CRTC gets tough on Shaw

The CRTC has taken the unusual step of renewing Shaw Communications’ operating licences for only two years, as opposed to the standard seven-year term granted to most companies, reports local newspaper The Globe and Mail. The decision follows several clashes between the company and the regulator. The watchdog claims that Shaw’s breaches of the rules include putting too many commercial messages on its community channel, a lack of weather warnings on its cable feed and ignoring simulcast rules for US network signals. Shaw, the country’s second largest cableco by subscribers, says it will not comment on the ruling.