rje1 wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

Interesting opinion piece in the Globe and Mail.  Legacy media's value has been sliding for years here and everywhere.  Is it time for Bell and Rogers to get rid of media assets? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-bce-inc-sell-bell-media/ 

And who would Bell and Rogers be able to sell their media divisions to?


 

 Right now the list isn't huge but it would depend on how the assets were sold, and the price.  As the article says, the value of the media divisions have been shrinking for years. Bell and Rogers would sell off the assets in pieces.  

With the changes in FM ownership could open up some possibilities for medium sized companies to expand in some markets, and western based companies like Pattison to move into eastern Canada. Or eastern based broadcasters looking to get into western Canada.  

Not the best thought and not necessarily good for broadcasting, but private equity firms could buy some of the assets as they have with newspapers.  Also there is the possibility of more foreign ownership being allowed.

Some stations could go for reasonable prices and be good value.  Depends on how bad Bell and Rogers want out.  As the article mentions, it could be not as clear or easy for Rogers because of family ownership and the fact that Rogers has a long legacy and base in broadcasting.  Not with Bell, they have little history in media, no emotional ties and not run by individuals with broadcasting backgrounds.  Also for both companies the broadcast divisions are very much the secondary segment for both revenue and profit. 

This is all just speculation, since both Bell and Rogers have made large investments in their media divisions fairly recently.  Bell with the big expansion of Pinewood Studios and Rogers with the three year renovations at Rogers Centre. Or, could all of this just be preparation for the big sell off to make the properties more appealing and valuable? 

Last edited by paterson1 (December 17, 2022 12:45 am)