Canadian unions and guilds claimed a small victory with the CRTC approving Shaw Communications’ acquisition of Canwest Global Communications over the size of its tangible benefits package.

ACTRA insisted the social benefits package, at $180 million, was bigger than Shaw initially proposed, while still short of the 10% in expenditures traditionally required of the $2.05 billion Shaw/Canwest Global transaction.

“Saving Global TV is a great benefit to our industry and Canadian audiences, but at the end of the day the party who will benefit most is Shaw.” Ferne Downey, ACTRA national president said in the wake of the CRTC decision on the Canwest Global deal.

Shaw looks to have received a discount from the CRTC on the benefits package in part for raising Canwest Global out of creditor protection.

WGC executive director Maureen Parker chose to see the cup half-full as she claimed “the CRTC focused on the big picture, insisting that Shaw live up to its obligation as one of the largest consolidated media companies in the country.”

The Canadian Media Production Association, representing major indie producers, welcomed the CRTC greenlight for the takeover for enabling Shaw’s deep pockets and bench strength “to breathe new life into Canwest and allow it to make greater contributions to the Canadian broadcasting system.”

CMPA president and CEO Norm Bolen said Canwest Global eventually returning to its feet will remove a dark cloud that has hung over the broadcaster since it was tipped into creditor protection last year.

That uncertainty made it difficult for indie producers to secure financing for projects made for Canwest Global, which in turn had to cut back on series orders to stay afloat.

Bolen also saw favorable signals from the recent CRTC hearings into the Canwest Global takeover over stalled terms of trade negotiations between indie producers and broadcasters.

“The CRTC has sent a strong message directly to Shaw/Canwest, and indirectly to other large broadcast groups” to complete a terms of trade agreement in time for license renewals next year.