SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of May, 2009
Shaw Communications Inc.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
Suite 900, 630 — 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 4L4 (403) 750-4500
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of
Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F o Form 40-F þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the
registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o No þ
If “ Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection
with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant, Shaw
Communications Inc., has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
| Date: | May 6, 2009 Shaw Communications Inc. |
By:
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/s/ Steve Wilson |
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Steve Wilson |
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Sr. V.P., Chief Financial Officer |
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Shaw Communications Inc. |
NEWS RELEASE
Shaw Announces Continued Subscriber Growth During the Two Month
Period Ending April 30, 2009
Period Ending April 30, 2009
Calgary, Alberta (May 6, 2009) — Shaw Communications Inc. today announced continued
subscriber growth since last reporting second quarter results for the period ended February 28,
2009. Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair Jim Shaw commented “Cable subscriber results exceed
the two month customer figures from a year ago and it is clear that despite challenging conditions
Shaw is well positioned to weather the storm and continue our track record of superior financial
performance and customer growth. We remain on track to achieve our financial guidance for fiscal
2009, which includes generating free cash flow of at least $500 million.”
Subscriber Highlights
| Growth | ||||||||||||||||
| Total balances as at | Two months ended | Eight months | ||||||||||||||
| ended | ||||||||||||||||
| April 30, | August 31, | April 30, | April 30, | |||||||||||||
| 2009 | 2008 (1) | 2009 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
Subscriber statistics: |
||||||||||||||||
Basic cable customers |
2,280,957 | 2,260,433 | 7,053 | 20,524 | ||||||||||||
Digital customers |
1,151,206 | 909,167 | 74,833 | 242,039 | ||||||||||||
Internet customers (including pending installs) |
1,645,340 | 1,569,052 | 19,006 | 76,288 | ||||||||||||
DTH customers |
894,573 | 892,528 | (2,060 | ) | 2,045 | |||||||||||
Digital phone lines (including pending installs) |
758,155 | 611,931 | 38,779 | 146,224 | ||||||||||||
| (1) | August 31, 2008 figures are restated for comparative purposes as if the acquisition of the Campbell River cable system in British Columbia had occurred on that date. |
Mr. Shaw further commented “These strong subscriber results for the first two months of the
third quarter demonstrate the continued resilience of our business and strength of our strategy in
the face of weaker economic conditions across Western Canada and heightened competition in our
markets. The telecommunication companies that operate in our areas have been offering a TV product
for a number of years and during this period of increased competition we have still been able to
grow our basic cable customer base by approximately 65,000 subscribers since August 31, 2006(2).”
“Our customers embrace the value proposition of our services and we will continue to enhance our
products going forward. During the last two months we have expanded our digital simulcast in
various markets, including Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton. This will contribute to our digital TV
growth and we will be launching our all digital line-up in Red Deer, Kamloops and Thunder Bay in
May. We have rolled out a 100 mbps internet
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offering, using DOCSIS 3.0 technology, in Saskatoon. Additional launches will occur in Victoria in
May, Winnipeg in June and all other major markets this summer. Later this year, we are also
planning to introduce leading edge video services that will take advantage of our superior
broadband capabilities to provide customers with a new level of in-home experience.”
These subscriber results are provided for information purposes only and the Company cautions that
third quarter results could be affected by normal course seasonality factors that typically occur
in the month of May. This includes, but is not limited to, the disconnection of services by
university students. Shaw Communications Inc. plans to release its unaudited third quarter
financial results at the end of June.
The statement as to the Company’s guidance is a forward-looking statement and there are risks which
may cause actual results to differ materially. You should not place undue reliance on the guidance.
Certain readers use the guidance to assess the Company’s expected operational and financial
performance and as an indicator of its ability to service debt and return cash to shareholders. The
guidance may not be appropriate for other purposes. The guidance is based on assumptions about
general economic and industry growth rates, currency exchange rates, technology deployment, content
and equipment costs, and industry structure and stability and is subject to factors that could
cause actual results to be materially different from the guidance, including, among others: general
economic, market or business conditions and industry trends; opportunities that may be presented to
and pursued by Shaw; Shaw’s ability to execute its strategic plans; changes in the competitive
environment in the markets in which Shaw operates and from the development of new markets for
emerging technologies; changing conditions in the entertainment, information and communications
industries; and changes in laws and regulations, political and regulatory policies and decisions by
regulators that affect Shaw or the markets in which it operates. These and other assumptions and
factors are discussed in the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for fiscal 2008 and for
the first and second quarters of 2009.
| (2) | Excludes the impact of acquisitions |
About Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified communications company whose core business is providing
broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Digital Phone, telecommunications services
(through Shaw Business Solutions) and satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct). The
Company serves 3.4 million customers, including over 1.6 million Internet and 750,000 Digital Phone
customers, through a reliable and extensive network, which comprises 625,000 kilometres of fibre.
Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index
(Symbol: TSX — SJR.B, NYSE — SJR).
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For more information, please contact:
Shaw Investor Relations
Investor.relations@sjrb.ca
Shaw Investor Relations
Investor.relations@sjrb.ca
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