Concentration Of Media A Concern

Longtime media analyst and author Mark Federman said he was very surprised to learn of Bell Globemedia’s takeover bid, especially considering both companies have such different styles.

“I was shocked actually, very surprised. The cultural culture of the CHUMCity group is very different than that of Bell Globemedia,” he said.

Federman said he has a problem with one company operating two channels in cities across the country.

“The diversity of thought is lessened.  It means that there’s an increased chance of political bias to be introduced,” he said.

While the Citytv franchise has been successful, Federman says it’s the specialty channels like Space, Bravo, and MuchMusic that likely enticed the offer from the owners of the CTV network.

BGM has said it would hold onto Citytv, but under this agreement the five A-Channels and Access Television would be put up for sale. There are rumours that TorStar, the Toronto Sun’s Quebecor, or Corus Entertainment are thinking about buying, but Federman thinks it will probably be an American bidder that snatches up the channels.

He thinks the companies south of the border will challenge free trade laws to set a precedent.

“Either an American company or perhaps even one of the major Internet companies coming to Canada to make acquisitions of traditional media properties,” he explained.

BGM has insisted the news departments of CTV and Citytv will remain separate entities and will run independently of each other, but a decision from the CRTC is about a year and a half away.

“We really believe that the value in media companies are in their differences and so, you know, we don’t want CTV to be like Citytv,” BGM CEO Ivan Fecan said. “We want Citytv to be independent and to have the energy and zest that it has got.”