MONTREAL, Aug. 29 /CNW/ - BCE Media announced today that Canadians from
all walks of life and from every corner of the country have enthusiastically
endorsed the company's acquisition of CTV.  The Canadian Radio-Television and
Telecommunications Commission has received more than 3,000 positive
interventions in the public process regarding the acquisition.

    The list of intervenors is star-studded in every field.  The following
sampling is far from complete:

    - Many of the country's most prominent independent producers, talent
agents, cultural leaders, writers and creators of dozens of Canadian
television successes: Francine Allaire, René Angelil, Laszlo Barna, Jonathan
Barker, Paul Bronfman, Andrew Cochran, Jean Bissonnette, Wayne Clarkson, Guy
Cloutier, Dusty Cohl, Suzette Couture, Roch Demers, Kevin DeWalt, Garth
Drabinsky, Honey Dresher, Ralph Ellis, Stephen Ellis, Alyson Feltes, Guy
Fournier, Roger Frappier, Arnie Gelbart, Trudy Grant, Wayne Grigsby, Gordon
Henderson, Michael Hirsch, Christina Jennings, George Jonas, Julia Keatley,
Robert Lantos, Peter Lauterman, Vincent Leduc, Ira Levy, David Lint, Claudio
Luca, Michael Maclear, David Macleod, Brian McKenna, Peter Mohan, Andy Nulman,
Maureen Parker, Lorraine Richard, Mickey Rogers, Pierre Sarrazin, Glen
Saltzman, Gilbert Rozon, Barbara Samuels, Joanna Schneller, Linda Schuyler,
Jean- Jacques Sheitoyan, Louise Spickler, Helga Stephenson, Sylvia Sweeney,
Kim Todd, Pamela Wallin, Pete White, Perry Zimmel, Ralph Zimmerman, and many
more;

    - Such well-loved Canadian artists and athletes as Roger Abbott, Jann
Arden, Ricky Blue, George Bowser, Mike Bullard, Michael Burgess, Edith Butler,
Juliette Cavazzi, Wendy Crewson, Tie Domi, Don Ferguson, Victor Garber, Paul
Gross, Linda Kash, Mary Jane Lamond, Silken Laumann, Rita MacNeil, Greg
Malone, Stephen McHattie, Natalie McMaster, Colin Neale, Michael Riley, Bob
Robertson, Michelle Rossignol, Serge Savard, Jonathan Scarth, Kim Stockwood,
Julie Stewart, Elvis Stojko, Mark Tewksbury, Lorraine Thompson, Sylvia Tyson,
Al Waxman, and many more;

    - Current and former Premiers, Senators, Ministers, Mayors and Members of
Parliament and the Legislatures from all across Canada, such as Nova Scotia
Premier John Hamm and former Premier Peter Lougheed of Alberta, Elwin
Hermanson (Opposition Leader, Saskatchewan); Pamela Buckway (Minister of
Community and Transportation Services, Yukon); Senators Willie Adams, Thelma
Chalifoux, Céline Hervieux-Payette, Betty Kennedy, Doug Roche and Nick Taylor;
Mayors Pierre Bourque of Montreal, Claudette Cain (Gloucester), Henry Dayday
of Saskatoon, Nancy Diamond of Oshawa, Al Duerr of Calgary, Jim Gordon of
Sudbury, Case Ootes (Deputy Mayor of Toronto), Victor Power of Timmins, Ken
Seiling (Chair, Regional Municipality of Waterloo), Stewart A. Taylor of Owen
Sound; MP's such as Réginald Bélair, Rick Bartolucci, Raymond Bonin, Diane
Marleau, Bob Wood;  provincial legislators such as Eric Cline, Ron Harper,
Gerry Martiniuk, and others;

    - Journalistic authorities such as Elly Alboim, Brian Antonson, Vince
Carlin, Peter Desbarats, Christopher Dornan, Fred Fletcher, John Fraser,
Stephen Kimber, Donna Logan, Florian Sauvageau and others;

    - Respected leaders from academia, business and public policy such as
Thomas d'Aquino; Jocelyn Beaudoin; Dr. Jack Blaney; Trevor Eyton, Q.C.; Allan
Gregg; Jean-Marc Hamel, O.C.; Dr. David Johnston; Dr. Wilbert Keon, O.C.; Dr.
Claude Lajeunesse; Ron Lund; Flora Macdonald, P.C. O.C.; Tim Reid; Gordon
Ritchie; Hugh Segal; Jean-Pierre Soublière; Dr. David Taras; Roger Tassé,
O.C., Q.C.; John Wetmore of IBM Canada; Michael Wilson; and many more;

    - Aboriginal leaders such as J.J. Bear, John Kim Bell, Debbie Brisebois
(Inuit Broadcasting Corporation), Douglas Cardinal, Clem Chartier, Lorraine
Cook, Calvin Helin, Edward John, Cynthia Lickers, J. Wilton Littlechild,
Ghislain Picard, (Secretariat of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and
Labrador), Vernon Roote, Grand Council Chief of the Anishinabek Nation, Chief
Wellington Staats, David Ward, and many others;

    - New media gurus such as Sara Diamond, Roma Khanna, Keith Kocho and
Michael Willson, and others.

