Shaw's acquisition did not raise any market concentration or common ownership concerns under the CRTC Diversity of Voices policy. The commission has set out clear and appropriate guidelines for transactions. Even when considering Corus—which is a separate company with different shareholders and its own board of directors—the combined market share of Shaw Media and Corus is below the commission's 35% bright-line test for expeditious approval.
In fact, our acquisition will actually increase diversity of voices. We have preserved competition in English-language broadcasting and we are committed to strengthening local programming.
Specifically, over the next seven years, we will invest $45 million in the production and exhibition of new morning newscasts in Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. Our other benefits include: $79 million to the incremental development, creation and promotion of newly scripted comedy and drama, produced exclusively by independent producers. We will spend $18 million on new media content to complement and reinforce our other benefits initiatives in connection with scripted programming and news. We will invest $23 million to build digital transmitters in non-mandated markets, thereby insuring over-the-air service to over 60 small communities. Finally, we will invest $15 million for an equipment fund to insure a local broadcasting presence on Canadian airwaves even in very small communities.