May 18, 2013 — News Article: How Ottawa's plan to foster wireless competition sank by Rita Trichur, Sean Silcoff and Boyd Erman
Columnists say that the Telus-Mobilicity takeover announcement is a powerful signal that the current government’s wireless strategy is on life support.
May 13, 2013 — News Article: New research finds 92 percent of time spent on news consumption is still on legacy platforms by Rick Edmonds
Columnist says when you measure news consumption in the U.S. by time spent, rather than raw audience numbers, digital platforms are getting only 8 percent of the action.
Apr 9, 2013 — News Article: Cogeco holds firm against Bell-Astral deal by Luann Lasalle
Columnist says Cogeco Cable Inc. is still opposed to BCE Inc. buying specialty broadcaster Astral Media despite changes to the deal, saying consumers will have higher costs and less choice.
Apr 2, 2013 — Policy Brief: BN CRTC 2013-106 (BCE Acquisition of Astral)
FRIENDS supports the applications regarding BCE's acquisition of Astral, subject to the CRTC's due diligence.
Mar 28, 2013 — News Article: As Rogers circles the Jays, it’s tough to tell press from fans by Simon Houpt
Columnist asks how are Rogers can maintain editorial integrity while covering the Toronto Blue Jays when the company owns the team.
Mar 8, 2013 — News Article: Murdoch’s spun-off publisher seen as possible bidder for Time Inc. by Liana B. Baker & Jennifer Saba
Analysts estimate that Time Inc., which is expected to become a stand-alone public company at the end of the year, will be worth about $2-billion to $3-billion.
Mar 6, 2013 — News Article: BCE, Astral, pitch benefits package to CRTC
BCE Inc. and Astral Media Inc. have proposed a $174.64-million tangible benefits package in a renewed effort to win the CRTC's approval of their plan to combine two of Canada's biggest media companies.
Mar 5, 2013 — News Article: Corus eyes aggressive TV expansion in Quebec by Steve Ladurantaye
Corus Entertainment Inc. says it wants to aggressively expand its television offerings in Quebec and its purchase of several speciality channels in the province is only the first step in its plan.
Mar 4, 2013 — News Article: Rivals ready to pounce as BCE reveals details of new Astral deal by Steve Ladurantaye
Columnist says that months after announcing a new deal to buy Astral Media Inc. for $3-billion, the details of BCE Inc.’s bid will be made public for the first time and are likely to cause a major stir in the Canadian media sector.
Jan 16, 2013 — News Article: Calculating the cost of cord cutting in 2012 by Barry Link
Columnist says despite the extra work involved, a review of his spending on TV in 2012 shows cutting the cord was the smarter financial choice.
Jan 10, 2013 — News Article: BCE, Astral hope for ‘abbreviated hearings’ on latest tie-up attempt by Steve Ladurantaye
BCE Inc. and Astral Media Inc. hope that Canadian regulators will cut the companies a break and hold “abbreviated hearings” into their proposed $3-billion merger, which has already been rejected once over concerns about media concentration.
Dec 13, 2012 — News Article: Supreme Court nixes 'fee for carriage' broadcast plan
Canada's highest court has struck down a fee for carriage system that could have seen cable companies required to pay TV stations for their signals, a cost that could have been passed on to consumers.
Dec 13, 2012 — News Article: Top court rejects CRTC plan to allow broadcasters to charge for signals by Randall Palmer
The Supreme Court of Canada says the CRTC does not have the authority to impose a value-for-signal plan under which television broadcasters would charge cable and satellite firms for their programming.
Dec 13, 2012 — News Article: Broadcasters say top court ruling leaves local stations on the ropes by Steve Ladurantaye
Private television broadcasters are warning that local stations can’t continue to exist on advertising revenues alone, after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the stations shouldn’t be paid for their signals when they are rebroadcast by cable and satellite companies.
Dec 13, 2012 — News Article: Top court sides with cable, satellite firms by Stephanie Levitz And Luann Lasalle
The CRTC does not have power to make cable providers pay broadcasters for carrying their TV signals, states a decision handed down by the Supreme Court of Canada.
Nov 19, 2012 — News Article: BCE resubmits CRTC application for Astral Media takeover by Etan Vlessing
Bell Canada Enterprises has repackaged its $3.38 billion takeover of indie broadcaster Astral Media.
Nov 2, 2012 — News Article: 'Premature' to call Astral deal dead by Jamie Sturgeon
Columnist says the head of the telecom sector's biggest player is awaiting word from the federal cabinet as to whether the government will force broadcast regulators to re-evaluate a $3.38-bil-lion bid for Astral Media Inc., which was rejected two weeks earlier.
Nov 1, 2012 — News Article: With Astral Media Deal in Limbo, Canada's BCE Posts Lower Q3 Earnings by Etan Vlessing
Columnist says despite airing the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Canadian phone giant's radio, TV and digital media division felt the impact of a soft ad market.
Nov 1, 2012 — News Article: BCE says it will keep dividend growth strategy if Astral deal doesn't go ahead by LuAnn LaSalle
BCE Inc. says its strategy to keep growing its shareholder dividend is on track and doesn't depend on the acquisition of Astral Media.
Nov 1, 2012 — News Article: With Astral deal on ropes, BCE keeps its options open by Steve Ladurantaye
BCE Inc. vows to protect its dividend strategy and consider other takeovers if last-ditch efforts to rescue a $3-billion bid for Astral Media fail.
