Mark Warner discussing the Canadian Competition Bureau‘s Position Statement approving the Postmedia’s Proposed Acquisition of QMI’s English-language Media Assets on CHED AM 630 in Edmonton with host Ryan Jespersen (March 26, 2015). [Begins at 2:02 ends at 15:19]
Based on an extensive 5-month review, the Bureau has determined that the proposed transaction is unlikely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition in any relevant market as a result of, among other things: a lack of close rivalry between Postmedia’s and QMI’s English-language newspapers; existing competition from free local daily newspapers; the incentive for the merged entity to retain readership and maintain editorial quality in order to continue to attract advertisers to its newspapers; and the increasing competitive pressures from digital alternatives in an evolving media marketplace. Section 97 of the Act provides for a one-year period following the completion of the transaction during which the Commissioner may challenge the transaction before the Competition Tribunal.