Shaw dropping channels- BBCK, CourtTV & Discovery Kids - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

ladybugblue · 2009-06-24, 05:56 PM

Hey I got a message from Shaw today that they are dropping Discovery Kids, BBC Kids, and Court TV. Now I don't subscribe to all of them but my kids really like Discovery Kids due to Grossology type of shows. Has this happened to all Shaw customers or only those in the Edmonton area? Has Shaw dropped channels before?

I am pretty disappointed...the channel offerings are pretty meek in my opinion as is, especially for children let alone dropping the limited offerings.

They ask to go to the website to add "other great programming" which I won't be doing...just disappointed.

DSgamby · 2009-06-24, 06:03 PM

ouch, I just switched to CourtTV Canada too.

The only channel that I know of that was dropped was CBC Ottawa on their Canadian Timeshift programming

Jason4653 · 2009-06-24, 08:11 PM

THe channels are being dropped everywhere not just Edmonton

vjose78 · 2009-06-25, 01:17 PM

Arent those channels category 1, which are must carry? Edit - nope they are cat 2. Glad im not with them!

hugh · 2009-06-25, 01:40 PM

Anybody got a link that explains or can post the details from the letter or email?

shawguy · 2009-06-25, 01:43 PM

Winnipeg office didn't know anything about this....where did you see this? Was it a message on the DCT? Message on your bill? Your E-mail. If it was e-mail or online can you post a pic of it?

Thanks

ladybugblue · 2009-06-25, 05:20 PM

It was a message on my phone...voicemail. They said to go to www.shaw.ca/packageupdate for more information. But this link basically replaces the channels lost with some other programming. My daughter doesn't want other programming.

vjose78 · 2009-06-25, 11:22 PM

Well if I was you I would complain to Shaw or better to CTV since they own Discovery Kids. I cant believe Shaw is so freakin stupid! I aint ever going back to them.

gordon1111 · 2009-06-25, 11:44 PM

shaw said there is no demand for these stations.

gonkster · 2009-06-25, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjose78

Well if I was you I would complain to Shaw or better to CTV since they own Discovery Kids. I cant believe Shaw is so freakin stupid! I aint ever going back to them.

Actually Corus Entertainment owns Discovery Kids not CTV.

This makes Shaw dropping the channel quite curious since Corus and Shaw were/are sort of related to one another.

CTV owns Court TV and Canwest owns BBC Kids so there isn't really a bias towards any one company in these channel removals.

Must be a business decision based on actual subscriber numbers.

hugh · 2009-06-26, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Must be a business decision based on actual subscriber numbers.

I'm certain it must be. I think people forget that every time a category 2 station is added, their is a monthly cost that must be paid.

If subscription revenues are significantly less than costs then why keep a channel?

bigoranget · 2009-06-26, 07:50 AM

I have a feeling that Discovery Kids will probably shut down sometime in late 2009 or early 2010. The US counterpart will be rebranding the station as part of a partnership with Hasbro.

I've also heard that Canwest may be looking to discontinue BBC Kids. They already got rid of the BBC-K block of programming that ran daily in the evening, early last year.

My assumption is Shaw wanted to get rid of BBC Kids and CourtTV Canada but also decided to get rid of Discovery Kids (A channel they own) so that they don't have the same PR issues they had when their Satellite arm (shaw direct) dropped some local CBC, CTV, Rogers owned stations.

talker · 2009-06-26, 08:55 AM

I wonder if dropping the channels was prompted by demands from terrestrial broadcasters wanting cable companies to pay for content they take from them?

If cable doesn't take the shows, they don't have to pay for them.

Another decision for the CRTC?

travisc · 2009-06-26, 09:59 AM

But hugh, what they pay monthly is based on subscribership levels. They don't pay a set minimum.

hugh · 2009-06-26, 10:06 AM

travisc, I understand but, it still costs money to provide the service: overhead, marketing, infrastructure and bandwidth.

If Shaw had zero customers, they would still have costs!

