A judge has ordered the parties in the sale of Canwest's broadcast properties to Shaw back to the negotiating table.
Justice Sarah Pepall told lawyers for Canwest, Shaw and an ad hoc committee of disgruntled shareholders to go behind closed doors to reach an agreement.
"In my view the dispute should be resolved," Pepall told a Toronto courtroom.
"It's ridiculous. This restructuring is big and of national importance.
Employees are hanging in the balance," she said.
If talks break down, the parties will ask the judge to reconsider.
Shaw agreed to purchase 100% of Canwest's broadcast business for $2 billion after a co-investor dropped out.
Disgruntled shareholders including Leonard Asper, the son of Canwest founder Izzy Asper and the company's former CEO, say the current agreement does not get a fair price for the company, whose channels include HGTV and Slice.
The shareholders are asking for another 30-day auction.
