ANALYSIS: Distribution access and production funding headline contentious issues in Bell-CTV merger

By Perry Hoffman

THE CRTC MUST ENSURE that independent broadcasters have sufficient access to distribution in the wake of the BCE Inc. proposed acquisition of CTVglobemedia, say those ‘casters.As well, the Commission has to force BCE to pay the full benefits to producers in the form of 10% of the transaction’s entire $3.2-billion value, say some of those producers. These are two of the critical issues that the CRTC will have to stickhandle once it begins hearing arguments on the proposed transaction on February 1st. Generally, Bell’s fellow distributors are in favour of the transaction. But they say that safeguards need to be...