CRTC approves Shaw's purchase of the Canwest Global television properties
OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Oct. 22 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today approved Shaw Communications Inc.'s (Shaw's) acquisition of the conventional television stations and specialty channels controlled by Canwest Global Communications Corp. (Canwest Global).
"We are satisfied that this transaction will generate substantial benefits for the Canadian broadcasting system," said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. "Shaw will provide the television properties involved in the transaction with stable ownership as they emerge from a period of uncertainty. The broadcasting system also stands to gain from Shaw's commitment to support local and independent programming and the transition to digital television."
As part of any ownership transaction in the broadcasting sector, the buyer is expected to make specific commitments to fund initiatives that will improve the Canadian broadcasting system. In this case, the CRTC took into consideration the fact that the Global Television Network and certain specialty channels were operating under bankruptcy protection.
As a result, it has accepted Shaw's proposal to spend $180.1 million over the next seven years to:
- support the transition to digital television by converting 67 analog transmitters in smaller markets to digital
- provide and install a satellite receiver and dish, at no charge, to viewers who lose access to the over-the-air signals of their local or regional television stations as of August 31, 2011, as well as free satellite access to those signals
- produce new two-hour morning newscasts in Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax
- purchase more drama, documentary and comedy programs from independent producers, and
- invest in new media content that will support news programming and programs of national interest.
During the proceeding, Shaw also promised to make the rights to its television programming available to its competitors for broadcast on mobile devices and over the Internet.
Today's decision follows a public proceeding that included a public hearing, which was held from September 21 to 23, 2010.
In addition, the CRTC today also launched a public proceeding to study the wider implications of the growing number of integrated media companies in the Canadian broadcasting system. The proceeding will include a public hearing starting on May 9, 2011, in Gatineau, Que.
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-782
Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-783
The CRTC
The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
Reference document:
News release, "CRTC provides update on the transition to digital television," July 16, 2010
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2010/r100716.htm
These documents are available in alternative format upon request.
Additional information on the Shaw/Canwest Global transaction
Key dates
| October 6, 2009 | Canwest Global files for creditor protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act |
| November 2009 | Canwest Global initiates a process to identify potential Canadian investors for its television properties |
| February 19, 2010 | Canwest Global's board approves Shaw's offer to purchase a 20% equity and 80% voting interest |
| March 31, 2010 | Shaw files an application with the CRTC, asking it to approve its purchase of the Canwest Global television properties |
| May 3, 2010 | Shaw acquires 29.9% of the voting shares and 49.9% of the non-voting shares in Canwest Investments Co. from Goldman Sachs & Co. |
| May 4, 2010 | Shaw files an amendment to its initial application with the CRTC |
| May 18, 2010 | Canwest Global files an application with the CRTC to effect a corporate reorganization |
| July 28, 2010 | The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approves Canwest's "Plan of Compromise, Arrangement and Reorganization" |
| September 21, 2010 | The CRTC holds a three-day public hearing in Calgary, Alta., to review the transaction |
| October 22, 2010 | The CRTC approves the transaction |
Specialty television channels
Shaw Communications Inc. has acquired the following specialty channels:
| Type of licence | Specialty service |
| Analog | Food Network Canada |
