Shaw Satellite Division Opens Online VoD Library Canada-Wide

Shaw Direct, the satellite division of Canada’s Shaw Communications, is making its video-on-demand (VoD) library accessible anywhere in Canada to its 910,000 subscribers over the company’s nationwide satellite footprint. Shaw Direct customers now can watch hundreds of movies and TV shows on their computers with Shaw Direct Online VoD.

Shaw Direct customers now have access to an online VoD library at vod.shawdirect.ca, where they can order programs on demand and watch them on their computers. Shaw Direct customers also will have access to music programming from Galaxie Broadband Player, with 40 online music channels.

Although Shaw’s cable customers have had access to the MSO’s VoD and linear content via the Internet, the company’s satellite customers did not. The reason for the distinction is that the cable-TV customers also can subscribe to its Internet services, and many of Shaw’s satellite-TV customers get their Internet service from other providers.

"We wanted to be able to provide them with access, assuming they have a high-speed data connection, even if they’re a Bell customer. We have an extensive library of movies on an authenticated basis," says Peter Bissonnette, president at Shaw Communications.

He continues, "VoD is a sticky product for cable customers. Getting movies to our Shaw Direct customers has been one of the gaps. They may be in Newfoundland or downtown Toronto, but they’re somebody else’s Internet customers.”

The company says this is only the first phase of Shaw Direct VoD technology, with more methods of content delivery, including VoD capabilities through its advanced digital receivers, slated for the near future.

-Linda Hardesty