Home Bell secures competition approval for Astral takeover
 

Keywords :   


Bell secures competition approval for Astral takeover

2013-03-05 08:50:00| Telecompaper Headlines

(Telecompaper) Bell Canada had received clearance from competition authorities for its takeover over Astral Media. The transaction also requires approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The Competition Bureau's approval is the result of an agreement under which Bell will sell a number of Astral TV services. Bell Media will retain the French-language SuperEcran, CinePop, Canal Vie, Canal D, VRAK TV and Z Tele, and the English-language services The Movie Network, which includes HBO Canada and TMN Encore. The divestitures respond to public interest concerns, including TV viewership share, identified by the CRTC in its October 2012 decision rejecting Bell's original application seeking approval of the Astral transaction. Overall, the divestitures will result in Bell Media having a French-language viewing share of 23.0 percent, below competitor Quebecor's 30.5 percent share. In English-language viewership, Bell Media will have a 35.7 percent share, 2.0 percent more than its current share. Bell Media first announced the takeover in March 2012 for CAD 3.38 billion and now expects to close the deal by June.

Tags: approval competition bell takeover

Category:Telecommunications

Latest from this category

All news

»
05.11Tube strikes called off after union talks
05.11BASF Opens New Production Line in Heerenveen, the Netherlands
05.11NI rise hits workers harder than employers, says OBR
05.11Baker Labels installs Durst Tau RSC 340 LED digital press
05.11Tropical Storm Rafael Graphics
05.11Tropical Storm Rafael Wind Speed Probabilities Number 8
05.11Tropical Storm Rafael Public Advisory Number 8
05.11Summary for Tropical Storm Rafael (AT3/AL182024)
More »