CRTC Delays

[OpenMike]

CRTC hearings delay Alliance purchase
Barbara Shecter, Financial Post
Published: Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The federal broadcast regulator has delayed a hearing, originally planned for next week, to scrutinize CanWest Global Communications Corp.' s takeover of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.

CanWest said yesterday the date change to Nov. 19 is the result of a later-than-planned closing of the $2.3-billion deal struck in January. It means the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will first hold hearings aimed at setting new policies for media consolidation and diversity. Those hearings are set to begin Sept. 17.

Before yesterday's delay on the Alliance hearing, the CRTC had said acquisitions made before the media diversity hearings, including the purchase of specialty TV operator Alliance Atlantis by CanWest and partner Goldman Sachs Group Inc., would not be subject to any policy changes or new restrictions.