UPDATED (3): Commission approves Bell?/Astral takeover - with 13 conditions; boosts benefits by $72M

GATINEAU – The CRTC today approved the $3.2 billion purchase of Astral Media by BCE Inc., but Bell’s regulatory people have MUCH paperwork to file before July 29th in order to satisfy the various conditions of the approval. That said, there doesn’t appear to be anything surprising in the decision which could scuttle the transaction. As most are well aware, this is the second time Bell attempted to purchase Astral, as the Commission said no to the original 2012 deal last October. Bell executives pronounced themselves pleased Friday morning, and so they are obviously okay with all the conditions, all...