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Blackburn Radio, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryMedia
HeadquartersLondon, Ontario
Key people
Richard Costley-White (deceased)
Former President / CEO
ProductsRadio broadcasting
Websitewww.blackburnradio.com

Blackburn Radio, Inc. is a Canadian radio broadcasting group, which owns several radio stations in Southwestern Ontario. Headquartered in London, Ontario, the company is owned by 2061302 Ontario Limited, which is majority owned by Cogent Investments.

The three Chatham stations were previously owned by Webster and Bea-Ver Communications, which was acquired by Blackburn Radio in April 2005.

In 2006, during CRTC hearings reviewing commercial radio policy in Canada, Blackburn requested that all of its radio stations on or near the U.S. border be permitted to reduce their Canadian content requirement to 20 per cent. CHUM Limited's radio stations in Windsor have been granted this special exemption, due to competition from the Metro Detroit media market, and Blackburn has stated that all of its stations in the region face similar competitive challenges.


History

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Astral Media Vehicle

1936 disaster

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On April 12, 1936 the roof of the mine collapsed, trapping three men, Herman Magill, Dr. David Robertson and Alfred Scadding,[1] 150 feet down for 11 days. The men were reached by drilling a borehole on the sixth day to bring food, water and a telephone till the rescue was completed. Robertson and Scadding survived and Magill died on the seventh day. The event was broadcast by J. Frank Willis of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC) to more than 650 radio stations throughout North America, over the course of fifty-six hours, and was picked up by the BBC and broadcast to Europe.[2][3] It was the first live 24-hour radio coverage of a breaking news story in Canada.[4]

Today, there is a provincial park with a cairn and there was a plaque where the borehole was drilled, and there is a museum portraying the history of the gold mine.[5] The plaque was stolen sometime before June 28, 2006. It has yet to be recovered.

Astral Communications Limited

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Astral was constituted in 1973 under the name Astral Bellevue Pathé Limited. Astral eventually undertook videocassette duplication and video wholesaling. Astral also produced or executive produced over 100 feature films and television programs and television miniseries. the films were released by American Cinema Releasing.[6]

In 1983, the Greenbergs acquired complete control of two pay television networks, First Choice (now known as The Movie Network) and Premier Choix TVEC (now Super Écran), at which point Astral ceased to be directly involved in film and program production. The company would later expand its television operations by launching new specialty networks. Later, it also became involved with the home video market, lasting from the mid-1980s until at least 1996. In February 2000, Astral Communications changed its name to Astral Media.

In recent years, Astral had expanded into radio, beginning with the 2000 acquisition of Radiomutuel, and the 2002 purchase of most of the radio assets of Telemedia, although those companies' joint AM radio network Radiomedia was ultimately sold to Corus Entertainment for competitive reasons. Radiomutuel also owned a controlling share of outdoor advertising firm Omni Outdoor (which eventually became the fully owned Astral Out-of-Home division), as well as several French-language specialty channels such as Canal Vie, Ztélé, Séries+, VRAK.TV, and 50% stakes in MusiquePlus and MusiMax (then co-owned with CHUM Limited).

Former logo, from 2000 to 2010, using the full company name.

On February 23, 2007, Astral Media announced that it had signed a letter of intent and had entered into exclusive negotiations regarding the acquisition of "substantially all of the assets" of Standard Radio.[7] A formal agreement was later announced, with the proposed transaction being approved by the CRTC on September 28, and completed on October 29 of the same year. The transaction gave Astral Media a significant foothold in English-language radio.

In May 2010, Astral Media remodeled its image with the introduction of a new logo. The company then began trading simply as "Astral" and all references to the "Media" part were removed from the logo and airwaves. However, the company's official name remained Astral Media. Following this change, Astral relocated its headquarters to a building that was renamed after itself.

Acquisition by Bell Media

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On March 16, 2012, Astral Media announced that it accepted an estimated $3.38 billion takeover bid by Bell Canada to merge with the company's Bell Media division. Astral Media shareholders approved the acquisition of all of its issued and outstanding shares by Bell Media on May 24, 2012;[8] the acquisition of Astral Media's issued and outstanding shares by Bell received approval by the Quebec Superior Court during a hearing on May 25, 2012.[9]

Opposition and rejection

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The Bell/Astral merger was notably opposed by several competing media companies. Cogeco, Vidéotron, and Eastlink formed a coalition and awareness campaign known as "Say No To Bell" in August 2012 to publicize their concerns surrounding the deal. The companies believed that the merger could financially cripple smaller cable companies due to increased carriage rates, and that Bell's control of a majority of Canadian media would harm consumer choice.[10] During the CRTC's hearing, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation also believed that Bell's plans to launch a French-language news channel (which would compete with its own Réseau de l'information) funded using its mandatory tangible benefits was "self-serving and unprecedented."[11] In September 2012, the Competition Bureau stated that it was becoming "increasingly concerned" about the implications of the merger, and warned that it could oppose the deal even if it were to be approved by the CRTC.[12]

