Shaw Communications has signed a long-term agreement with Bell Media to carry 30 channels owned by the company.
The Calgary-based telecommunications operator did not specify for how long the agreement will run.
Included in the deal are Bell-owned channels like TSN, RDS, Space and the Discovery Channel.
“This is a clear indication that distributors and programming services can achieve reasonable commercial arrangements based on competitive and market realities,” said Shaw president Peter Bissonnette in a release.
The agreement secures the relationship between Shaw, as a cable provider, and Bell as a broadcaster, after a decision last month by the federal regulator that prevents telecom companies from keeping their television content – including sports and live events – exclusively to themselves on mobile devices.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission also has said distributors like Bell Canada, Quebecor Media, Rogers Communications and Shaw need to give Canadians more flexibility by next April in choosing channels they want in their TV packages.
In its announcement, Shaw said its subscribers can select the channels through traditional packages or its plan personalizer, which allows a more a la carte service.
Shaw Communications is Canada’s second-biggest cable TV operator and also has satellite TV operations.
