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Bell Media Inc. (French: Bell Média inc.)[1] is a Canadian media conglomerate that is the mass media subsidiary of BCE Inc. (also known as Bell Canada Enterprises, the owner of telecommunications company Bell Canada). Its operations include national television broadcasting and production (including the CTV and CTV 2 television networks), radio broadcasting (through iHeartRadio Canada), digital media (including Crave) and Internet properties (including the now-defunct Sympatico portal).

Key Information

Bell Media is the successor-in-interest to Baton Broadcasting (later CTV Inc.), one of Canada's first private-sector television broadcasters. Although the company was founded in 1960 as Telegram Corporation, the current enterprise traces its origins to the establishment of Bell Globemedia Inc. in 2001 by BCE and the Thomson family, combining CTV Inc. (which BCE had acquired in 2000) and the operations of the Thomson family's newspaper, The Globe and Mail. BCE sold the majority of its interest in 2006 (after which the company was renamed CTVglobemedia Inc. in 2007), but in 2011, BCE acquired the entire company (excluding The Globe and Mail) and changed the name to Bell Media Inc.

Origins

[edit]

Baton Broadcasting

[edit]
"Baton Broadcasting" redirects here. For the defunct television system owned by Baton, see Baton Broadcast System.

For all practical purposes, Bell Media is the successor to Baton Broadcasting Incorporated (/ˈbeɪtɒn/ BAY-ton), which by the late 1990s had become one of Canada's largest broadcasters.

Formed in 1960 as Baton Aldred Rogers Broadcasting Ltd., the company was originally created to establish Toronto's first private television station, CFTO-TV. The name of this company derived from its initial investors, including the Bassett and Eaton families (Baton), and Aldred-Rogers Broadcasting (owned by broadcaster Joel Aldred[3] and Ted Rogers); Foster Hewitt was also an initial investor, but in a much smaller role.[4] Aldred sold his shares in 1961, followed by Rogers by 1970, thereby relieving their names from the company title. With the Bassett and Eaton families firmly in control, the company went public in the early 1970s.

CFTO was one of the charter affiliates of CTV when that network formed in 1961, becoming the network's flagship. In 1966, Baton became a part-owner in the network when it was reorganized as a station-owned cooperative. The Board of Broadcast Governors was initially skeptical about the proposal to turn CTV into a cooperative. Since CFTO was by far the largest and richest station in the network, the BBG feared Baton would take advantage of this to dominate the network. However, it approved the deal after Baton and the other owners included a provision in the cooperative's bylaws stipulating that the eight station owners would each have a single vote regardless of audience share. Additionally, if one owner ever bought another station, the acquired station's shares would be redistributed among the remaining owners so that each owner would still have one vote out of eight.

In 1972, Baton began purchasing other CTV affiliates, starting with CFQC-TV in Saskatoon. This did not, however, give Baton a substantially higher investment in CTV, since its shares were redistributed among the other owners. As a result, Baton still had only one vote out of eight.

In 1987, Baton began a concerted effort to take over CTV. It started this drive with a further expansion into Saskatchewan, purchasing CKCK-TV in Regina, Yorkton twinstick CKOS-TV/CICC-TV, and CBC affiliate CKBI-TV Prince Albert. A twinstick CTV affiliate was soon launched in Prince Albert, CIPA-TV.

In the late 1980s, Baton applied for a high-power station in Ottawa on channel 60. The licence was approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), appealed to federal cabinet by rival broadcasters, and ultimately sent back to the CRTC for review.[5] However the license was surrendered when Baton was instead able to acquire the local CTV affiliate, CJOH-TV, from Allan Slaight's Standard Broadcasting.

In 1990, Baton purchased the MCTV system of twinstick operations in Pembroke, North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, and the Huron Broadcasting twinstick in Sault Ste. Marie. In 1993, Baton purchased CFPL-TV in London, CKNX-TV in Wingham and received a license for a new independent station, CHWI-TV, in Windsor.

In 1991, the company launched Ontario Network Television, a secondary affiliation carried by Baton's CTV and independent stations in Ontario. This was expanded in 1994 into the Baton Broadcast System (BBS), which included Baton's Saskatchewan stations. BBS was meant as a backup in case Baton's ongoing acquisitions did not translate into control of CTV itself. A year earlier, CTV had been recently restructured into a corporation, with each owner holding a 14.3% stake in the network. However, any future acquisitions by Baton would come with all of that affiliate's CTV shares. It was around this time that former CBC executive Ivan Fecan joined the company.

