Tim Brown 2016 wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

Given the recent decision by the CRTC on Internet prices, and the lobbying power of Bell & Rogers, does anyone else get the feeling that this has already been decided and these hearings are just a bit of political theatre?

Yes.
 

Yep!
 

RadioActive wrote:

Another warning about this merger - with CKWS Kingston singled out as a market where local news could disappear. Yet the reporter also notes at the end that the deal is expected to be approved by the CRTC. Which likely won't surprise anyone.

If I were at City TV, I might look forward to the thumb's up. But if I'm at Global, maybe it's time to polish that resume. 

Global News will take a huge hit if the Rogers-Shaw deal goes ahead — and local news like Kingston’s CKWS will be on the front line

Ask the students @ Queen's University what they think of CKWS news. 

MJ Vancouver wrote:

If Shaw doesn’t want to operate a station like CKWS or CHEX, they should sell them

They did.

CKWS and CHEX and other Global stations are owned by Corus.
 

MJ Vancouver wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

Another warning about this merger - with CKWS Kingston singled out as a market where local news could disappear. Yet the reporter also notes at the end that the deal is expected to be approved by the CRTC. Which likely won't surprise anyone.

If I were at City TV, I might look forward to the thumb's up. But if I'm at Global, maybe it's time to polish that resume. 

Global News will take a huge hit if the Rogers-Shaw deal goes ahead — and local news like Kingston’s CKWS will be on the front line

Large companies such as Shaw, Rogers and Bell should not be in the business of small market local television. The US model of having the networks own stations in large markets while outsourcing stations in smaller markets to smaller operators seems to work quite well. Just look at how well served Erie, PA is for local news - a market similar in size to Kingston, flanked on three sides by the much larger Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo markets - and they have two ownership groups that run local television (one for WICU and WSEE, and one for WJET and WFXP).

If Shaw doesn’t want to operate a station like CKWS or CHEX, they should sell them and let them remain affiliated with a network. Though that model is rare in Canada, it is still done in Thunder Bay, Lloydminster, and Riviere-du-Loup.

Nobody would want them. The linked article points out that Canadian OTA channels, as a whole, haven't made money since 2012.

The situation in the US is much different, where there is far more regulation, including fee-for-carriage and only local network affiliates being allowed on cable/satellite. 
 

Media Observer wrote:

No mention of television concerns;  but Minister says Rogers will not be allowed to acquire all of Shaw's wireless spectrum licenses.

https://clearthis.page/?u=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-rogers-will-not-be-allowed-to-acquire-all-of-shaws-wireless-spectrum/

Hopefully Quebecor will take ownership of Freedom Mobile.
I may not be the biggest fan of that company, but it's a lot better than Rogers wiping out Freedom. Last thing we need is the Freedom to pay more.   

andysradio wrote:

Pending approval, Rogers could consider turning those Global repeaters in Eastern Ontario into Citytv.
OR
Turn CHEX and CKWS into Citytv and leave the Global repeaters in place.

Why would Rogers have any say over a Corus owned property? 

Elected MPs said no to the Rogers-Shaw buyout. Will Justin Trudeau dare say yes?