Pattison gets its approval on three Bell/Astral radio stations

By Steve Faguy

GATINEAU - In contrast to high-profile hearings to discuss the proposed acquisition of Astral Media by BCE, or the shorter hearing for Corus's acquisition of assets BCE was required to divest in the deal, the CRTC has approved the acquisition of three radio stations in Calgary and Winnipeg by Jim Pattison Ltd. without a full public hearing.As a condition of its approval of the BCE/Astral deal, the CRTC required Bell to divest 10 radio stations in markets where the merger of the two companies put it over the limits set by the Commission's common radio station ownership policy (in major...