NDP's Charlie Angus wants CRTC to pay attention to Shaw's bid to buy Canwest broadcasting assets
By Staff, February 12, 2010
The federal NDP wants Canada's broadcast regulator to take a good look at Calgary-based cablevision and radio giant Shaw Communications proposed takeover of the Canwest Global broadcasting network.
In a news release issued today, NDP cultural critic Charlie Angus said the proposed deal "presents a dangerous new threshold in media concentration".
“Not only is Shaw going to own the pipes in western Canada, they will control everything going into the pipes," Angus said. "And since Shaw is picking up these assets under a bankruptcy fire sale, it’s hard to believe that the CRTC will mandate Shaw to put any real money back into the system in the way of new programming commitments.”
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Comments
I don't like the fact that there isn't any mainstream news in the province that keeps it's head office here in B.C. This seems to be the story of British Columbia. Anyone who lives heres loves it--but we remain the World's 'pin cushion' --
A Glen P. Robbins government would look to have it's own provincial news--fund it as a crown corporation and give the politicians no say--and no influence.
It would be the first serious for profit Crown Corporation. Frankly, what is here is short serious production values, obviously money has been short. However, we can't wait around for the market to tell us how media should be.
We need to get a broader array of news, conventional and unconventional, but with British Columbia the centre of the universe//but a serious upgrade from the existing community television. I would dovetail some the new news -- into Freedom of Information as this relates to government matters--which will ensure that all news information that should be broadcast about government will be disseminated.
This is what is required in this province for better media as far as I am concerned.
They'd managed to starve the CBC down to a pale imitation of neutral media and having their druthers would shut her down completely.
The Liberals and Democrats stupidly let it all happen for campaign donations? or some twisted idea about letting the market decide?
Angus has zero chance with this one with a giant yawn from the sheeples watching the Simpsons on their big screen TeeVees.
seth