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Canada: Second chance at Bell, Astral deal launched

By  |  May 6, 2013

Canada’s Radio-television Telecommunications Commission is set to hear a second argument for telecom giant Bell to acquire media company Astral. The CRTC ruled against the deal last fall over concerns the acquisition would increase prices for consumers and limit choice. But Bell is now offering to divest most of Astral Media’s television channels in hopes the offer will quell competition fears. Public hearings are scheduled for today on the plan. But at least one antitrust expert, Janet Lo, who will go before the CRTC at the public hearings, suggests that the revised deal still raises the same concerns as Bell’s initial attempt to buy the deal; others suggest the CRTC may approve. The acquisition has already been granted approval from Canada’s Competition Bureau.

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