Regulatory hearings examining a shift of properties and allegiances between Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications, Baton Broadcasting Systems and Electrohome have wrapped in Vancouver with a decision expected within the next two months.

If approved, the inter-related deals will see Rogers increasing its cable stake in Vancouver to 593,000 subscribers or 53% of the provincial market, trading Shaw’s cable holdings in the lower mainland for its 34.3% stake in ytv. As part of its incentive package, Rogers has proposed an additional $1 million for the Rogers Telefund earmarked for b.c.-based independent producers.

In acquiring Rogers 31,073 common shares of ytv, Shaw could own 68.6% of the service by the end of the summer. Share value of the block is pegged at $30 million. In a deal pending crtc approval, Shaw has also purchased Atlantis Communications’ 28% interest in ytv for a reported $27 million which, if all systems go, will bring Shaw’s interest in ytv to 97%.

As part of the incentive package contingent on approval for the Rogers exchange, Shaw is offering a $3.2 million benefits package made up of $3 million for two new Canadian kids series, Treehouse Presents and Y’s Files. Both are already in development at GRC Productions, ytv’s program production subsidiary, which will hold the series rights. Included in the funding package is $200,000 to ytv for the establishment of a Web site.

Also on the table is a bid for Baton to buy Calgary-based cfcn-tv, currently owned by Rogers, being traded to Shaw, which in turn is assigning the rights to buy the station to Baton for about $75 million.

The Baton/Electrohome voting share agreement is also up for discussion, and if approved, will give it three seats on the ctv board, the biggest single force, and be one step towards the long sought-after consolidation of ctv.

From the look of things, Baton is preparing to move. Thought the heir apparent to control of the network, the affiliate is staffing up its promotion department and is in the midst of moving into a bigger space at the cfto building.