Also there is the opportunity cost. Why sell 3 dogs that no one is subbing to when you could be selling something more profitable?

2009-06-24, 05:56 PM	#1
ladybugblue Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kanata, ON Posts: 176	Shaw dropping channels- BBCK, CourtTV & Discovery Kids Hey I got a message from Shaw today that they are dropping Discovery Kids, BBC Kids, and Court TV. Now I don't subscribe to all of them but my kids really like Discovery Kids due to Grossology type of shows. Has this happened to all Shaw customers or only those in the Edmonton area? Has Shaw dropped channels before? I am pretty disappointed...the channel offerings are pretty meek in my opinion as is, especially for children let alone dropping the limited offerings. They ask to go to the website to add "other great programming" which I won't be doing...just disappointed.

2009-06-25, 01:40 PM	#5
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Anybody got a link that explains or can post the details from the letter or email? __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2009-06-25, 01:43 PM	#6
shawguy Premium Supporter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Winnipeg with Shaw HD, BB20, and Phone. Posts: 3,227	Winnipeg office didn't know anything about this....where did you see this? Was it a message on the DCT? Message on your bill? Your E-mail. If it was e-mail or online can you post a pic of it? Thanks __________________ - My Shaw Phone Review UPDATED - Shaw Gateway, DCT2000HT, DCT2500, DCT700, DCT6200, DCT3416, DCX3200, and DCX3400

2009-06-26, 10:06 AM	#15
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	travisc, I understand but, it still costs money to provide the service: overhead, marketing, infrastructure and bandwidth. If Shaw had zero customers, they would still have costs! Also there is the opportunity cost. Why sell 3 dogs that no one is subbing to when you could be selling something more profitable? __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

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2009-06-24, 06:03 PM	#2
DSgamby Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario Posts: 3,895	ouch, I just switched to CourtTV Canada too. The only channel that I know of that was dropped was CBC Ottawa on their Canadian Timeshift programming

2009-06-24, 08:11 PM	#3
Jason4653 Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 139	THe channels are being dropped everywhere not just Edmonton

2009-06-25, 01:17 PM	#4
vjose78 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,318	Arent those channels category 1, which are must carry? Edit - nope they are cat 2. Glad im not with them!

2009-06-25, 05:20 PM	#7
ladybugblue Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kanata, ON Posts: 176	It was a message on my phone...voicemail. They said to go to www.shaw.ca/packageupdate for more information. But this link basically replaces the channels lost with some other programming. My daughter doesn't want other programming.

2009-06-25, 11:22 PM	#8
vjose78 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,318	Well if I was you I would complain to Shaw or better to CTV since they own Discovery Kids. I cant believe Shaw is so freakin stupid! I aint ever going back to them.

2009-06-25, 11:44 PM	#9
gordon1111 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winnipeg MB Posts: 383	shaw said there is no demand for these stations.

2009-06-26, 07:50 AM	#12
bigoranget Veteran Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hamilton Posts: 2,940	I have a feeling that Discovery Kids will probably shut down sometime in late 2009 or early 2010. The US counterpart will be rebranding the station as part of a partnership with Hasbro. I've also heard that Canwest may be looking to discontinue BBC Kids. They already got rid of the BBC-K block of programming that ran daily in the evening, early last year. My assumption is Shaw wanted to get rid of BBC Kids and CourtTV Canada but also decided to get rid of Discovery Kids (A channel they own) so that they don't have the same PR issues they had when their Satellite arm (shaw direct) dropped some local CBC, CTV, Rogers owned stations.

2009-06-26, 08:55 AM	#13
talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC Posts: 57	I wonder if dropping the channels was prompted by demands from terrestrial broadcasters wanting cable companies to pay for content they take from them? If cable doesn't take the shows, they don't have to pay for them. Another decision for the CRTC?

2009-06-26, 09:59 AM	#14
travisc Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Uxbridge, ON Posts: 3,586	But hugh, what they pay monthly is based on subscribership levels. They don't pay a set minimum.