Shaw Media

Shaw Media was a Canadian television broadcasting division created when Shaw Communications reorganized the broadcasting assets acquired from the financially troubled Canwest group. Its principal property was the Global Television Network, a national conventional television system consisting of stations and rebroadcasters across major Canadian markets. The division also operated a substantial group of specialty services, including Slice, HGTV Canada, Showcase, Food Network Canada, History, H2, Lifetime, BBC Canada, National Geographic Channel and other Canadian television brands. Its operations included conventional broadcasting, specialty programming, community channels and pay-per-view services. The business inherited a long broadcasting history from Canwest. That history began in the 1970s, when a group led by Israel Asper acquired the assets of KCND-TV in North Dakota and moved the operation to Winnipeg, launching CKND-TV. Canwest subsequently acquired a controlling position in the Ontario-based CKGN-TV system, which became the foundation of the Global Television Network. Through acquisitions and affiliations, Canwest expanded Global's reach across Canada. The purchase of Western International Communications' broadcasting assets in 2000 strengthened the network in Alberta and other western markets, while the later acquisition of Alliance Atlantis broadcasting assets gave Canwest a much larger specialty-channel portfolio. Canwest's expansion was accompanied by substantial debt. The company faced worsening financial pressure during the 2008 financial crisis and entered creditor protection proceedings under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act in October 2009. In 2010, Shaw Communications reached an agreement to acquire Canwest's broadcasting operations. The transaction involved court, regulatory and creditor processes, and was ultimately approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. After closing and a corporate transition in 2011, Shaw reorganized the acquired assets as Shaw Media. As a Shaw division, the company operated independently from Corus Entertainment, although both businesses were controlled by members of the Shaw family. Shaw Media continued to develop and distribute television programming across Canada's conventional and specialty broadcasting markets. It sold BBC Kids to British Columbia's Knowledge Network in 2011. Paul W. Robertson, who had led the division from its creation, died in 2014 and was succeeded by Barbara Williams. In January 2016, Corus Entertainment announced an agreement to acquire Shaw Media for C$2.65 billion as part of a broader corporate reorganization connected with Shaw Communications' acquisition of Wind Mobile. The Canadian regulator approved the transaction in March 2016, treating it as an internal corporate reorganization because of the common ownership relationship. The transfer was completed later in 2016, after which Shaw Media was renamed Corus Media Holdings, Inc. and ceased to operate as a separate Shaw-branded media division.

Shaw Media's corporate history was rooted in the expansion of Canwest's Canadian broadcasting operations. In 1974, a group led by Israel Asper acquired the assets of KCND-TV, a station based in North Dakota, and moved the operation to Winnipeg, where it became CKND-TV. The Asper-led company later joined a consortium involved with CKGN-TV, an Ontario network of transmitters that carried programming from CKND and became known as the Global Television Network. Canwest obtained controlling interest in the network in 1985, creating the foundation for a western Canadian broadcasting group with national ambitions. During the following years, Canwest acquired or invested in independent stations throughout Canada. The company strengthened its position in Quebec in 1997 by acquiring control of CKMI-TV, then a privately owned CBC affiliate, and adding transmitters in Montreal and Sherbrooke. When CKMI left the CBC network, Canwest rebranded its station group as the Global Television Network. Global became a major purchaser of U.S. programming rights and developed a nationwide conventional television presence. Canwest expanded further in 2000 through the acquisition of the broadcasting assets of Western International Communications. The transaction improved Global's coverage in Alberta and created overlapping station coverage in certain markets. Canwest subsequently operated a second over-the-air service, initially branded CH and later associated with the E! system. In 2007, Canwest and Goldman Sachs acquired Alliance Atlantis Communications' broadcasting assets. This transaction substantially increased Canwest's specialty-channel holdings and gave the company a broad portfolio beyond conventional television. The expansion strategy left Canwest carrying heavy debt. Interest costs placed sustained pressure on the business, and the company's debt was downgraded to junk status by 2007. The 2008 financial crisis intensified the problem. Canwest reported losses and undertook cost reductions and asset sales, including the closure of the E! system in 2009. Some former E! stations were sold, one was converted into a Global station and another was closed. Canwest also sold its interest in Australia's Ten Network Holdings to reduce debt. In October 2009, Canwest and several subsidiaries sought protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. The restructuring separated or sold parts of the former conglomerate, including its newspaper operations. Shaw Communications proposed to acquire the broadcasting assets and reached agreements with lenders and other stakeholders. The transaction required approval from Canadian regulators and the courts. A modified arrangement ultimately received court approval in June 2010, competition approval in August and final CRTC approval in October. The transaction closed following a corporate transition in 2011. The former Canwest broadcasting operations were reorganized as Shaw Media. Shaw Media revived a name previously used for a separate Shaw media group before that group was spun out as Corus Entertainment in 1999. Although Shaw Media and Corus were controlled by related Shaw family interests, they operated as separately managed businesses. Shaw Media's portfolio included the Global Television Network, specialty services, community channels and a pay-per-view channel. Its specialty brands included Slice, HGTV Canada, Showcase, Food Network Canada, History, H2, Lifetime, BBC Canada and National Geographic Channel. The division experienced a leadership change in 2014 following the death of president Paul W. Robertson, who had headed Shaw Media since its formation. Barbara Williams became president. In January 2016, Corus Entertainment announced plans to acquire Shaw Media for C$2.65 billion. The deal was part of a corporate reorganization intended to support Shaw Communications' acquisition of Wind Mobile. The CRTC approved the transaction in March 2016 and did not apply the usual tangible-benefits or media-concentration scrutiny because it regarded the deal as an internal reorganization under common ownership. The transaction was completed later that year, and Shaw Media was renamed Corus Media Holdings, Inc., ending Shaw Media's existence as a separate operating division.

