Media concentration

MacDoc · Jul 12th, 2006, 01:37 PM

There is breaking news about a major restructure of the Canadian media scene involving Bell and CHUM.

I'll post details as they break but.......what's your general take on media concentration?

	Quote:
	CHUM to be part of BGM: sources RICHARD BLACKWELL Globe and Mail Update An announcement of a takeover of broadcaster CHUM Ltd. by Bell Globemedia is expected this afternoon. Bell Globemedia spokesman Tom Curzon said the CHUM board was still meeting in late morning, but a joint press release was expected early in the afternoon. Shares in CHUM Ltd. have been halted all day, pending a news announcement. The combined entity would be a media powerhouse, although the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission would likely force it to sell several of its television properties because of overlap in several markets. CHUM owns a national network of 33 radio stations, 12 local television stations and 21 specialty television channels. The local television stations include City-TV stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, and A-Channel stations in Barrie, Ottawa, London, Windsor, and Wingham, Victoria, and Vancouver and CKX Television in Brandon, Manitoba. Bell Globemedia owns the CTV television network, which has 21 conventional television stations across Canada, and has interests in 17 specialty channels. It also owns the Globe and Mail and has a 15 per cent interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and the Air Canada Centre.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../Business/home

SINC · Jul 12th, 2006, 11:32 PM

MacDoc, having been the chief acquisition guy for 12 years of my career, I do have some thoughts relative to your subject. We grew our stable of newspapers from 18 to 165 in that time frame. Trouble is I am on the road with the motor home and my time is very limited, as is internet access in parts of rural Sask.

I will have some thoughts for you once I get back to normal routine and will answer your poll questions at that time. Good subject and I guess I am a bit disappointed no one has even bothered to offer an opinion as yet.

Hell, you may even find my insight surprising when I get the time to compose an appropriate response. Stay tuned.

MacDoc · Jul 12th, 2006, 11:45 PM

Hmm many votes - not much discussion - certainly those voting seem on the cautious end of the scale.
Looking forward to your insight Sinc.

Trevor... · Jul 12th, 2006, 11:52 PM

There is legitmate concerns about media concentration - but CHUM isn't much of a loss.

Their news coverage is worse than none at all and their local outlets are nothing more than wall to wall syndicated garbage. It isn't like anything is going to go unsaid because it isn't on CHUM.

SINC · Jul 12th, 2006, 11:56 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by MacDoc
	Hmm many votes - not much discussion - certainly those voting seem on the cautious end of the scale.

And so they should be. Like I said, stay tuned.

MACSPECTRUM · Jul 13th, 2006, 12:32 AM

bell could have spent a couple of bucks to expand the areas where it offers adsl
bell keeps promising, but not delivering
"reall soon now" is the mantra

not to mention that mr. ceo of bell gave himself some sort of obscene raise, a tiny fraction of which could have paid for an RSLAM to give my area ADSL service

almost makes me want to let the gov't get in on the act

ps - heavy concentrations of media outlets is a bad idea
pretty soon we'll only have corporate lines being presented
oh wait, too late
thank god for the CBC

mrjimmy · Jul 13th, 2006, 06:38 AM

	Quote:
	thank god for the CBC

Amen to that!

Although the barbarians are at the gate. Don't even try to get between the pigs and their trough. I'm sure under NAFTA the CBC will soon be ruled unfair.

Dr.G. · Jul 13th, 2006, 06:45 AM

I fear the concentration of power over the media, be it print, radio or TV, as well as the internet. I like to compare and contrast news stories to see various sides of complex issues. Concentration limits these choices.

Dr.G. · Jul 13th, 2006, 06:46 AM

"I'm sure under NAFTA the CBC will soon be ruled unfair." Mrjimmy, don't laugh, but I can see Fox News trying to come to Canada and then declaring the CBC is unfairly subsidized.

Garry · Jul 13th, 2006, 06:57 AM

I was one of the people affected by the CHUM restructuring in Calgary, so I may be a little biased right now.

There COULD be a chance (however slim) that the buyout might not happen. I would think it would be dangerous if it does. This makes all TV outlets in Canada (except for CBC of course) owned by 2 companies. There won't be any unbiased reporting anymore.

Hopefully the CRTC or the AntiTrust commission will take a stand against such a monopolistc practise.

Of course, I'm now looking for work, so I'll be losing interest in this topic quickly as my time to leave Citytv in Calgary comes nearer.

So, anyone know anyone that's looking for a mac based graphic person in the Calgary area let me know haha