News Release
April 19, 2002
THE CRTC APPROVES ASTRAL'S PURCHASE OF TELEMEDIA STATIONS IN
QUEBEC AND THE MARITIMES, WITH CONDITIONS
OTTAWA-GATINEAU - In a decision issued today, the CRTC approved the
purchase by Astral Media Inc. (Astral) of 21 Telemedia Radio Inc. (Telemedia)
radio stations. The stations are located in Chicoutimi, Gatineau, Montréal,
Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières in Québec, Truro in Nova Scotia, as
well as Bathurst, Fredericton, Grand Falls and Woodstock in New Brunswick.
This decision reflects the cultural, economic and public interest objectives
of the Broadcasting Act and the Commission's Commercial Radio Policy. It
also takes into account the interests of listeners, market conditions and
programming diversity.
In particular, the approval will improve the competition situation of private
radio in Quebec as well as increase stability for AM radio, whose financial
situation has deteriorated in recent years. Astral's commitments will provide
listeners with improved programming quality, particularly for information
programming. The emphasis on musical diversity will allow for more promotion of
Canadian Francophone artists and their work.
Conditions
The Commission's approval is subject to certain conditions. In particular,
Astral must maintain a level of local programming, including news that is 50%
higher than what CRTC regulations normally requires for FM stations. The newly
acquired AM stations must also continue to offer the same level of on-air local
programming and news as they do now. In keeping with Commission policies, Astral
must also inject a total of $13,620,000 towards the development of Francophone
artists. Finally, Astral must divest itself of the CFOM-FM station in Lévis in
order to comply with CRTC policy. This policy is aimed in particular at
maintaining a diversity of station owners as well as news sources for listeners
in Canadian markets.
Other Decisions
This transaction resulted from Telemedia's decision to divest itself of all
its radio and television stations across the country. In addition to this
decision, today the CRTC issued three other decisions authorising the purchase of
stations owned by Telemedia in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario by Standard
Radio Inc., NewCap Inc. and Rogers Broadcasting Ltd.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is an
independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and
telecommunications in Canada.
Reference documents:
Broadcasting Decision CRTC
2002-90
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC
2002-19
Broadcasting Decision CRTC
2002-91
Broadcasting Decision CRTC
2002-92
Broadcasting Decision CRTC
2002-93
Notice of Public Hearing CRTC
2001-10
- 30 -
Media Inquiries:
Denis Carmel, Tel: (819) 997-9403, eMail:
denis.carmel@crtc.gc.ca
General Inquiries:
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
Tel: (819) 997-0313, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819)
994-0218
Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782), eMail:
info@crtc.gc.ca
TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-2782
Copies of today's documents are available through our Internet site
(http://www.crtc.gc.ca) or by contacting the public examination room of any CRTC
office. These documents are available in alternative format upon request.
| City |
Telephone |
TDD |
Fax |
Edmonton
Halifax
Montreal
Ottawa-Hull
Regina
Toronto
Vancouver
Winnipeg |
(780) 495-3224
(902) 426-7997
(514) 283-6607
(819) 997-2429
(306) 780-3422
(416) 952-9096
(604) 666-2111
(204) 983-6306 |
(819) 994-0423
(902) 426-6997
(514) 283-8316
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(604) 666-0778
(204) 983-8274 |
(819) 994-0218
(902) 426-2721
(514) 283-3689
(819) 994-0218
(819) 994-0218
(819) 994-0218
(604) 666-8322
(204) 983-6317 |
ASTRAL MEDIA'S HOLDINGS BEFORE THE TRANSACTION
|
Radio
|
Specialty, Pay and
Pay-per-view Services |
|
Quebec
(14 Francophone stations, including networks)
Radio Énergie Network
CKMF-FM (Montréal); CIGB-FM (Trois-Rivières); CHIK-FM
(Québec City); CIMO-FM (Magog); CJAB-FM (Chicoutimi);
CKTF-FM (Gatineau); CJMM-FM (Rouyn Noranda); and CJMV-FM
(Val d'Or).
Non-network
CKRS (Chicoutimi); CJRC (Gatineau); and CKSM (Shawinigan)
50% participation in CKAC (Montréal) and CHRC (Québec)
(Radiomédia Inc.)
100% participation in Entreprises Radio Ethemin (CFOM-FM, Lévis)
Radio Énergie recently launched 3 exclusive new radio networks on the
Internet: e.energie dance, e.energie hip-hop and e.energie rock |
Pay / Pay-per-view
(6 services including 2 Francophone)
The Movie Network (100%);
Movie Pix! (100%);
Family Channel (100%);
Super Écran (100%); (Francophone)
Classic (100%);
Viewer's Choice (50.1%);
Canal Indigo (held by Viewer's Choice) (40%).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Specialty
(9 services: 8 are Francophone and 1 is bilingual -
(Teletoon)
Canal Famille (100%);
Canal D (100%);
Canal Vie (100%);
Canal Z (100%);
Séries + (50%);
Historia (50%);
Musique Plus (50%);
Musimax (50%);
Teletoon (40%). |
|
Other
Outdoor advertising company OMNI (Media Outdoor) with 3,400 panels
in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia |
TELEMEDIA HOLDINGS ACQUIRED BY ASTRAL MEDIA
Stations and Networks in Quebec
CHLT Sherbrooke
CITÉ-FM-1 Sherbrooke
CITF-FM Québec City
CHRC Québec City
CFIX-FM Chicoutimi
CIMF-FM Gatineau
CHLN Trois-Rivières
CHEY-FM Trois-Rivières
CITÉ-FM Montréal
CKAC Montréal
CKTS Sherbrooke
Digital Radio CITÉ-FM Montréal
Digital Radio CKAC Montréal
Radio Rock Détente Network Montréal
CHLN/CKSM Network Trois-Rivières/Shawinigan
Radiomédia Network
French-language Montréal Canadiens Hockey Network
French-language Montréal Expos Baseball Network
Stations and Networks in New Brunswick
CIBX-FM Fredericton
CFXY-FM Fredericton
CIKX-FM Grand Falls
CKBC Bathurst
CKHJ Fredericton
CJCJ-FM Woodstock
CKHJ/CJCJ-FM Network Fredericton/Woodstock
Stations in Nova Scotia
CKTO-FM Truro
CKTY-FM Truro
Date Modified: 2002-04-19 |
