International Rogers-Shaw Merger Approved; Largest Telecommunication Merger in Canadian History

[Orgasmo]

Well, looks like it's just Bell, Telus and Rogers-Shaw now. Prepare to pay out of your ass for phone and internet service as they already collude on pricing.

We need to bring in Murican companies (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Comcast) to break up the soon-to-be triopoly.

The Competition Bureau is appealing the Competition Tribunal’s dismissal of its case against Rogers Communications Inc.’s $26-billion takeover of Shaw Communications Inc., the companies said as they expressed their disappointment in the move.

The telecom companies said Friday that they were informed of the bureau’s intent to appeal the Tribunal’s decision, released late Thursday, as well as that the bureau will apply for an injunction to block the deal from closing until an appeal is heard.

“We are deeply disappointed that the Commissioner continues to attempt to deny Canada and Canadians the advantages that will come from these proposed transactions,” the companies said in a joint statement.

Sauce: Rogers-Shaw deal: Competition watchdog appeals tribunal ruling that would allow merger - National | Globalnews.ca

 

[milliniar]

At least SaskTel keeps them less expensive here in Sask. Though unless there is a change in government I expect SaskTel to be sold with the next 10 years.

 

[jimjamjammer]

This seems like a bad decision

 

[SammyPops]

this highlights 2 fucked up things in Canada

1- the belief that less competition is better for consummers. 100% socialist/communist ideology

2- the federal govt Competition Watchdog was overruled by the fedeal govt Competition Tribunal. Its like the govt funds 2 agencies simply to disagree with one another. If the watchdog has no power, simply have the Tribunal investigate and make a decision.

 

[Aegon Spengler]

This has to be prevented. Internet services are already too expense and terrible in Canada. This merger is ridiculous

 

[Fake Doctor]

This has to be prevented. Internet services are already too expense and terrible in Canada. This merger is ridiculous

We have a population that applauds our government when it intervenes in a financial crisis by sending the populace money. Seems like that creates a great incentive for the government to ratchet up financial pressure until there's a crisis, doesn't it?

 

[SakurabasEar]

Most of north america has no real choice in internet service. I've lived in maybe two places that had a competent no 2 option.

The big companies own and control more and more of the fiber optics being placed, it's a losing battle I'm afraid

 

[Aegon Spengler]

We have a population that applauds our government when it intervenes in a financial crisis by sending the populace money. Seems like that creates a great incentive for the government to ratchet up financial pressure until there's a crisis, doesn't it?

No, not really. Crisis are unique and have to be analyzed in and of themselves, on a case by case basis.

 

[Fake Doctor]

No, not really. Crisis are unique and have to be analyzed in and of themselves, on a case by case basis.

Not in conflict with my original statement.

 

[Bald1]

Thank goodness it's not a monopoly, eh? Just three giants charging what the market will bear and making it impossible for others to compete with them. And the "market will bear" exactly what the three dictate. But at least it's not a monopoly as they're in competition with each other. Cut throat competition that has them all providing the same service for the same prices. No way it's collusion if they're not explicitly in communication and negotiations with each other. No sir!

Come to think of it "gas wars" seem to be a thing of the past as well. Seems competition has simmered down between big players as the "what the market will bear" strategy is a better long term plan.

 

[ThaiSexPills]

Gotta love Canada. They block US companies from coming in so we can have the big 3 price fix and get stuck with the highest cell phone bills in the world. They’re doing the same thing with our groceries too. What a disgrace.

 

[wlu.29]

Gotta love Canada. They block US companies from coming in so we can have the big 3 price fix and get stuck with the highest cell phone bills in the world. They’re doing the same thing with our groceries too. What a disgrace.

Which us grocery chain is being blocked from entering Canada?

 

[ThaiSexPills]

Which us grocery chain is being blocked from entering Canada?

That’s not what I said. I meant the giant price fixing. There’s like 4 companies who import all of our groceries. They already got caught price fixing our bread but it’s bigger than that. They’re rising prices together and making record profits because it’ll get swept under the rug as “inflation” instead of the price fixing it is.

 

[Bald1]

That’s not what I said. I meant the giant price fixing. There’s like 4 companies who import all of our groceries. They already got caught price fixing our bread but it’s bigger than that. They’re rising prices together and making record profits because it’ll get swept under the rug as “inflation” instead of the price fixing it is.

We have a handful of banks in Canada as well. The barrier to entry to compete with these big corporations means that things are well on their way to becoming monopolies in all but name.

 

[no fat chicks]

I made a thread about how everything is becoming monopolized and had dorks arguing it was a good thing. . .

 

[wlu.29]

That’s not what I said. I meant the giant price fixing. There’s like 4 companies who import all of our groceries. They already got caught price fixing our bread but it’s bigger than that. They’re rising prices together and making record profits because it’ll get swept under the rug as “inflation” instead of the price fixing it is.

there's a concept called game theory, prices are high but that's because each company is trying to maximize profit, not because of price fixing

 

[jimjamjammer]

there's a concept called game theory, prices are high but that's because each company is trying to maximize profit, not because of price fixing

Possible but in such a small market it would be hard to decipher I would think. Especially when they price their products almost the same.

 

[Cajun]

Thank goodness it's not a monopoly, eh? Just three giants charging what the market will bear and making it impossible for others to compete with them. And the "market will bear" exactly what the three dictate. But at least it's not a monopoly as they're in competition with each other. Cut throat competition that has them all providing the same service for the same prices. No way it's collusion if they're not explicitly in communication and negotiations with each other. No sir!

Come to think of it "gas wars" seem to be a thing of the past as well. Seems competition has simmered down between big players as the "what the market will bear" strategy is a better long term plan.

Does the Canadian govt regulate against monopolies and approve these massive mergers? We have the FTC and DoJ here. Just curious

 

[ThaiSexPills]

there's a concept called game theory, prices are high but that's because each company is trying to maximize profit, not because of price fixing

They’re trying to maximize profit by colluding with each other to rise prices together (price fixing) to do this. They already got caught once and got a slap on the wrist.

 

[wlu.29]

They’re trying to maximize profit by colluding with each other to rise prices together (price fixing) to do this. They already got caught once and got a slap on the wrist.

you're using one example to paint the whole grocery industry, that's an un-informed opinion

bread is one item in the grocery store, a category that happens to be on the whole declining as people eat less carbs

my wife works in the grocery industry, and has exposure to C level people and strategy sessions

there's no concerted effort to collude