The companies had their merger rejected by the CRTC last fall.
But an amended version of the deal won over the commissioners — even though it applied some new conditions in response to the fact that Bell will have a 35.8 per cent share of the English-language television market in Canada.
“Astral’s application put forward a different approach and responded to many of our concerns” said CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais. “Yet there remained a significant risk that BCE could exert its market power to limit choice and competition.
“To ensure the public interest is served, we are requiring BCE to invest in new Canadian programming and sell more than a dozen services, and we are putting in place a number of competitive safeguards.
“This will maintain a healthy and competitive broadcasting system that offers more programming choices to Canadian consumers and citizens and more opportunities for Canadian creators.”
Bell will be required to invest $246.9-million in tangible benefits over the next seven years, which is $72-million more than it had proposed.
The approval also stipulates that Bell has to keep all of the news and information on its local television stations intact through 2017.
A notable exemption was applied to allow for the continued operation of TSN Radio 690 in Montreal — which Bell would’ve otherwise had to sell or change the format of in order to meet radio ownership limits.
The company will not be allowed to change the station’s format from English-language sports talk for at least seven years.
Original Article
Source: canada.com
Author: Marc Weisblott
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