The CRTC is currently listening to arguments from many different special interest groups on the topic of how the proposed merger between Astral Media and Bell will affect those for which they speak for. The overall concern of the hearings seems to be that with this addition Bell could start a strangle hold on the television market. Where this starts to border on unethical territory is that given this deal does go through, Bell will hold unprecedented market share in what is already an oligopoly.  This opens up the possibility for them to charge premium prices for those with Rogers or other companies to access networks like CTV (which is under the Bell corporate umbrella).

Of course with the government intervention in the form of the CRTC there also comes the question of what the government role should be in the free market. There were concerns raised by separate unions about Bells poor track record for cutting costs by streamlining their properties which negatively influenced the Canadian content on programs such as the news.  In this case it seems the CRTC is doing its job by investigating to the fullest extent how this acquisition will affect the Canadian consumer.