Kootenay radio stations part of BCE purchase

BCE Inc., Canada's largest telecommunications company, has reached a deal to buy Astral Media Inc. (TSX:ACM.A)

Canada's largest telecommunications company BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE) has reached an agreement to buy Astral Media Inc. (TSX:ACM.A) for $3.38 billion.

The transaction, valued at $50 per share, will give the Montreal-based company a slate of media assets that include television channels and radio stations across the country.

BCE, which owns Bell Media, indicates that the deal includes $380 million in debt.

Bell would acquire Astral's radio stations as well as a slate of television stations that include HBO Canada, the Movie Network and the Family Channel.

It would also acquire Astral's advertising division, which operates billboards around the country.

The Kootenay radio stations involved in this deal include:

• Golden 106.3 CKGR AC (EZ Rock) Astral
• Nelson 106.9 CKKC AC (EZ Rock) Astral
• Revelstoke 106.1 CKCR AC (EZ Rock) Astral
• Trail 95.7 CJAT AC (EZ Rock) Astral

All these stations recently re-positioned under the EZ Rock banner.