When CTV appears before the Canadian Radio-TV and
Telecomm Commission next month to seek federal approval to
take over Netstar Communications and its sports broadcasting
subsidiary, TSN, it will "come armed with a load of support
letters from virtually every facet of amateur sport in
Canada," according to Chris Zelkovich of the TORONTO STAR.
CTV will "also have support from a few other corners, too."
Among those voicing support for CTV's acquisition of TSN are
the CFL, the Senators, Tennis Canada, the IOC, and "several
sports heavyweights, most notably Wayne Gretzky." The "more
than 200" letters of support "greatly outweigh opponents of
the acquisition, but those objectors carry substantial
weight." Opponents of the deal include MLB, the Blue Jays,
Canucks, Grizzlies and the CBC. Zelkovich notes the
"conspicuous" absence of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
Maple Leaf Senior VP/Business Tom Anselmi: "We're sitting
back and watching." The arguments on the deal "fall
basically into two camps, with those in favour saying the
takeover will increase television exposure for Canadian
sports while those opposing it arguing that a monopoly will
result, hurting Canadian teams, raising ticket prices and
reducing the number of televised games." The "most hard-
hitting" opposition comes from MLB, which criticizes the
deal "on several fronts, even questioning how much control"
ESPN, which owns 32% of NetStar, will have over the new
company. Hearings start December 6, with a decision
possibly at the end of February (TORONTO STAR, 11/24).
