[Satellite TODAY Insider 01-13-12] Calgary-based cable television, satellite and media operation Shaw Communications reported a 19 percent, year-over-year increase in consolidated quarterly revenue to $1.28 billion, according to its 2012 fiscal first quarter results issued Jan. 12.

   During the three months that ended Nov. 30, Shaw’s satellite division revenue grew by a modest $3 million to $209 million compared with the same period last year.  The company’s media division revenue for the latest quarter was $299 million and operating income before amortization was $120 million. Total operating income was $566 million — an 18 percent increase from the same period last year.

   Shaw CEO Brad Shaw lauded his company’s performance for the quarter and said that gains in operating income would have been higher if not for increased capital investments related to strategic initiatives, interest and cash taxes.

   “We continued to grow despite a volatile economic and competitive environment,” Shaw said in a statement. “We have a number of strategic initiatives underway, including our digital network upgrade and Wi-Fi build that support our leadership position in broadband and video, strengthening our core business. Our digital network upgrade is well underway and we recently started the trial of our Wi-Fi network at a variety of locations in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.”

   Despite Shaw’s enthusiasm, some analysts received the results with mixed reviews. Desjardins Securities Analyst Maher Yaghi said he believed Shaw had a weak operational quarter, with lower-than-expected cable, Internet and telephone subscriber growth.

   “The losses in cable subs are accelerating, which is not a positive indicator. Shaw has been very aggressive on promotions, which could help subscriber numbers in the next quarter but could come with an associated decline in margins,” Yaghi said in a Jan. 12 research note. “The fact that Shaw did not increase its dividend is another negative sign. We will look for the operational trends to improve at Shaw before changing our view on the name.”

   Shaw faced a $139 million charge related to new programming, digital transmission towers and other Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requirements linked to its acquisition of Canwest’s television business in 2011. Shaw’s free cash flow took a slight hit during the 2012 first quarter, dropping from $154 million in the same period last year to $119 million.