Acquisition of V by Bell
The CRTC and the Competition Bureau must say no to the deal and prevent the creation of a crushing coast-to-coast monopoly.
Bell sells the V network (then called TQS) to Remstar instead of guaranteeing its future.
30+
TV channels
30
local TV stations
109
radio stations
50 000
advertising faces
200
websites
50+
apps
$55,2
billion market cap
$23
billion total revenues across Canada
80%
television reach in Canada
PRODUCTION HOUSES TELECOM PROVIDERS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANIES SPORTS TEAMS CONCERT HALLS RETAIL OUTLETS
- Properties in which Bell holds an interest
- Updated table from Quebecor’s intervention on the acquisition of V by Bell, submitted to the CRTC on November 28, 2019
Source: Bell Media
Fact check: True or false?
Fact check: True or false?
The acquisition of V by Bell will promote competition in Québec:
FALSE
Bell’s television channels raked in more than $2 billion in 2018, 6 times TVA’s revenues, and reached 80% of Canadians. Bell is dominant in Québec and across Canada. No other industry player comes close. If Bell were to swallow up V, this would only increase the risk that it will abuse its dominance to wipe out all competition, with dismal consequences for Québec’s French-language market.
Bell appears to confuse popularity with dominance. High ratings mean a network is popular with television audiences. But market dominance is what Bell has: no other company in Canada, or in the world for that matter, has so much control over media properties, advertising sales and subscription fees. The CRTC must therefore analyze this transaction from every angle.
CRTC 2018 – Aggregate Annual Return (Financial return). Individual Discretionary and On-Demand Services – Statistical and financial Summaries ( The Quebecor data excludes Zeste and Évasion in 2018)
Fact check: True or false?
This acquisition won’t increase Bell’s power and influence in the industry:
FALSE
With V, Bell would control 43% of total advertising revenues in Canada and more than 48% of the advertising revenues of private conventional broadcasters. Such unparalleled dominance is unsustainable in Canada’s already fragile advertising market.
CRTC 2018, Aggregate Annual Return (Financial Returns) – Conventional Television and Individual Discretionary and On-Demand Services – Statistical and Financial Summaries. *Local advertising included in Bell’s English specialty Channels.
Fact check: True or false?
The acquisition of V by Bell will be beneficial to Québec’s entire television industry:
FALSE
The acquisition of V would bring Bell one step closer to regaining a monopoly position, triggering a domino effect that would have serious consequences for the rest of the industry:
- Dramatically increased negotiating power
- Control of the advertising market and content acquisitions
- Less diversity in the media industry
- Decreased revenues for conventional tv, affecting French-language news coverage and content in Québec
- Job losses
At the end of the day, the consumer will pay the price.
A bit of history
2008
2012
Bell tries to buy Astral but is turned down by the CRTC:
“The proposed transaction raised substantial concerns related to healthy competition, the concentration of ownership in the television and radio markets, vertical integration and the exercise of market power in an anti-competitive manner.”
− Excerpt from “CRTC denies BCE’s bid to acquire Astral – Transaction not in the interest of Canadians and Canada’s broadcasting system,” press release, October 18, 2012.2012
June 28, 2011
Competition Bureau reaches agreement with Bell Canada requiring Bell to pay $10 million for misleading advertising.
September 14, 2012
Competition Bureau sues Bell, Rogers and Telus for misleading consumers, seeks refunds and $31 million in penalties
September 14, 2012
March 14, 2013
Significant divestitures in Bell-Astral merger to preserve competition
April 9, 2015
Bell Canada fires Bell Media President Kevin Crull, who interfered in CTV network’s editorial decisions.
“That a regulated company does not like one of the CRTC’s rulings is one thing. The allegation, however, that the largest communication company in Canada is manipulating news coverage is disturbing”.
– Jean-Pierre Blais, then Chairman of the CRTC
April 9, 2015
October 14, 2015
Bell Canada reaches agreement with Competition Bureau over online reviews
May 27, 2016
Bell customers to receive up to $11.82 million as part of Competition Bureau agreement.
May 27, 2016
February 15, 2017
To acquire MTS, Bell must sell assets and provide services to Xplornet
May 31, 2018
Backgrounder: Commissioner of Competition’s decision regarding Bell’s proposed acquisition of Historia and Séries+
May 31, 2018
The CRTC must say no to the acquisition of V by Bell. #BigBell
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