On October 18, 2012, the CRTC announced that it had rejected BCE's proposal to acquire Astral Media. The commission cited that their combined market power could "threaten the availability of diverse programming for Canadians and endanger the ability of distribution undertakings to deliver programming at affordable rates and on reasonable terms on multiple platforms", and also stated that allowing the merger would have required the implementation of "extensive and intrusive safeguards" across the entire broadcasting industry. The CRTC also felt that Bell did not adequately demonstrate how having most of Canada's French-language media be owned by two vertically integrated companies would improve competition, and how being bigger would allow it to compete against foreign services.[13]

Second attempt

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Following the rejection of the deal by the CRTC, Bell Canada CEO George A. Cope asserted that calling the merger dead was "premature", citing that the formal merger agreement between Bell and Astral did not expire until December 16, 2012, and either company could extend it to January 15, 2013. Bell attempted to ask the Cabinet to overturn the CRTC's decision, but was told that they did not have the ability to do so. Bell also reportedly considered going to the Federal Court of Appeal, or restructuring the deal to selectively sell Astral assets to competing companies. Rogers Media expressed interest in acquiring some of Astral's channels if such a sale were to occur.[14][15] On November 16, 2012, Astral confirmed that it was in talks with Bell to negotiate a new offer, which would involve the sale of the majority of its English-language television channels to third parties.[16]

On March 4, 2013, the Competition Bureau approved a new proposal by Bell to acquire Astral Media, which would involve the divestiture of certain television channels and radio stations owned by the combined company, and was subject to restrictions preventing Bell from imposing restrictive bundling requirements on any provider seeking to carry The Movie Network or Super Écran (which were among the eight channels that would be acquired by Bell through the merger).[17] The CRTC made the proposed takeover proposal public on March 6, 2013.[18] Unlike the previous deal, which would have given Bell a 42% share of the English-language television market, the new deal gave Bell a total market share of 35.7%, and increased its French-language market share to 22% (in comparison to 8% before).[19][20] On March 18, 2013, the Competition Bureau cleared a proposed deal to sell Astral's stakes in several channels to Corus Entertainment in preparation for regulatory approval.[20]

In a speech to the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television prior to the hearings, Bell Media's president Kevin Crull detailed plans to invest in French-language productions and maintain a distinct operation in Montreal devoted to its French-language outlets. Crull also praised the role of Québecor Média (despite the company, ironically, being opposed to the merger) in using its own vertical integration strategy to help promote Francophone talent, and revealed his intention to try and emulate the "star system" Québecor had developed to help promote talent in English Canada.[21]

Hearings and approval
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CRTC hearings on the new proposals began in May 2013. Asserting that it would have to sell or shut down the station without one, Bell organized a petition proposing an exception to the ownership cap (similar to one that the CRTC granted Cogeco in its purchase of Corus Québec) that would allow it to maintain ownership of CKGM, under the condition that Bell maintain the TSN Radio format on the station and provide $245,000 in funding for local amateur sports and scholarships in sports journalism over a seven-year period. Commissioner Suzanne Lamarre commented that Bell could have sold another station instead, given most of the comments on Bell's petition only supported CKGM maintaining a sports radio format, and not Bell's purchase of Astral. In response, Bell's CEO George A. Cope commented that the company did not want to sell off profitable radio stations, and Astral CEO Jacques Parisien remarked that breaking up its Montreal cluster would affect their operation.[22]

Rogers called on the CRTC to require that Bell divest The Movie Network, claiming that Bell would make it harder and more expensive for competing service providers to access The Movie Network's content (especially on its own Anyplace TV and on-demand services) if Bell were to own the service. Bell disputed Rogers' claims, stating that the company already had a long-term deal to distribute The Movie Network on its cablesystems, and noted that Rogers had expressed interest in purchasing the service if it were to be divested.[23] Bell indicated that it would not go ahead with the deal if it were forced by the CRTC to sell additional media outlets.[24] Rogers also showed interest in making a "reasonable offer" to purchase CKGM as a compliment to its recently acquired TV station CJNT-DT. Under Rogers ownership, CKGM would have kept its sports talk format, but as a Sportsnet Radio station instead of TSN Radio.[25]

On June 27, 2013, the CRTC approved Bell's acquisition of Astral Media, which closed on July 5, 2013. The deal is subject to conditions, including the requirement to provide fair treatment to its competitors, to not impose "restrictive bundling practices" on Astral's premium movie channels, invest $246.9 million over the next seven years on Canadian-produced programming, and to maintain the operation and local programming levels of all of its television stations through 2017. The CRTC also approved Bell's proposed exemptions for maintaining ownership of CKGM.[26][27]