| HGTV Canada | |
| Historia | |
| History Television | |
| Série+ | |
| Showcase | |
| Slice | |
| TVtropolis | |
| Category 1 | The Cave (minority interest) |
| Discovery Health Network | |
| Independent Film Channel | |
| Mystery | |
| ONE: The Body, Mind and Spirit Channel (minority interest) | |
| Category 2 | BBC Canada |
| BBC Kids | |
| DejaView | |
| D.I.Y. Network | |
| Dusk (minority interest) | |
| Fine Living | |
| Fox Sports World Canada | |
| Movie Time | |
| National Geographic Channel | |
| Reality TV | |
| Showcase Action | |
| Showcase Diva |
Conventional television stations
Shaw Communications Inc. has acquired the following conventional television stations:
| Province | Stations | Transmitters |
| Alberta | CICT-TV Calgary | CICT-DT Calgary (digital transmitter) |
| CICT-TV-1 Drumheller | ||
| CICT-TV-2 Banff | ||
| CITV-TV Edmonton | CITV-DT Edmonton (digital transmitter) |
|
| CITV-TV-1 Red Deer | ||
| CISA-TV Lethbridge | CISA-DT Lethbridge (digital transmitter) |
|
| CISA-TV-1 Burmis | ||
| CISA-TV-2 Brooks | ||
| CISA-TV-3 Coleman | ||
| CISA-TV-4 Waterton Park | ||
| CISA-TV-5 Pincher Creek | ||
| British Columbia | CHKM-TV Kamloops | CHKM-TV-1 Pritchard |
| CHBC-TV Kelowna | CHBC-TV-1 Penticton | |
| CHBC-TV-2 Vernon | ||
| CHBC-TV-3 Oliver | ||
| CHBC-TV-4 Salmon Arm | ||
| CHBC-TV-5 Enderby | ||
| CHBC-TV-6 Celista | ||
| CHBC-TV-7 Skaha Lake | ||
| CHBC-TV-8 Canoe | ||
| CHBC-TV-9 Apex Mountain | ||
| CHRP-TV-2 Revelstoke | ||
| CHKL-TV Kelowna | CHKL-TV-1 Penticton | |
| CHKL-TV-2 Vernon | ||
| CHKL-TV-3 Revelstoke | ||
| CKKM-TV Oliver/Osoyoos | ||
| CISR-TV Santa Rosa | ||
| CISR-TV-1 Grand Forks | ||
| CKTN-TV Trail | ||
| CKTN-TV-1 Castlegar | ||
| CKTN-TV-2 Taghum | ||
| CKTN-TV-3 Nelson | ||
| CKTN-TV-4 Creston | ||
| CIFG-TV Prince George | ||
| CHAN-TV Vancouver | CHAN-DT Vancouver (digital transmitter) |
|
| CHAN-TV-1 Chilliwack | ||
| CHAN-TV-2 Bowen Island | ||
| CHAN-TV-3 Squamish | ||
| CHAN-TV-4 Courtenay | ||
| CHAN-TV-5 Brackendale | ||
| CHAN-TV-6 Wilson Creek | ||
| CHAN-TV-7 Whistler | ||
| CITM-TV 100 Mile House | ||
| CITM-TV-1 Williams Lake | ||
| CITM-TV-2 Quesnel | ||
| Manitoba | CKND-TV Winnipeg | CKND-DT Winnipeg (digital transmitter) |
| CKND-TV-2 Minnedosa | ||
| New Brunswick | CIHF-TV-2 Saint John | CIHF-DT-2 Saint John (digital transmitter) |
| CIHF-TV-1 Fredericton | ||
| CIHF-DT-1 Fredericton (digital transmitter) |
||
| CIHF-TV-3 Moncton | ||
| CIHF-DT-3 Moncton (digital transmitter) |
||
| CIHF-TV-11 Woodstock | ||
| CIHF-TV-12 St. Stephen | ||
| CIHF-TV-13 Miramichi | ||
| CIHF-TV-14 Charlottetown (P.E.I.) | ||
| CIHF-DT-14 Charlottetown (P.E.I.) (digital transmitter) |
||
| Nova Scotia | CIHF-TV Halifax | CIHF-DT Halifax (digital transmitter) |
| CIHF-TV-4 Truro | ||
| CIHF-TV-5 Wolfville | ||
| CIHF-TV-6 Bridgewater | ||
| CIHF-TV-7 Sydney | ||
| CIHF-TV-8 New Glasgow | ||
| CIHF-TV-9 Shelburne | ||
| CIHF-TV-10 Yarmouth | ||
| CIHF-TV-15 Antigonish | ||
| CIHF-TV-16 Mulgrave | ||
| Ontario | CIII-TV-41 Toronto | CIII-DT-41 Toronto (digital transmitter) |
| CIII-TV Paris | ||
| CIII-DT Paris (digital transmitter) |
||
| CIII-TV-2 Bancroft | ||
| CIII-TV-4 Owen Sound | ||
| CIII-TV-6 Ottawa | ||
| CIII-DT-6 Ottawa (digital transmitter) |
||
| CIII-TV-7 Midland | ||
| CIII-TV-12 Sault Ste-Marie | ||
| CIII-TV-13 Timmins | ||
| CIII-TV-22 Stevenson | ||
| CIII-DT-22 Stevenson (digital transmitter) |
||
| CIII-TV-27 Peterborough | ||
| CIII-TV-29 Oil Springs | ||
| CIII-TV-55 Fort Erie | ||
| CFGC-TV Sudbury | ||
| CFGC-TV-2 North Bay | ||
| Quebec | CKMI-TV-1 Montreal | CKMI-DT-1 Montreal (digital transmitter) |
| CKMI-TV Quebec | ||
| CKMI-DT Quebec (digital transmitter) |
||
| CKMI-TV-2 Sherbrooke | ||
| CKMI-DT-2 Sherbrooke (digital transmitter) |
||
| Saskatchewan | CFRE-TV Regina | CFRE-DT Regina (digital transmitter) |
| CFRE-TV-2 Fort Qu'Appelle | ||
| CFSK-TV Saskatoon |
For further information:
Media Relations:
http://support.crtc.gc.ca/CRTCSubmissionMU/forms/Mediarelations.aspx?lang=e
Tel: 819-997-9403, Fax: 819-997-4245
General Inquiries:
Tel: 819-997-0313, TDD: 819-994-0423, Fax: 819-994-0218
Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-CRTC (2782)
http://crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang=E
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