectrum to challenge fixed cable networks and combine wireless television with Internet services before its financial difficulties, asset disposals, and corporate reorientation.

1. 2013Corporate conversion to ONEnergy

   Look completes the acquisition of Sunwave Gas & Power and changes its corporate name to ONEnergy Inc.

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2. 2009Operating business is transferred

   A court approves the asset sale to Inukshuk, while Bell Canada and Telnet receive the television and consumer Internet customer businesses.

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3. 2008Asset-sale plan announced

   Look announces on December 1 that it intends to sell its assets.

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4. 2003UBS takes majority control

   Unique Broadband System reaches 51 percent ownership, making Look a subsidiary, and Look moves its headquarters to Milton.

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5. 2002Emergence from bankruptcy protection

   Look re-emerges from bankruptcy protection while Unique Broadband System begins acquiring a stake.

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6. 2001Bankruptcy protection filing

   Look Communications files for bankruptcy protection amid financial pressure.

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7. 1999Merger with Internet Direct

   Look TV merges with Internet Direct, creating Look Communications and adding Internet-access and web-hosting activities.

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8. 1998Expansion into Quebec and Eastern Ontario

   The wireless television service expands beyond Southern Ontario into Quebec and Eastern Ontario.

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9. 1997Look TV is founded

   Look TV is established in August as a digital wireless cable provider based in Etobicoke, Ontario, and begins serving Southern Ontario.

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A Canadian alternative to wired cable operators, using digital wireless distribution to provide television and Internet services in Ontario and Quebec.

• Look Digital TelevisionDigital television1997

  Look’s principal consumer product was a multichannel digital television service delivered through MMDS wireless distribution. Signals were transmitted from broadcast sites to subscriber antennas, allowing the company to serve homes and businesses without relying entirely on wired cable infrastructure. The service operated primarily in Southern Ontario, Quebec, and Eastern Ontario and reached approximately 60,000 television customers at its peak.

• Look Wireless InternetInternet access1999

  Look offered Internet connectivity using its wireless broadband infrastructure and related telecommunications capabilities. The Internet business became a larger part of the company’s scope after the merger with Internet Direct in 1999. The consumer Internet base was later transferred to Telnet Communications when Look exited the operating market.

• Web HostingHosting services1999

  Web hosting was among the data-related services associated with Look Communications after its combination with Internet Direct. It complemented the company’s Internet-access offering, although the available reference material does not identify specific hosting packages, technical specifications, or customer segments.

• 2013Acquire Sunwave Gas & PowerM&A

  With its telecommunications operations gone, Look pursued a proposed change of business into energy products and services.

  What changed. Look announced the acquisition of all outstanding shares of Sunwave Gas & Power Inc. in March and completed the transaction in July.

  Aftermath. The company changed its name to ONEnergy Inc. on July 12, 2013, ending the Look Communications identity as a telecommunications brand.

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• 2009Transfer customer businessesM&A

  Look’s asset-sale process required the disposition of its operating customer relationships after it ceased to be viable as an independent telecommunications provider.

  What changed. Bell Canada acquired the television customer base for Bell Satellite TV, while Telnet Communications absorbed the consumer Internet base.

  Aftermath. Look no longer had customers or employees and continued only as a corporate entity undergoing liquidation.

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• 2008Sell telecommunications assetsStrategy

  After repeated losses and an inability to regain profitability, Look decided to leave its operating telecommunications business.

  What changed. Look announced a plan to sell its assets on December 1, 2008.

  Aftermath. The sale was approved in 2009, and the television and consumer Internet customer bases were transferred to Bell Canada and Telnet Communications.

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• 1999Merge Look TV with Internet DirectM&A

  Look TV sought to broaden its wireless television business with Internet connectivity and related services.

  What changed. The company merged with Internet Direct, with Look shareholders receiving 60 percent of the combined entity and Internet Direct shareholders receiving 40 percent.

  Aftermath. The combined company adopted the Look Communications name and operated across television, Internet access, and web hosting.

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• 2013Look Communications announces proposed acquisition of Sunwave Gas & Power

  Look proposed acquiring all outstanding shares of Sunwave Gas & Power as part of a planned change in business.

  M&A
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• 2013Look Communications changes name to ONEnergy

  Following completion of the Sunwave transaction, Look Communications Inc. changed its name to ONEnergy Inc. and moved into the natural-gas and energy-products sector.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2009Court approves sale of Look Communications assets to Inukshuk

  The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the sale of Look’s assets to Inukshuk Wireless Partnership.

  M&A
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• 2009Bell Canada and Telnet absorb Look customer businesses

  Bell Canada acquired Look’s television customers for Bell Satellite TV, while Telnet Communications took over the consumer Internet base.

  M&A
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• 2008Look Communications announces asset sale

  Look announced that it would sell its assets as it withdrew from its telecommunications operations.

  Other
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• 2003Unique Broadband System becomes majority owner of Look Communications

  After acquiring shares beginning in 2002, Unique Broadband System held 51 percent of Look by the end of 2003 and treated it as a subsidiary.

  M&A
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• 2001Look Communications files for bankruptcy protection

  Look Communications sought protection from creditors during a period of financial difficulty.

  Bankruptcy
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1. Look Communications