Divestments
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Following the approval of the new proposal by the Competition Bureau, Corus Entertainment reached a tentative deal to acquire 10 radio stations, along with Astral's stakes in Historia, Séries+, and the Teletoon networks from Bell for just over $400 million. Bell also divested Family, Disney Junior (both English and French), Disney XD, MusiMax and MusiquePlus and 5 radio stations at auction.[17] The divested stations and channels were temporarily held in a blind trust by Pierre Boivin until the completion of their acquisitions.[28] In 2017, Corus attempted to sell Historia and Séries to Bell for $200 million, but the deal was blocked by the Competition Bureau for violations of conditions forbidding Bell from re-acquiring divested Astral properties for 10 years.[29]

On May 16, 2013, the Jim Pattison Group announced a deal to acquire three stations in Calgary and Winnipeg from Bell and Astral—CKCE-FM, CHIQ-FM, and CFQX, for an undisclosed amount. The deal expanded the Jim Pattison Group's operations in Calgary (where it was planning to launch a brand new station, CHPK-FM), and gave the company its first stations in Manitoba.[30]

On August 26, 2013, Newcap Radio announced its intent to acquire five stations in Toronto and Vancouver from Bell and Astral—CHBM-FM, CFXJ-FM, CKZZ-FM, CHHR-FM and CISL.[31]

On November 28, 2013, the children's television production and distribution company DHX Media announced that it had reached a deal to acquire Family and its sister networks for $170 million.[32][33]

On December 4, 2013, Remstar, owners of the French television system V, announced that it would acquire MusiquePlus and MusiMax—the last of the Bell/Astral properties being sold, for an undisclosed amount.[34]

Formerly-owned stations

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Category:Radio broadcasting companies of Canada Category:Companies based in London, Ontario

Stations

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Radio Sarnia-Lambton


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  1. ^ MacDonald, David (1977) "Buried Alive at Moose River", Reader's Digest, January, pp. 160-174.
  2. ^ Benedict, Michael Les; Frayne, Trent (2000). "The Cave-in That Shook the Country". In the face of disaster: true stories of Canadian heroes from the archives of Maclean's. New York, N.Y: Viking. pp. 117–127. ISBN 0-670-88883-4.
  3. ^ The Canadian Communications Foundation. "Moose River Mine Disaster". History of Canadian Broadcasting. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference agns was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Moose River Gold Mines Provincial Park" (PDF). Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Astral Bellevue". Globe and Mail. 15 January 1981. ProQuest 386796617. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  7. ^ Astral Media announces signature of letter of intent to acquire Standard Radio
  8. ^ Astral Shareholders Approve Acquisition by BCE, Broadcaster Magazine, May 24, 2012.
  9. ^ Astral Receives Final Court Approval for Acquisition by BCE, Broadcaster Magazine, May 25, 2012.
  10. ^ Johnson, Julia. "Cable company opposition to Bell's Astral purchase heats up". Financial Post. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  11. ^ "CBC challenges BCE-Astral deal". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Competition Bureau flags Bell-Astral deal". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  13. ^ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-574". CRTC. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  14. ^ "With Astral deal on ropes, BCE keeps its options open". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  15. ^ "As Astral posts gains, Greenberg looks to rescue BCE deal". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  16. ^ "Astral confirms talks with BCE to resurrect takeover deal". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  17. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference gandm-closer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Astral and Bell Comment on New Acquisition Application to CRTC, Broadcaster Magazine, March 6, 2013.
  19. ^ "Competition Bureau OK's BCE-Astral deal, with conditions". CBC News. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Competition Bureau clears Corus acquisition of Astral assets". The Globe and Mail. Toronto: Canadian Press. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  21. ^ "Bell wants to duplicate Quebec's star system in English Canada". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  22. ^ "Bell resistant to CRTC's TSN 690 proposal". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  23. ^ "Rogers seeks order that Bell sell Movie Network if Astral takeover is allowed". Canadian Press. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Bell won't sell more of Astral's assets to win OK for merger". Canadian Press. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  25. ^ "Rogers tells CRTC it is willing to buy TSN 690". The Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  26. ^ "CRTC approves Bell/Astral deal with conditions". Toronto Star. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  27. ^ "CRTC approves Bell-Astral merger". CBC. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  28. ^ Biblic, Mirko. "Re: Voting Trust Agreement between BCE Inc. and Pierre Boivin, the trustee Application No. 2013-0243-9 – Approved". CRTC. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Analysts predict steeper Corus dividend cut after watchdog blocks $200-million sale of TV stations to Bell". Financial Post. 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  30. ^ "Pattison group looks to buy castoffs from Bell Astral deal". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  31. ^ "Newcap signs agreement with Bell Media to acquire five radio stations in Toronto and Vancouver". CNW. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  32. ^ "DHX Media to buy Family, other children's channels". Toronto Star. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  33. ^ "DHX to acquire Family Channel, three others from Bell Media". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  34. ^ "Bell Media signs deal to sell MusiquePlus and MusiMax to V Media Group". Canadian Press. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
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