GATINEAU – The CRTC announced yesterday it will hold a public hearing starting November 22 at 9 a.m. MST (11 a.m. EST) into the broadcast side of the proposed Rogers/Shaw deal.
The Commission will specifically consider an application “for Rogers to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Shaw and the authority for Rogers to operate various licensed broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) currently owned by Shaw in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba,” as well as Shaw Direct, Shaw Broadcast Services, and Shaw Pay-Per-View, according to a CRTC notice of consultation.
The application also seeks approval for Rogers to acquire Shaw subsidiary Shaw Cablesystems Limited’s 25.17% interest in Cable Public Affairs Channel Inc. (CPAC).
“Rogers would also acquire Shaw’s exempt BDUs’ serving locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Prior approval from the Commission is not required for that portion of the transaction since these services operate under an exemption order,” the notice of consultation reads.
The public hearing will “consider whether the proposed transaction is in the public interest.” As such, it will look at its impact on, among other things, the competitive landscape, on customers and on diversity of voices. It will be held in a hybrid format, with an in-person hearing in Gatineau, Quebec and an audio and video feed available on the CRTC’s website. Participants will be allowed to contribute to the hearing remotely.
The CRTC is currently accepting interventions and comments, which must be submitted by September 13.
The notice of consultation acknowledges the size and scope of the proposed transaction between Rogers and Shaw, and specifies that, while “the transaction also involves Shaw’s wireline telecommunications services (including home telephone and Internet), wireless telecommunications services (including wireless telephony operating under the brands Freedom Mobile and Shaw Mobile), and business automation and security,” the CRTC will not be reviewing those elements, as they do not need prior Commission approval.
For the full notice of consultation, please click here. To submit an intervention, please click here.
