SHAW Announces Plans to Accelerate the Deployment of its Interactive Network to Serve All of its Customers.

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1999--

Shaw Communications(TSE:SJR.B.) (Alberta Stock Exchange:SJR.B.) (Alberta Stock Exchange:SJR.A.) (NYSE:SJR) SHAW Communications today announced that it is accelerating the deployment of two-way networks in all of its Class I and II cable systems to enable it to offer interactive services such as Shaw@Home high speed Internet and digital services to the remainder of its 1.8 million customers (2.3 million homes passed).

"Our customers in these communities have expressed a strong desire to receive Shaw@Home," said Peter Bissonnette, Senior Vice President, Operations, Shaw Cablesystems G.P. "Reaching 100,000 Shaw@Home customers was a milestone that has fuelled the popularity of this great product. Through this initiative we are confident that many more thousands of Canadians will be connected to Shaw's broadband network to experience Shaw@Home and digital cable."

This initiative will be completed within six months. Over 550,000 customers in the following communities will benefit from this initiative: Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Lethbridge, Penticton, Kamloops, Prince George, Chilliwack, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, Courtney/Comox, and Powell River. Subject to regulatory approval of Shaw's pending acquisitions, additional communities will include: Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, Digby, Nova Scotia; and Moncton, Fredericton, St. John, Miramichi, Shediac, Woodstock and Bathurst, New Brunswick.

Shaw@Home has been tremendously successful within Shaw's smaller communities. Fort McMurray, for example, has achieved a penetration rate in excess of 17 percent. We anticipate similar performance in these communities which are underserved in their current access to the Internet and broadband digital services.

Shaw has one of the most advanced hybrid fibre coax networks in North America. These networks serve as the platform for future interactive services including Shaw@Home, Digital Cable and IP Telephony.

This initiative represents Shaw's final push to modernize its entire network into fully interactive bi-directional capability.

"We are excited to bring the ultimate internet experience, Shaw@Home, to our customers in these communities." commented Bissonnette.

SHAW Communications Inc. is a diversified Canadian communications company whose core business is providing broadband cable television services to approximately 1.5 million customers. Shaw also has significant interests in radio broadcasting, television networks and direct-to-home satellite television services and Internet as well as providing telecommunications and paging services to individual and business customers. Shaw is traded on the Alberta, Toronto and New York stock Exchanges.