OTTAWA – In response to a report from the industry committee urging the federal government to block Rogers’s proposed takeover of Shaw Communications, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne declined to comment on the matter specifically but pointed to a number of policy developments that he says will help alleviate concerns about telecom competition and prices.
In March, the committee recommended that the government block the proposed deal on the grounds that it allegedly would stunt competition. If ISED – which is reviewing the spectrum licensing portion of the deal – permits the merger, the committee urged the government…
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TORONTO, CALGARY and MONTREAL – Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications and Quebecor Inc. announced late Friday night they have reached an agreement for the sale of Freedom Mobile to Quebecor in a deal valued at $2.85 billion, subject to regulatory approval.
Rogers initiated a process of selling Freedom several months ago, after the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne released a statement saying he would not permit Rogers to acquire all of Shaw’s wireless assets.
The sale of Freedom to Quebecor “will ensure the presence of a strong and sustainable fourth wireless carrier across Canada,” a press release says. “The…
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Tribunal releases scheduling order putting hearing in November
COMMISSIONER OF COMPETITION Matthew Boswell is pushing back against claims Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications have made about the competitive impact of their proposed merger and the proposed divestiture of Freedom Mobile, arguing that selling Freedom is not enough to outweigh the negative effects he claims the deal will have on competition.
In replies to Rogers’ and Shaw’s responses to the commissioner’s application to the Competition Tribunal seeking to have the proposed merger blocked, which were made public by the tribunal today, the Commissioner of Competition reiterated that he does not…
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THOSE WHO ARE CLOSELY following the approval process of the proposed merger of Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications will know the outside date for closing the transaction was extended from March 15, 2022, to June 13, 2022, and was extended again last month to July 31, 2022.
So, we are already looking in the rear-view mirror at one (soon to be two) outside closing dates.
What is going on? A lot.
Competition Tribunal
Last month, the Commissioner of Competition Matthew Boswell filed an application to the Competition Tribunal seeking to block the merger. He also filed an application seeking…
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WHITEHORSE – Chu Níikwän LP, the business arm of Kwanlin Dün First Nation, and Northwestel announced today they are partnering to build a Yukon headquarters for the telecommunications company.
“The headquarters will be located on Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) settlement land on Quartz Road in Whitehorse, with the architecture inspired by Kwanlin Dün artistic and cultural traditions,” a press release says.
Chu Níikwän will build and own the new three-storey building while Northwestel will lease the top two floors for at least twenty years.
“The ground floor will be developed on spec in anticipation of a growing need for modern office…
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OTTAWA — The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) will be celebrating an important milestone this weekend — June 12 marks CPAC’s 30 years of providing viewers with unfiltered coverage of Canadian Parliament, politics and public affairs.
“Created for Canadians in 1992 by a consortium of cable companies to preserve an independent editorial voice for Canada’s democratic process, CPAC quickly became Canadians’ go-to resource for commercial free, gavel-to-gavel coverage of parliamentary proceedings,” reads a press release highlighting CPAC’s upcoming 30th anniversary.
Over the years, the channel’s coverage has grown to include House of Commons and Senate committee meetings, Supreme Court of Canada…
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TORONTO — Production company Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, today announced the promotion of Nick Crowe (above, left) to head of unscripted development and the appointment of Tara Elwood (right) to full-time production executive.
Previously a production executive, Crowe’s expanded role will see him lead Saloon’s development team “as it continues to expand its unscripted portfolio in North America and the international marketplace, with a focus on factual entertainment, formats and specials,” says a press release.
“Building on Saloon’s award-winning slate of history, science, true crime and paranormal programming, under Crowe’s leadership, the development team will continue to broaden…
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Shaw says Freedom was built to be easily separated from Shaw
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS AND Shaw Communications today filed their responses to the Competition Bureau’s application to the Competition Tribunal for an order blocking their proposed merger, with Rogers calling Commissioner of Competition Matthew Boswell’s position “unreasonable”.
In an application to the Competition Tribunal, filed last month, the commissioner indicated he is seeking to prevent the Rogers and Shaw merger due to concern over the impact he alleges it will have on wireless competition in the country.
Rogers, however, says the commissioner’s analysis “is flawed and incomplete.”
“Contrary to the Commissioner’s allegations, the…
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TORONTO – toober, a Toronto-based live television app*, announced today it has launched 13 new channels, all of which are available immediately to all subscribers.
The channels, launched in May, include: Afriwood Blockbuster, Agrotendencia (Costa Rica), Azteca Clic (Mexico) Azteca Cinema (Mexico), Dancehall Channel (Jamaica), INTI (Ecuador), Kiddiwinks (South Africa), M&E TV (Trinidad), MTM (Mercy and Truth Ministries TV, Jamaica), Sports Connect (South Africa), True African TV (South Africa), TTT (Trinidad) and UCL (Paraguay, Un Canal Latinamericano).
“toober aims to fill a gap in the live streaming market by providing subscribers access to all of their favourite channels from around the…
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TORONTO – Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) today unveiled new original series including We Are One and Mind Your Own Business.
We Are One will debut tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET. A description in a press release says: “Every family is unique. Meet Canadian families – that include members of the disability community – as they share stories of adapting, growing and supporting each other. In the debut episode, meet the family of Ollie Acosta-Pickering, a young boy who was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma and who is now legally blind.”
Mind You Own Business will debut July 6 at 8…
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