Shaw Takeover of Canwest A Strike Against Media Diversity

Shaw Takeover of Canwest A Strike Against Media Diversity

Citizen group calls proposed sale into question

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2010


Vancouver (BC)– One of Canada’s largest media corporations, Canwest Global Communications, has agreed to sell a controlling stake to cable television and radio giant Shaw Communications. Last fall, an essential section of the Canwest corporation was granted court protection. The Shaw-Canwest agreement would help Canwest emerge from creditor protection and give Shaw access to an increased amount of popular specialty channels as well as Global TV.


Shaw already controls over 40 radio stations, 25 specialty stations, 5 television stations as well as cable distribution and Internet provision assets. If the agreement goes through, Shaw will control an even greater amount of media content in Canada, in addition to owning most of the cable infrastructure in western Canada.


National Coordinator of OpenMedia.ca, Steve Anderson explained, “what Canada needs right now is more media diversity and thus more policy decisions that support independent media. Allowing Shaw to buy Canwest's broadcasting assets will be a strike against media diversity in Canada and will add yet another impetus for Shaw to tilt its Internet and TV distribution towards its own commercial media interests.”


For the diversity of Canada’s media environment, it is essential that the CRTC considers the public interest when reviewing Shaw's proposed takeover of Canwest.


Contact:

Steve Anderson
National Coordinator
OpenMedia.ca
604-837-5730
[email protected]