Our company
Shaw Direct, a division of Shaw Satellite G.P., is a leading Canadian provider of digital satellite television with more than 900,000 subscribers. The company is majority owned and controlled by Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw Direct operates a state-of-the-art Direct-to-Home satellite distribution system that delivers television programming to customers across Canada. The company launched service in May 1997. Today, subscribers can choose over 650 audio and video channels. They also have access to over 10,000 on-demand TV and movie choices, plus pay-per-view movies and events.
Shaw Direct is a truly national company, with a head office in Calgary, and operations centres in Mississauga, Montreal, and Calgary.
To be responsive to customers, Shaw Direct offers sales and billing support through our call centres 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, with technical support available 24/7/365. Customers can also contact us; learn about Shaw Direct and purchase products and programming online at shawdirect.ca.
Our technology
Unlike analog cable, Shaw Direct satellite signals do not suffer signal degradation or distortion. They are digital signals, beamed directly from the satellite to your dish at home. The picture is clear and the sound is vibrant.
In April 2001, Shaw Direct made history by lighting up two satellites, Anik F1 and Anik E2, becoming the first Canadian provider to broadcast services from two satellites at the same time. In May 2013, we added a third satellite to our fleet- Anik G1. Our unique elliptical dish receives signal from all three satellites.
All current receivers are ready to deliver HD picture and Dolby Digital Plus and 5.1 sound to your surround-sound system.
In January 2000, Shaw Direct launched HDTV programming with the broadcast of Super Bowl XXXIV in HDTV. It was the first high-definition TV broadcast in Canada.
Shaw Direct leads the way in HD content with up to 115 high definition channels at no extra cost* and now features over 215 HD channels. Shaw Direct delivers something for the whole family with HD channels including FX Canada HD, AMC HD, HGTV HD, Food Network HD, Disney Junior HD, Sportsnet World HD and many more. Plus, bring the theatre-experience home with Super Channel, The Movie Network and Super Écran - all available in picture-perfect HD. Aside from delivering 10 HD network channels including CTV, CBC, PBS, FOX, CBS, NBC and ABC, Shaw Direct also brings the theatre-experience home with Super Channel HD and The Movie Network HD. Sports enthusiasts can soak up all the stunning details of every play on their wide-screen HDTVs with high-definition broadcasts from Rogers Sportsnet and TSN. Other HD channels include Discovery Channel, A&E, National Geographic, Showcase, and WGN plus five French channels: SRC, Super Écran, Séries+ HD, Canal Vie HD, Ztélé HD and RDS HD.
Customers with an HD TV can reap all the visual rewards of HD television with one of our HD satellite receivers. Our receivers let you watch HD, 3D, on-demand and standard-definition programming in 100% digital picture and sound. The Advanced HDPVR can pause, replay and record live TV, thanks to dual tuners and a 320-GB hard drive. You can record up to 220 hours of programming and watch one show while you record up to two others. The Essential HD Receiver, our sleekest receiver ever, features HDMI out for delivering 1080p resolutions and 3D-ready technology directly to your HD TV. Plus, our receivers allow you to see up to 14 days into the future with our interactive On-Screen Guide.
*Subscription to equivalent standard-definition channel required. Must have an HDTV, an HD receiver and an elliptical satellite dish to receive and view High Definition channels.