“Canada already has one of the most concentrated media markets in the industrialized world, and the most concentrated market in the G8,” says Lindsey Pinto of OpenMedia, a network of people and organisations promoting an open Internet. “This is seen as very problematic.”
On Thursday (June 27) Canada’s broadcast and telecomunications regulator the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) allowed the television and media company Astral, to be taken over by BCE (Bell Canada Enterprises).
This was the second time that Bell had asked the regulator to allow the takeover.
BCE is Canada’s largest communications company providing telephone, Internet access, specialty television channels, and Canada’s private television network CTV.
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda spoke to Lindsey Pinto about the CRTC decision. Pinto is the Communications Manager of OpenMedia.
More information:
CRTC – CRTC approves BCE’s bid to acquire Astral’s television and radio services – here
OpenMedia.ca – Canadians disappointed in CRTC decision to approve Big Media Bell’s power-grab of Astral Media – here
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