CRTC tells Bell it must prove its case that buying Astral is in public interest

MONTREAL – Bell (TSX:BCE) is making its case for a second time before the CRTC that it should be allowed to buy Astral Media (TSX:ACM.B) under a revised plan.

The broadcast regulator killed the deal last fall, saying it wasn’t in the best interests of Canadians and would have made Bell too dominant, especially in the TV market.

CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais says the regulator will again determine whether the $3.4-billion deal is in the interest of the public and the broadcasting system.

The revised plan would see Bell (TSX:BCE) sell all of Astral’s English language specialty services and one of its English pay TV services, the Family channel. It would keep eight of Astral’s channels including the Movie Network.

Bell also says it will sell 10 of Astral’s 84 radio stations and will acquire less than half of Astral’s French language specialty services.

The telecom giant also says it’s making a commitment to keep all local television stations open and plans to increase air play for emerging Canadian artists to at least 25 per cent on relevant radio stations.