15°c Clear
25°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Maple Leaf Sports sale approved
OTTAWA -- The CRTC gave its approval Thursday for the sale of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and its sports television channels to two of Canada's biggest media companies, BCE and Rogers Communications.
As part of the approval, BCE and Rogers will be required to spend $7.5 million over the next seven years on new sports-themed programming by Canadian independent producers.
The federal broadcast regulator also repeated its assertion that companies are prohibited from offering television programs on an exclusive basis to their mobile or Internet subscribers.
"When deciding whether or not to approve a proposed ownership transaction, the commission must be persuaded, in light of the application and the public record, that an approval is in the public interest," CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said.
"In this case, we have been convinced that the transaction benefits Canadians, as it will lead to the creation of new homegrown sports programming."
MLSE owns the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, the Toronto Raptors basketball team and Toronto FC soccer team. It also owns Leafs TV, Gol TV and NBA TV Canada, as well as two services not yet launched.
Critics of the deal, which is expected to close this summer, have raised questions about the effect of putting so much content in the hands of some of Canada's largest companies, fearing consumers will ultimately pay more.
BCE already owns the TSN specialty sports channels and Rogers owns the Sportsnet specialty TV channels. Both have extensive telecommunications networks and other media holdings that could benefit from tie-ins to the MLSE teams.
Bell spokeswoman Jacqueline Michelis said the company has now received all the required regulatory approvals.
Rogers and BCE's Bell Canada signed a deal late last year to buy a controlling stake in MLSE, the country's biggest sports franchise company, from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan for $1.07 billion.
Rogers already owns the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team and their stadium, the Rogers Centre, as well as Sportsnet.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 17, 2012 B6
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Business
- Back to Top
- Return to Business
More Business
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Russia's Medvedev pledges to shut down paper mill on shores of Lake Baikal
2:32 AM 0MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says authorities will shut down a paper mill on the shores of Lake ...
Poll
Most Popular Business
- St. Vital Centre's energy savings help managers snag BOMA awards
- NY, Va. 7-Eleven stores raided as US accuses owners and managers of exploiting immigrants
- Manitoba Movers
- N.D. oil spurs $4.1-B outlay for railroad
- Is legal pot ready for a "Starbucks" brand? Activists say no, but a businessman tries his luck
- MTS, Rogers extend LTE deal
- Netflix to run 300 hours of original TV series from DreamWorks Animation in multi-year deal
- New owner for lumber stores
- Hong Kong flight with passenger who claimed everybody poisoned lands in US; police greet plane
- Warren Buffett -- Winnipeg-style
- Sobeys expanding reach in Western Canada with Safeway acquisition
- Former Winnipeg financier linked to offshore companies
- Aircraft maintenance engineer taking off
- Two CBC reporters freed after being detained in Turkey
- Toronto condo market poses economic risk to Canada
- St. Vital Centre's energy savings help managers snag BOMA awards
- New owner for lumber stores
- Fund helps entrepreneurs fly
- Canadian credit unions an eye-opener
- Tours to see Arctic icons up as overall tourism trade rebounds
- New owner for lumber stores
- Earls Pembina says goodbye after 18 years
- Sobeys expanding reach in Western Canada with Safeway acquisition
- Grove Pub to take over former home of Papa George's
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Where is easy street? Survey of city's richest routes may surprise
- Custom-made suits no longer just for the ultra-wealthy
- Eateries brace for Blue blitz
- Chocolate price-fixing charges
- St. Vital Centre's energy savings help managers snag BOMA awards
- Manitoba Movers
- N.D. oil spurs $4.1-B outlay for railroad
- NY, Va. 7-Eleven stores raided as US accuses owners and managers of exploiting immigrants
- Oil more lucrative than mining
- Warren Buffett -- Winnipeg-style
- Historic Masonic Temple sold to consultancy firm for $12.5 million
- Sobeys expanding reach in Western Canada with Safeway acquisition
- Manitoba Movers
- Toronto condo market poses economic risk to Canada
- Cutting edge, made-in-Manitoba tech finds buyer -- in Manitoba
- Richardson to spend $40M to boost ag operations
- Tours to see Arctic icons up as overall tourism trade rebounds
- Google unveils Internet beaming balloons launched into stratosphere
- Fund helps entrepreneurs fly
- St. Vital Centre's energy savings help managers snag BOMA awards
- New owner for lumber stores
- New owner for lumber stores
- Snowbirds: It's that time of year again
- Sobeys expanding reach in Western Canada with Safeway acquisition
- Custom-made suits no longer just for the ultra-wealthy
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- Where is easy street? Survey of city's richest routes may surprise
- Value Partners cracks $1-B mark in assets
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Manitoba Movers
- Grove Pub to take over former home of Papa George's
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.