A blockbuster deal

Broadcast Date: July 31, 2000
CanWest Global Communications Corp. has gained control of a huge chunk of Hollinger Inc. in a monster deal worth over $3.2 billion. Canada's newest and second-largest private national TV network, CanWest Global, is now the biggest owner of newspapers. The Winnipeg-based broadcasting company will take control of more than 200 publications, including 14 major dailies, numerous Internet sites and a 50 per cent share in Hollinger's flagship newspaper, the National Post.

Media concentration, once frowned upon, seems to have become a national goal. Publishers argue that if Canada doesn't get on board it will get left behind in the new global economy. "We don't intend to be one of the corpses lying beside the information highway," says Israel Asper, chairman of CanWest Global. In Vancouver, where the merger results in CanWest owning two main TV stations and the city's two major newspapers, readers and viewers voice concern about the shrinking diversity of opinion. 
http://www.canwestwatch.org/leonard.html

Israel "Izzy" Asper and his son Leonard control Can West Global Communications. In addition to having purchased the National Post in its entirety from Conrad Black, Can West Global owns Southam Publications whose daily papers include:

Halifax Daily News
St. John's Telegram
Charlottetown Guardian
Montreal Gazette
Ottawa Citizen
Windsor Star
St. Catharines Standard
Regina Leader Post
Saskatoon Star Phoenix
Calgary Herald
Edmonton Journal
Vancouver Province
Vancouver Sun
Victoria Times-Colonist


Asper also owns 126 other daily and weekly papers across Canada. In BC, these papers include:

Abbotsford Times
Alberni Valley Times
Burnaby Now
Campbell River Courier-Islander
Chilliwack Times
Coquitlam Times Now
Comox Valley Echo
(partnership interest)
Cowichan Valley Citizen (Duncan)
Delta Optimist
Harbour City Star
Lake Cowichan News
Langley Advance
Maple Ridge Times
Monthly Star Homes
Nanaimo Daily News
New Westminster Record
North Shore News
Now Community
Parksville/Qualicum Beach
Morning Sun
Pennyworth Shopper
Real Estate Weekly
Richmond News
TV Scene
Vancouver Courier
Westerly News


In addition, the Aspers control the following televised media sources:

Global Television Network (8 regional channels including Edmonton's ITV and Vancouver's VTV)
Fox Sportsworld Canada
Lone Star
Deja View
Mystery Channel
CHEK Victoria
CHTV Hamilton
CHBC Okanagan

They also own Fireworks Entertainment and 8 other foreign channels and numerous radio stations across the globe.

Other notable Jews in positions of power in the Canadian media include Robert Rabinovitch, President and CEO of CBC Radio and Television, and Heather Reisman, who owns Indigo Books and Chapters.

Southam magazines include 

Automotive Service Data Book 
Southam Medical 
Auto Vision 
Southam Medical Lists 
Body Shop 
The Drugstore File 
Jobber News 
Dental Directories 
L'automobile 
Canadian Health Facilities 
Le Body Shop Directory 
Service Station and Garage 
Rehab Services Guide 
Canadian Medical Directory 
Jobber News Annual 
Pharmacists Directory 
Broadcaster 
American Mines Handbook 
Cablecaster 
Canadian Mines Handbook 
New Media.pro 
Canadian Mining Journal 
Mining Source Book 
Canadian MineSCAN 
Cabling Systems 
Northern Miner Newspaper 
Canadian Architect 
Northern Miner 
Combo 
Canadian Consulting Engineer 
Architectural and Design Solutions 
Dental Health 
American MineSCAN 
Dental Practice Management 
Oral Health 
Dental Directories 
OH&S Canada 
New Technology Magazine 
Back to Work Petroleum 
Explorer Canadian 
Nickels Energy Group 
Safety News 
Daily Oil Bulletin 
Canadian Occupational Health & Safety 
Canadian Oil Register 
Safety Legislation 
Energy Analects 
Statistics Quarterly 
Energy Information Services 
Canadian Plastics Directory 
Structures Buyers Guide 
Petroleum Explorer 
Environmental Industry Convention Reporter 
Hazardous Materials Management 
Les Papetieres du Quebec 
Solid Waste Recycling 
Pulp & Paper Canada 
Ecology Week 
Scott's Government Index 
Mutual Fund Source Book 
Canadian Source Book 
Fund Profiler 
Scott's Directory of Canadian Associations 
Canadian Underwriter 
Canadian Underwriter 
Statistical Centre Magazine 
Gifts and Tablewares 
Ontario Insurance Directory 
Canadian Industrial Equipment News 
Laboratory Product News 
Laboratory Buyer's Guide 
Canadian Transportation Logistics 
Trucking 
Motor Truck 
Truck News 
Truck West 
Industrial Sales 
Scott's Directories 
Canadian Transportation Guide 

film distribution and development 

CanWest has followed the traditional path of new broadcasters by buying film libraries, trying to break into the distribution business and developing a film/video production presence. (For Australian experience see writing about moves by the 7 and Ten Networks to buy MGM or other production/distribution houses during the 1990s.) 

The highlights are 
licensing of the Endemol (game show and 'Big Brother') library 
Fireworks Entertainment, Toronto-based film/tv financier and developer 
Fireworks Pictures, Los Angeles-based feature film distributor 
Fireworks Television, also in L.A., television program developer 
Fireworks International, London-based television program distributor 

Multimedia 

In the Hollinger purchase CanWest acquired some of Canada's leading internet portals,such as canada.com and faceoff.com, along with newspaper portals. 

Closer to home the performance of TEN Ventures, the new media subsidiary, has been underwhelming, with negative results from online entertainment and leisure destination SCAPE (a 50% investment with Village Roadshow). 

Advertising 

Network TEN has a 100% interest in Eye Corp., Australia's second largest outdoor advertising company, which competes with an APN subsidiary. 

Eye has a network of outdoor signage, airport advertising, visual merchandising, and shopping centre advertising in Australia and has been seeking to extend its presence in Malaysia and Indonesia.