Astral Media is turning to the Federal Court of Appeal to fight a recent Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission decision that allowed rival Cogeco to own three radio stations in the same market.
The CRTC granted regulatory approval last month to the sale of 11 Corus stations in Quebec to Cogeco, a deal worth $80 million.
In its approval, the CRTC relaxed a policy that restricts the number of similar broadcast outlets owned by the same company within a single market.
Cogeco picked up two Montreal radio stations in the deal, bringing its total in the market to three.
The company had said that Montreal’s Francophone market was unique from the rest of Canada.
Astral Media, which argued against the exemption at the recent regulatory hearings, is now hoping the appellate court will overturn the exemption.
They say the CRTC decision penalizes other broadcasters who may have avoided buying certain radio stations to respect the existing policy.
Astral is also seeking an injunction against the CRTC decision pending the case being heard.
