Rogers cheers CRTC decision on BCE as “good day for consumers”

Rogers Vice-Chairman Phil Lind: “”We commend the CRTC for this courageous decision. We believe that Canadians should have fair and open access to content. This is a good day for consumers.”
Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B) this afternoon released a short press release cheering the CRTC decision to nix the proposed acquisition of Astral Media by rival BCE.

The release consisted only of a quote from Rogers Vice-Chairman Phil Lind.

“We commend the CRTC for this courageous decision.” said Lind, adding: “We believe that Canadians should have fair and open access to content. This is a good day for consumers.”

Earlier today, The CRTC announced it had denied BCE’s (TSX:BCE) application to acquire control of Astral Media’s television and radio services because it is not in the public interest.

“BCE failed to persuade us that the deal would benefit Canadians,” said Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman of the CRTC. “It would have placed significant market power in the hands of one of the country’s largest media companies. We could not have ensured a robust Canadian broadcasting system without imposing extensive and intrusive safeguards, which would have been to the detriment of the entire industry.”

BCE the parent company of Bell, wants to buy multimedia company Astral for $3.4 billion.

BCE competitors Telus, Rogers, and Quebecor argued the transaction would not be in the best interest of consumers and would be bad for competition.

BCE operates Bell Media, one of Canada’s largest media companies, which owns the Canadian television networks, CTV and CTV Two, plus thirty other specialty television channels, Bell Media Radio, and a chain of retail stores. BCE owns 18% of the Montreal Canadiens and, along with its competitor Rogers, now owns a majority stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns several Toronto professional sports franchises, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. BCE ranked number 262 on the 2011 edition of the Forbes Global 2000 list.

Astral Media operates 84 radio stations and 20 pay and specialty television channels in both official languages.