[Satellite TODAY 10-20-11] Canadianbroadcaster Shaw Communications has struck a multi-year distribution agreement with Bell Media for the right to carry its channels, the Calgary-based company announced Oct. 19. 

   Shaw, one of Canada’s largest cable operators with approximately four million subscribers, said it has secured access to 30 specialty channels, including sports networks TSN and TSN2, as well as for Space and Discovery Channel. The deal follows Shaw’s acquisition of Canwest Global in fall 2010 and Bell’s takeover of broadcaster CTV.

   Shaw competes with Bell in the Canadian satellite television market, which has regulators watching whether Canada’s merged telecom and broadcast conglomerates entities will continue giving competitors access to its TV channels. Canadian regulators ruled in September that access must not be blocked if negotiations break down.

   “This is a clear indication that distributors and programming services can achieve reasonable commercial arrangements based on competitive and market realities,” Shaw President Peter Bissonnette said in a statement.

   Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.