Earlier this year, Shaw Direct launched a video-on-demand service using adaptive streaming technology directly to satellite set-top receivers. This Internet based service was launched with over 1,500 movie and TV titles. Additional titles are slated to be added in the next few months. The app strategy is key for DTH service going forward. “We have recently launched our ‘ShawGo’ applications/apps as part of our TV Everywhere strategy. We launched our ‘MovieCentral’ one a few months ago, and then recently launched an NFL Sunday Ticket app. This gives customers, who have subscribed to a Sunday ticket, that they can run those services on their iPad, anywhere in Canada with a Wi-Fi connection. So, if you take the service on the linear side, you can actually take it with you anywhere in Canada. That has been very popular with customers,” says Shaw Satellite Operations Group Vice President Jim Cummins. 

      Catering ‘apps’ for a younger audience is also key. “We are working on the next ‘app’ which will probably be on family type programming and see where the customers want us to go. The younger generation want more and more services, and they want them right now, and want to take them wherever they want to go. We also have a voice product ready to go, ‘ShawGo Voice’, this is all part of a full strategic plan that will continue to provide value and portability to all customers,” adds Cummins.