OUTtv’s chief operating officer Brad Danks read my earlier story about Shaw Television’s offensive placement of OUTtv between porn channels and he contacted me to add additional information:
1) OUTtv does not currently carry any “Adult” content. OUTtv voluntarily adheres to the adult content guidelines set by the Ontario Film Board which is the only body in Canada that sets such guidelines. Shaw has been made aware of these programming changes.
OUTtv’s programming is primarily dramatic television including British hit shows like “Sugar Rush” and coming this fall “Bad Girls”, “Mile High” and “The Graham Norton Effect”.
2) Shaw has changed OUTtv’s channel placement twice in the last 18 months. Originally OUTtv was appropriately placed at Channel 100, then to Channel 200 and now to Channel 370. At no time was OUTtv advised in advance of these changes as required by the CRTC. Furthermore Shaw did not contact OUTtv at anytime prior to or after these placement changes to advise that it had issues relating to Adult Content on OUTtv. To date Shaw has not provided any explanation for the placement changes.
Shaw was asked in writing to return OUTtv to it’s [sic] original placement. Shaw has formally refused without providing any explanation.
Shaw has not returned my calls for comment.
Tod Maffin is a popular keynote speaker, national broadcaster, writer, influential blogger, and uber-nerd. [
7 Comments
Disgusting conduct on Shaw’s part.
I’ll admit I didn’t find much cause for concern about the channel placement, but now reading about the arbitrary position changes without notice or explanation, I’m pretty annoyed. I’d call Shaw and threaten to stop being a customer, but I already stopped being their customer months ago. It’s sad to see that their policies (or lack of) are as backwards as their service.
nice follow-up and reporting. please pass on any number that you find… I’ll call too.
I think if enough people make some noise, then a change will take place in Shaw’s conduct.
Thanks for the follow-up, Tod! I really can’t believe the crap that Shaw is pulling with the channel line-up. I would have had no idea that this was a part of Shaw’s regular line-up if I didn’t read/hear it from other sources. What a load of crap!!
Is there anything we can do as subscribers to change this policy? It’s completely ridiculous.
If anyone wants to make a complaint I found a link on the CRTC website… http://crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang=E
I also complained to Shaw directly:
Shaw Corporate Office
630-3rd Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 4L4
(403) 750-4500
1-888-750-7429
Cancel your cable. Its horrible service anyway. Better things to do than the idiot box.
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