Growing Chorus asks Ottawa to Say No to Bell Canada’s Acquisition of Astral Media Inc.



NEWSRELEASE COMMUNIQUÉDEPRESSE



GrowingChorusasksOttawatoSayNotoBell Canada’s

AcquisitionofAstralMediaInc.

SAYNOTOBELL.CAWEBSITELAUNCHEDTOALERTPUBLICTORISKSFROMUNPRECEDENTED

CONCENTRATIONOFMEDIAOWNERSHIP

Ottawa,August7,2012–Canadiansareaskingthefederalgovernmenttodisallowtheproposed$3.38

billiontakeoverofAstralMediaInc.byBellCanada.

Fromindividualconsumerstomajorcommunicationscompanies,Canadiansareincreasinglyworried

abouttheconcentrationofmediaassetsunderoneroofandthemarketdominationthisdeal

represents.Tothisend,anationalcoalitionhascometogethertoopposethetransaction.

Today,thewebsiteSayNotoBell.cawaslaunchedtopromoteanational campaignwithtwoobjectives:

first,warnthepublicoftheriskstothemasconsumersandofthepotentialharmtotheCanadian

televisionindustryifthisunprecedenteddealisapproved;andsecond,encourageCanadianstocontact

theCompetitionBureauandtheCanadianRadio‐TelevisionandTelecommunicationsCommission

(CRTC)andvoicetheirconcerns.

Ifthedealisapproved,BellCanadawouldcontrol:

• 42%ofCanadianprivatecommercialtelevisionprogrammingrevenues;

• 45%ofEnglish‐languagetelevisionaudiences;

• 35%ofFrench‐languagetelevisionaudiences;

• 79TVchannels,107radiostations,morethan100websites,whichistwiceasbigasitsnearest

competitor.

• 38%oftotaladvertisingrevenuesfromtelevisionand31%fromradioprogramming;andamong

nationaltimesales,40%and38%,respectively.

Theleadersofthecoalitioncommentedontheproposedmerger:

“AscommunicationsindustryleadersandconcernedCanadians,weviewitasourresponsibilityto

informthepublicofthedangersinherentinthisproposedmergerandtoopposethisanti‐

competitivegambitbyBellCanada,”saidLouisAudet,PresidentandCEOofCogecoCableInc.“This

dealisnotinthepublicinterest.”

“Fewoftheworld’smajoreconomiespermitasingleprivatebroadcastertoacquiresucha

dominantshareofTVviewing.BellCanada’sTVaudiencesharewouldbe50%greaterthanthe

audienceshareofthelargestprivatefirmsintheUSA,Japan,UK,Australia,FranceorevenRussia,”

saidLeeBragg,CEOofEastlink.“Givingoneprivatebroadcastersodominantashareofthe

televisionmarketisbadforconsumersandbadforCanada.”



EmilyWehbi EmilyWehbi

emily.wehbi@saynotobell.ca emily.wehbi@ditesnonabell.ca

+1.613.762.4207 +1.613.762.4207



NEWSRELEASE COMMUNIQUÉDEPRESSE

EmilyWehbi EmilyWehbi

emily.wehbi@saynotobell.ca emily.wehbi@ditesnonabell.ca

+1.613.762.4207 +1.613.762.4207



“BellCanada’sproposedmergerwithAstralMediaInc.posesaseriousthreattothehealthofthe

Canadianbroadcastingindustry,”saidPierreKarlPéladeau,PresidentandCEOofQuebecorInc.

“CompetitionwillbeseverelyreducedandthebroadcastmarketasweknowitinCanadawillbe

handcuffed.”

BellCanadaalreadyownsCTVandTSNandhasadominantpresenceinallsectorsofbroadcastingand

telecommunicationsinCanada,withannualrevenuesofover$19billion.Inanefforttoboostitsmarket 

shareevenfurther,thecompanymadeanofferonMarch16,2012toacquireAstralMediaInc.for$3.38

billion.AstralMediaInc.currentlyprovidesHBOCanada,TheMovieNe twork, ViewersChoice,and

manyotherpopularTVchannels.Thefederalgovernmentwillconsiderthisproposedtransactionover

thenextfewweeksandadecisionisexpectedbytheendofthisyear.

Historydemonstratesthatwhentoomuchpowerisconcentratedinonecompany,itleadstohigher

pricesandpoorerchoices.ThecoalitioniswarningconsumersthatifBellCanadacontrolsallofthemost

populartelevisioncontent,theycouldchargeconsumersanypricetheywanttowatchit.Togetpopular

channels,youcouldfacepressuretopayforotherBellCanadachannelsthatyouarenotinterestedin

watching.Towatchpopular programs,youmaybepressuredtobuyotherBellCanadaphone,wireless,

InternetandTVservices.

ThedealcouldresultinthecreationoffeweroriginalCanadianprograms,andfewerjobsinCanadianTV

production.Finally,advertisingratescouldincrease–coststhatareeventuallypassedontothe

consumer.

ConcernedCanadianscanvoicetheiroppositiontothedealbyvisitingwww.saynotobell.ca

and

submittingaletterthroughthewebsitetoCanada’sMinistersofHeritageandIndustry,theCompetition

Bureau,theCRTCandtheirownMemberofParliament.

AboutthewebsiteatSay NoToBell.ca

SayNoToBell.caisbroughttoyoubyCanadianswhoareconcernedaboutincreasingmedia

concentrationinCanada.Westandin oppositiontotheproposed$3.38billionBellCanadaacquisitionof

AstralMediaInc.andwishtoinformthepublicandlimittheriskposedbythemerger.Wecallonthe

CompetitionBureau,theCanadianRadio‐televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission(CRTC),and

theGovernmentofCanadatoblockthisdeal.

—30—



Formoreinformation:EmilyWehbi

emily.wehbi@saynotobell.ca

613‐762‐4207



Back to press release

Press release details

Growing Chorus asks Ottawa to Say No to Bell Canada’s Acquisition of Astral Media Inc.

SUSTAINABILITY

Cogeco Fund

Contact us