    Almost half the interventions were filed using an interactive process
that allowed potential intervenors to examine the application in its entirety
on a dedicated Web site (www.bce-ctv.com).
    The $2.3 billion transaction, which was endorsed by the board of CTV,
will be reviewed at public hearings in Ottawa, beginning September 18. The
hearings will examine the integration of Canada's largest telecommunications
company and largest private television broadcaster, following BCE's bid
launched last February.
    The acquisition includes the largest public benefits package in Canadian
broadcasting history. The public benefits package that will accrue, with CRTC
approval, totals $230 million, substantial funds allocated for increased drama
production, news gathering and interactive new media ventures, among others.
    The intervention process, part of the CRTC public hearing process whereby
citizens make their views known to the Commission, began July 17th when the
application was gazetted. The dedicated Website covered the application,
related information, and an interactive intervention/submissions capability.
It was activated on the day of gazetting, and immediately showcased the strong
interest among the Canadian public in interactive relationships.
    The overwhelming number of interventions were delivered to the CRTC by
the deadline of midnight, August 24th by mail, by fax, and through the
dedicated Web site.
    Alain Gourd, President and Chief Executive Officer of BCE Media, said:
``This unprecedented public participation shows that we are entering a new
interactive era, and that CTV is highly valued as an institution.  With its
roots in news, sports, entertainment and communities across Canada, the new
CTV will be key to BCE's success in this new environment.''
    To learn more about the application and read quotes from Canadian across
the country who filed an intervention with the CRTC we invite you to visit our
dedicated Web site www.bce-ctv.com.
    Based in Montreal, BCE Media distributes communication, information and
entertainment services via satellite to Canada through Bell ExpressVu, Telesat
Canada, Business Solutions and Programming Services.

                                 	    Annex

    BCE-CTV:  COAST-TO-COAST SUPPORT
    The BCE acquisition has received outstanding support from well-known and
well-respected Canadians across the country from directors and producers to
musicians and artists, and from Internet companies, business leaders and
academics to politicians and First Nations' representatives. Canadians
commented on, and endorsed, the proposal resounding support for journalism;
its increased funding of major Canadian television drama; its assurance of the
continuity of the CTV network; and the plethora of strategic supports for a
range of research, education, training, broadcasting, and new media
initiatives.

    GUY FOURNIER, AUTHOR, SCRIPTWRITER, BROADCASTER
    ``This is a major financial transaction, but it is also of inestimable
importance on a cultural level, which is what most concerns me.  It's not that
I underestimate the substantial investment that BCE is making, but rather that
in just a few years, we will have forgotten this very large sum, while we will
still be reaping the cultural benefits of having this resolutely Canadian
television Network, CTV.''

    HUGH SEGAL, PRESIDENT, INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON PUBLIC POLICY, OTTAWA
    ``I am writing to express my strong and unconditional support for the
proposed BCE purchase of CTV. My reasons are simple and precise; the quality
of all Canadian broadcasting will be immensely enhanced by CTV being owned by
a broad, well-capitalized and innovative Canadian communications company like
BCE...''

    PAMELA WALLIN, BROADCASTER, TORONTO
    ``When I read the BCE proposals for priority programming, I see the
possibility that these investments may produce radical and overdue changes in
Canadian television. The proposals are well-thought-through. They demonstrate
a clear understanding of both the creative and the business needs of making
great television. I see an unusual combination of boldness and common sense in
the CTV proposals, and both are absolutely necessary.''

    JOHN WETMORE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, IBM CANADA
    ``The marriage of CTV's skills in news and sports with BCE's knowledge of
high-quality distribution and information technology will greatly enhance the
information and entertainment offerings that Canadian viewers will enjoy for
years to come.''

    ROGER TASSE, O.C., Q.C.
    ``I believe it is of capital importance for our country, as a distinct
social and cultural entity, to be able to count on powerful instruments of
development which will allow us to occupy all the shelfspace our creators,
actors, producers and distributors need within Canada, and, through the
quality of their work, on the world stage.''

    ROMA KHANNA, EXECUTIVE VP, SNAP MEDIA, TORONTO
    ``(W)e believe the BCE proposal will benefit Canadians from coast to
coast, by supporting the creation of valuable programming that speaks to our
'wired' country and Canadians, as adopters of technology.''

    JAN ROFEKAMP, PRE-EMINENT DOCUMENTARY DISTRIBUTOR
    ``The importance of this proposed acquisition is monumental, and the
timing is significant and crucial. The metamorphosis of television into an
interactive medium is changing the very nature of film and television
production, requiring us to learn and relearn capabilities and talents. Canada
very much needs the kind of leading edge, multi-capable organization that the
acquisition will create.''



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For further information: Isabelle Hudon, (514) 285-8982 or 514 913-0407