The Globe & Mail: Competition Bureau could step in to stop Bell’s takeover

Canada's Competition Bureau is keeping a close eye on Bell's $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media, saying that it could strike down the deal even if it passes review by broadcast regulators. Of primary concern is Bell's increasing vertical integration, meaning that it owns both producers of content (networks) and the broadcast infrastructure to deliver it. As the CRTC reviews its decision on Bell's takeover, the time to speak out is now. Sign our petition at StopTheTakeover.ca and let's continue to amplify our voices against this grab for power. Article by Steve Ladurantaye for The Globe & Mail The federal Competition Bureau is “increasingly concerned” that BCE Inc.’s $3.4-billion purchase of Astral Media Inc. would put too much power in the hands of one broadcaster, with the watchdog saying it could strike down the deal even if broadcast regulators allow it to proceed. Competition Commissioner Melanie Aitken said her office paid close attention to the testimony last week as a parade of executives and individuals appeared before the country’s broadcast regulator at a hearing examining whether the deal would ultimately benefit Canadians. She’s not convinced. While all of the bureau’s investigations are done behind closed doors, Ms. Aitken warned she has concerns that go beyond her standard duty to review every large transaction. “We are watching closely,” said Ms. Aitken. “There have been a lot of complaints during the course of our review and we are increasingly concerned about vertical integration and its effect on competition.”

If the deal were to proceed, it would leave Bell Media with control of more than 100 radio stations and 90 television channels. But that is only part of the story – its competitors said during a week-long hearing before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) that the bigger concern is Bell’s level of vertical integration, referring to the company’s ownership of both the content, such as TSN, and the infrastructure needed to deliver it into homes.

The deal would see Bell Media in control of many of the country’s top specialty channels – such as Astral’s HBO and The Movie Network – leaving competitors such as Rogers Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc. concerned Bell will overcharge them to provide those services to their subscribers and cost them customers.

Bell says it needs to do the deal to keep the cost of content down for everyone, and to fend off an imminent onslaught of unregulated services such as Netflix which it says are an existential problem for every cable satellite company in the country.

“The benefits will flow from the execution of Bell’s strategic vision, a strategy built on unprecedented investment in Canada’s best content and on the world-class network infrastructure that will deliver it to Canadians on all four screens: TVs, laptops, smartphones and tablets, a strategy to increase choice for consumers in a very competitive marketplace,” BCE chief executive officer George Cope said on the first day of the hearing.

The CRTC said Friday it could take as long as 45 days before it decides whether the deal can proceed. The commission has several choices: it could say yes; say yes, with amendments; or reject the merger outright. The Competition Bureau has similar power, and operates independently from the CRTC. That means the deal could be killed even the broadcast regulator is satisfied it would improve Canada’s broadcast industry. Read more »

--
Read more at The Globe & Mail

Sign the petition to stop Bell's takeover »