Bell is attempting to repackage its $3.38-billion takeover of Astral Media to decision-makers at the CRTC. This Big Telecom power-grab would lead to higher vertical integration, less market choi…
Continue readingTag: Stop The Takeover
OpenMedia.ca: The Globe and Mail: With Astral on the ropes, Bell takes on Canadians
After speaking out against Bell’s $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media, the CRTC made a decision to listen to Canadians and block the Big Telecom expansion of power. Naturally, Bell hasn’t been so easy to give up on its power-grab – instead now taking on Canadians and the CRTC. We need
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Knocking down the Bell tower: How Canadians helped in stopping Big Telecom’s takeover
As part of a larger campaign to spread awareness about communications issues in Canada, we at OpenMedia.ca have been encouraging students at universities and colleges across Canada to run OpenMedia.ca clubs on their campuses. Previously, our campus club at OpenMedia McGill reported back on their trip to the Bell/Astral hearings
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CRTC’s Bell-Astral Decision Signals Welcome Shift Towards Transparency
Last week, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruled against Bell’s proposed $3.4B takeover of Astral Media. Following a very public hearing last month, the Commission announced that Bell had not proven that this deal would benefit the broadcasting system or be in the public interest. We are awaiting
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Canadians are taking back the CRTC and our communications
Professor Michael Geist talks about how Canadians are taking back the CRTC and our communications system. For more on the historic StopTheMeter.ca UBB campaign click here. Join OpenMedia.ca at OpenMedia.ca/allies. To see the full interview, click here. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Bell’s Takeover Goes to Ottawa?
After losing in it’s battle against Canadians before the CRTC, Bell announced it would try to get parliament to overturn the decision! Bell seemingly just can’t respect the will of citizens in a democracy. Despite Bell’s sour grapes, the federal government has stated that it won’t overturn yesterday’s groundbreaking decision
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Techvibes: CRTC blocks Bell’s $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media
Because of your support of the http://StopTheTakeover.ca/ campaign, Bell’s takeover of Astral Media has been stopped by the CRTC. Had the deal been approved, Bell would have been given an overwhelming market share of Canada’s communications – effectively allowing them to price-gouge Canadians and restrict access to the open Internet.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: We won.
Because of you, we’ve been heard loud and clear – and Bell’s takeover has been stopped. Read more about the CRTC’s decision in our Press Release.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: National Post: How Bell’s takeover would result in less competition, higher prices
As broadcast regulators review Bell’s takeover of Astral Media, we’re keeping a close eye on Bell’s increasing vertical integration that would put Canadian pricing and choice at risk. Speak out against Bell’s tightening grip over Canadian communications by telling the CRTC to StopTheTakeover.ca. Article by Chris Peirce for Financial Post
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Bell’s Astral Media takeover threatens Quebec culture
As broadcast regulators review Bell’s $3.4B takeover of Astral Media, we’ve been reviewing how this acquisition would increase telecom prices, saturate Canada’s media channels and severely limit consumer choice. Beyond affecting Canadians on a national level, Bell’s takeover could take away from Francophone cultural identity, to which Astral Media has
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CRTC exec who spent evening in Bell box operated in ‘grey area’
An ethics expert is questioning the motives of Canada’s broadcast regulators, after it was revealed that the CRTC vice-chairman was a guest in Bell’s corporate suite at a hockey game late last year. With the CRTC currently reviewing their decision of Bell’s takeover of Astral Media, let’s remind them that
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: RMR: ‘Swab’ Bell’s takeover of Canadian media
Are you an independent entity or have you become a low-level subsidiary of Bell Media? Rick Mercer helps to show how you can swab the takeover to find out if Bell’s expanding reach has taken its effect. Join our StopTheTakeover.ca campaign and let your voice be heard. Together, let’s tell
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CBC News: Yukon phone outage blamed on aging infrastructure
Bell has made it clear that should their takeover of Astral Media go through, they would use ‘tangible benefits’ (an owed tax on the $3.4B purchase) to fund the expansion of their subsidiary Northwestel. Having already received annual CRTC payments of $20M to invest in their aging infrastructure, Bell has
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: EFF: How OpenMedia is using the Internet to save the Internet
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement continues to threaten our free speech, Internet privacy and due process. As negotiators behind the TPP continue to hide the text from public eyes, we’ve been taking to the Internet to voice our concerns. With your support, we’re raising awareness of our StopTheTrap.net campaign
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Online Services are great for Canadians, but threaten Big Telecom
Big telecom companies are feeling the squeeze as online services are offering Canadians alternative, cheaper ways to communicate and get access to diverse media content. These include video services like YouTube, AppleTV, and Netflix, and Internet-based social messaging services. These services provide an easily customizable and far more affordable alternative
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: VMedia: What Bell’s takeover means for Canadians
The hearings on Bell’s $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media has ended, but we need to make sure we keep speaking out as the CRTC makes its decision as to whether or not the deal will be approved. Join our StopTheTakeover.ca campaign and let your voice be heard in telling our
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The Globe & Mail: Competition Bureau could step in to stop Bell’s takeover
Canada’s Competition Bureau is keeping a close eye on Bell’s $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media, saying that it could strike down the deal even if it passes review by broadcast regulators. Of primary concern is Bell’s increasing vertical integration, meaning that it owns both producers of content (networks) and the
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The CRTC made a priority list – We’re checking it twice
The CRTC is making attempts to emphasize affordability, access and a focus on citizen issues with a revised priorities document that was released late last week. By shifting towards an outlook that keeps the best interests of Canadians first and foremost, rather than heeding to corporate industry-defined mandates, the CRTC
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Financial Post: Bell’s vertical integration hearings begin
CRTC hearings began this morning on Bell’s proposed $3.4-billion takeover of Astral Media. If the deal is approved, it would greatly increase Bell’s media ownership across Canada’s broadcast spectrum – all at the expense of restricting fair market choice and competition for Canadians. The time to unite and speak out
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The Globe & Mail: Bell’s $3.34B takeover will shortchange competition and choice
We’ve seen how Big Telecom has been putting a cap on our data, but now Bell is looking to capitalize on Canadian choice with a $3.34-billion takeover of Astral Media. Should the deal go through, it would provide Bell with a 37.6% stake in Canadian TV viewership and an increased
Continue reading