1. 2016Shaw Media transfers to Corus Entertainment

   Corus acquired Shaw Media in a C$2.65 billion corporate reorganization. The business was subsequently renamed Corus Media Holdings, Inc.

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2. 2011Shaw Media begins operating

   Following completion of the Canwest transaction and related corporate transition, Shaw reorganized the acquired broadcasting assets as Shaw Media.

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3. 2010Shaw agrees to acquire Canwest broadcasting assets

   Shaw Communications reached a restructuring agreement to acquire Canwest's broadcasting operations after negotiations with lenders and other stakeholders.

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4. 2009Canwest enters creditor protection

   Canwest and several subsidiaries filed under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act amid approximately C$4 billion in reported debt across the group.

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5. 2007Alliance Atlantis broadcasting assets acquired

   Canwest and Goldman Sachs acquired the broadcasting portion of Alliance Atlantis, significantly expanding Canwest's specialty-channel portfolio.

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6. 2000Western International Communications broadcasting assets acquired

   The acquisition strengthened Global's western Canadian coverage and contributed to the creation of a second over-the-air service.

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7. 1997Canwest expands into Quebec

   Canwest acquired control of CKMI-TV and added transmitters serving Montreal and Sherbrooke.

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8. 1985Canwest gains control of the Global Television Network

   Canwest acquired controlling interest in the Ontario-based Global system, establishing the core of the future national Global network.

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9. 1974CKND-TV is established in Winnipeg

   A group led by Israel Asper acquired the assets of KCND-TV and moved the station to Winnipeg, where it became CKND-TV and formed the basis of Canwest's later broadcasting expansion.

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A broad Canadian television portfolio combining a national conventional broadcast network with widely distributed specialty channels.

• Global Television NetworkConventional television network

  Global was Shaw Media's principal conventional television property and the successor to the Canwest station system. It operated stations and affiliated outlets serving markets across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The network distributed national programming while incorporating local news and market-specific content.

• HGTV CanadaSpecialty television

  HGTV Canada was a specialty service focused on home improvement, renovation, design, real estate and lifestyle programming. It formed part of Shaw Media's portfolio of broadly distributed thematic channels and continued within the larger group of specialty services transferred to Corus Entertainment.

• Food Network CanadaSpecialty television

  Food Network Canada was a food and cooking-focused specialty channel carrying culinary series, competition formats, lifestyle programming and related entertainment. It was among Shaw Media's prominent specialty properties and was included in the transfer to Corus Entertainment.

• HistorySpecialty television

  History was a Canadian specialty service centered on historical documentaries, factual entertainment and history-related series. It was one of Shaw Media's principal specialty channels before the portfolio was reorganized under Corus Entertainment.

• ShowcaseSpecialty television

  Showcase was a Canadian specialty channel associated with scripted entertainment and dramatic programming. It operated within Shaw Media's collection of specialty services and moved to Corus Entertainment with the rest of the broadcasting portfolio.

• SliceSpecialty television

  Slice was a specialty channel offering lifestyle and entertainment programming. It was part of Shaw Media's national specialty portfolio and was subsequently managed within Corus Entertainment's Canadian television business.

• 2016Sale of Shaw Media to Corus EntertainmentM&A

  Shaw Communications planned to acquire Wind Mobile and reorganize media assets held within the broader Shaw family-controlled group.

  What changed. Shaw agreed to transfer Shaw Media to Corus Entertainment for C$2.65 billion. The CRTC approved the transaction as a corporate reorganization, and the business was later renamed Corus Media Holdings, Inc.

  Aftermath. Shaw Media ceased to exist as a separate operating division, while its television networks and specialty channels continued under Corus.

  Transaction value. C$2.65 billion (Announced January 2016)

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• 2011Sale of BBC KidsOther

  Shaw Media reviewed and adjusted the specialty-channel portfolio after assuming Canwest's broadcasting assets.

  What changed. BBC Kids was sold to the Government of British Columbia through its public broadcaster, Knowledge Network.

  Aftermath. The channel left Shaw Media's portfolio and continued under public-sector ownership.

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• 2009Closure and restructuring of the E! television systemStrategy

  Canwest faced severe financial pressure and was reducing debt and operating costs across its broadcasting portfolio.

  What changed. The E! system was shut down. CHCH Hamilton, CHEK Victoria and CJNT Montreal were sold, CHBC Kelowna was converted to a Global station, and CHCA Red Deer was closed.

  Aftermath. The move reduced Canwest's conventional television footprint and preceded the restructuring that transferred the remaining broadcasting assets to Shaw Communications.

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• 2016Corus Entertainment announces acquisition of Shaw Media

  Corus announced a C$2.65 billion acquisition of Shaw Media in a corporate reorganization connected with Shaw Communications' purchase of Wind Mobile.

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• 2016CRTC approves Corus acquisition of Shaw Media

  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the transaction, treating it as a corporate reorganization because Shaw and Corus had common ownership.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2014Shaw Media president Paul W. Robertson dies

  Paul W. Robertson, the division's president since its creation, died from cancer at age 59. Barbara Williams succeeded him.

  Leadership change
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• 2011Shaw Media sells BBC Kids to British Columbia's Knowledge Network

  Shaw Media transferred the BBC Kids specialty channel to Knowledge Network, the public educational broadcaster of British Columbia.

  M&A
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1. Shaw Media
2. Canadian Communications Foundation reference for Shaw Media