Cogeco Cable is satisfied with the CRTC’s decision on vertical integration
1/2
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Cogeco Cable is satisfied with the CRTC’s decision on vertical
integration
Canadian consumers and competition will be better protected
Montréal, Canada — September 21, 2011 — Cogeco Cable (TSX: CCA) announced today that it
is generally satisfied with the decision of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) respecting the regulatory framework on vertical integration.
“In our opinion, the CRTC has really taken Canadian consumers into account in its decision.
Without the safeguards it has decided to implement, consumers could easily have found
themselves held hostage of vertically-integrated broadcasting distribution undertakings (“BDU”).
Today, freedom of choice, content richness and fair and equitable competition have won,” said
Louis Audet, President and CEO of Cogeco Cable.
This decision comes after public hearings were held at the end of last June. In its appearance,
Cogeco Cable had proposed several measures to preserve competition, and protect the interests
of Canadian consumers in a context where a few large vertically-integrated conglomerates opened
the door to anticompetitive practices. These measures were also supported by several other
independent broadcasters, distributors and telecommunications service providers.
Cogeco Cable is very pleased that the CRTC adopted most of the safeguards that it had proposed:
“We believe that the new safeguards implemented by the CRTC will help ensure that the Canadian
broadcasting and telecommunications market remains competitive, much to the benefit of
Canadian consumers,” said Louis Audet, President and CEO of Cogeco Cable. “Ultimately, they
will enable consumers to continue to receive all their television programs on the platform and via
the distributor of their choice. We are eager to contribute to the consultation proceedings that will
follow in order to make sure that today’s decision is implemented as quickly and efficiently as
possible,” ended Mr. Audet.
ABOUT COGECO CABLE
Cogeco Cable (www.cogeco.ca) is the second largest cable operator in Ontario, Québec and
Portugal, in terms of the number of Basic Cable service customers served. Through its two-way
broadband cable networks, Cogeco Cable provides its residential customers with Audio, Analogue
and Digital Television, as well as HSI and Telephony services. Cogeco Cable also provides its
business customers with data networking, e-business applications, video conferencing, web
2/2
hosting, Ethernet, private line, VoIP, HSI, data storage and security, and co-location services and
other advanced communication solutions. Cogeco Cable’s subordinate voting shares are listed on
the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA).
- 30 -
Information: Catherine Pleau
Advisor, Corporate Communications
Tel.: (514) 764-4762