TORONTO – As the Rogers-Shaw over-the-top viewing portal shomi is wound down by the end of November, many have wondered what the companies are going to do with the content they have under contract.
There were rampant rumours throughout the summer as the two companies pondered their commitment to shomi, and sources told Cartt.ca that Amazon was a player in trying to negotiate a content arrangement with Rogers and Shaw to launch its video streamer in Canada.
We asked Rogers Communications CEO Guy Laurence these questions yesterday during a press session announcing its innovative new wireless data usage tool.
When it comes to deciding what to do with the content catalogue? “We have to go through it with Shaw, because they’re our partner,” Laurence said, adding that there are other ways Rogers can use the streaming rights online and on its various viewing apps.
“We have to go through every single piece of content,” he added.
Laurence also said he does not at all regret launching shomi, adding while many people loved the service, “not enough of them loved it to pay the bill".
“We don’t regret it at all. We wanted to try something, we are always willing to try stuff and if people want to penalize me for some things not working out, I don’t care… We’re just going to keep trying. We’re innovators, right?”
But when asked about the rumours that Amazon had been talking with the shomi partnership in search of a way to launch its Prime Video service in Canada, Laurence told us that we had to ask Rogers Media president Rick Brace.
So we did, and in an email, Brace was unequivocal, saying: “There have been no discussions whatsoever with Amazon.”
