Tag Archives: Astral Media

Bell Media

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Yesterday I was talking about my recent investment in Bell Canada (BCE Inc.). In the comment section I was asked by Canadian MD Investor why I didn’t invest in Telus or Rogers instead. The answer is that as someone who works in TV and Film I am very interested in Bell’s acquisition of TV and Radio stations.

Check out Canadian MD Investor’s excellent blog.

I found this video detailing Bell Media’s recent acquisition of Astral Media.

Bell Media also owns CTV and CTV Two. Check out this promo featuring music by Rob Base and DJ E Z Rock!

This week in money

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  1. BCE (Bell Canada) announced a $3-billion dollar deal to buy Astral Media Inc. The deal, announced Friday, gives the country’s largest communications firm a stable of French-language television and radio stations. Since 2010, BCE has announced deals worth nearly $7-billion to buy control of CTV Inc. and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment Ltd.
  2. The Vancouver Airport Authority confirmed Tuesday that it’s in talks with London-based developer McArthurGlen to bring a premium outlet centre to Vancouver Inter-national Airport land slated for commercial development. The site of the proposed Sea Island outlet mall would be next to the B.C. Institute of Technology campus on Russ Baker Way.
  3. Tsawwassen First Nations plan to build a mega-mall near the BC Ferries terminal. The plans include two shopping malls on 180 acres, which together will include 1.8 million square feet of retail space – 20 major retailers, and nearly 200 smaller shops, restaurants and kiosks. The first shovel is expected to turn the earth this summer, while the grand opening is scheduled for mid-2015.
  4. I have been keeping an eye on Le Chateau stock over the last year trying to figure out if it was a buying opportunity. The stock had dropped and was paying a juicy 10% dividend. The company has since cancelled its dividend and dropped sharply from $11.55 in April 2011 to $1.37 today. In the past month they have closed their 4th Ave. store and their South Granville store. Will they still be in business in 2013?
  5. People lined up all across Canada Friday to get their hands on the new iPad. Since November, Apple’s shares have risen from $363.57 (U.S.) to $600 in trading on the Nasdaq market. On Thursday, they rose as high as $600.01 before dropping to close at $585.56, down $4.02 from the previous day. This week, several analysts raised their target price on Apple shares to a once unheard of $700.
  6. Bloomberg reported this week that the dividends being paid by companies in the S&P 500 (American’s top 500 companies) have reached a record level. A sign that American companies are feeling better about the economy?
  7. Disney’s “John Carter” cost $350 million to produce and market. The opening box office in the U.S. was a disappointing $30 million.
  8. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve completed its annual “stress test” on the major banks. The Fed said on Tuesday that 15 of the 19 banks tested would have enough capital, even if they suffered a financial shock that would see unemployment hit 13 percent and housing prices drop 21 percent. The results paved the way for many of the passing banks to announce highly anticipated plans to boost dividends and buy back stock.
  9. My own company got a boost this week when I signed on to work on the film “Twelve Disasters of Christmas” which will shoot outside of Vancouver for the next three weeks.