CRTC approves CTVglobemedia Inc. purchase of CHUM Ltd., excluding five Citytv stations

OTTAWA and GATINEAU, June 8 – As first reported in cartt.ca yesterday, the CRTC has approved the transfer of effective control of CHUM Ltd. to CTVglobemedia Inc., but the deal comes at a stiff price: CTV can take on the A-Channel stations, but not the more lucrative Citytv stations in Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. The decision – enabling CTV to buy seven TV stations, 34 radio stations and, in whole or in part, 20 specialty TV services – has been issued with what appears to be unprecedented speed, with only six weeks having elapsed from the end of...