Baton-Electrohome alliance and CTV Inc. (1996–2000)

[edit]

In 1996, the CRTC approved two major deals involving Baton. First was the acquisition of CFCN-TV in Calgary from Rogers Communications, which had recently purchased Maclean Hunter. Second, Baton and Electrohome—owner of CKCO-TV in Kitchener and CFRN-TV in Edmonton—formed an alliance, under which the companies would share ownership of CFCN; Baton's stations in Saskatchewan and its independent stations in southwestern Ontario; and Electrohome's CKCO. The deals doubled Baton's own interest in CTV to 28.6%. However, as part of the deal, Baton took control of Electrohome's CTV vote, allowing it to command 42.9% of CTV's shares.[6]

In January 1997, Baton-Electrohome's "Vancouver Television" proposal emerged as the CRTC's choice for the new independent station in Vancouver, beating out four other competitors. The new station, CIVT-TV, would compete directly with Western International Communications's two CTV affiliates in the market when it was launched that fall.[7]

On February 25, 1997, the Baton-Electrohome alliance and CHUM Limited announced that several stations would be swapped between them. Baton-Electrohome would acquire CHUM's Atlantic Television System (ATV), consisting of four CTV affiliates in the Maritimes, the Atlantic Satellite Network (ASN), and a further 14.3% in CTV. CHUM would receive Baton's independent stations in southwestern Ontario, as well as CHRO-TV in Pembroke, which had recently disaffiliated from CTV. The Baton-Electrohome alliance now held 57.2% of CTV.

Shortly thereafter, Electrohome announced it would sell its broadcasting assets—including CFRN, its interest in the alliance, and its CTV shares—to Baton in exchange for cash and shares in Baton. These two deals were approved by the CRTC in August.[8] Baton now held controlling interest in CTV, triggering a put option that allowed the other owners to sell their stakes in the network while still keeping their stations. Accordingly, Baton acquired the remaining CTV shares from WIC and Moffat Communications (Newfoundland Broadcasting, owner of CJON-TV, had effectively relinquished its vote when CTV became a corporation) that fall.

The BBS television system was merged into CTV, with the company itself being renamed CTV Inc. the following year. The Eatons' remaining shares, representing 41% of Baton (estimated at CA$450 million),[9] were sold off to the general public in early 1998. By the end of 2001, nearly all CTV stations were consolidated under network ownership (including one replacement).

In 1999, CTV Inc. acquired NetStar Communications, a company that was spun out from the broadcasting division of the Labatt Brewing Company after its acquisition by Interbrew in 1995. The sale was approved by the CRTC March 24, 2000, but CTV had to divest either Netstar's TSN or their own Sportsnet; they chose to sell the latter to Rogers.[10]

Bell Globemedia (2000–06)

[edit]

At the beginning of the 2000s, Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) acquired CTV Inc. (including the NetStar assets) and bought The Globe and Mail, folding the two into a new media venture, Bell Globemedia Inc (BGM).[11][12][13]

This venture was masterminded by former Bell Canada chief executive Jean Monty, largely as a response to Canwest's purchase of the Southam newspaper chain as well as the trend of media convergence, particularly the AOL-Time Warner merger. Monty believed that to survive in a changing technological landscape, and in particular to drive subscriptions to satellite television provider Bell ExpressVu and internet service provider Bell Sympatico, BCE had to have control over content.

The transaction was structured as follows. In 2000, BCE acquired CTV Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at CA$2.3 billion.[14] Soon after, Monty arranged to have Thomson Corporation transfer control of The Globe and Mail, the Toronto-based national newspaper, to BCE in exchange for a significant interest (20%) in the merged CTV/Globe entity. The Thomson family's holding company (The Woodbridge Company Limited) invested in the company directly to obtain an additional 9.9% interest, and it later bought Thomson Corporation's interest.

The resulting company (Bell Globemedia) consisted of CTV, The Globe and Mail, and the Internet portal then known as Sympatico-Lycos (Lycos was later replaced by MSN). Fecan was named the combined firm's president and CEO (a role he remained in for the duration of the BGM/CTVglobemedia era). After Monty resigned and was replaced by Michael Sabia in 2002, it became clear that Monty's vision was not producing anything near the desired results, notwithstanding the good results for the individual units, particularly the CTV network.

The following years provided a few cosmetic changes in BGM's assets. In 2001, CTV acquired CKY-TV in Winnipeg and CFCF-TV in Montreal, and moved the CTV affiliation in British Columbia to CIVT, replacing two affiliates that had been purchased by Canwest. That fall also brought the launch of the first digital specialty channels, including several owned by CTV.

The company acquired partial ownership in TQS in 2002, the Sympatico portal was sold back to Bell Canada, while a further investment from the Thomsons (whose ownership increased to 31.5%) funded the acquisition of 15% of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. However, beginning in 2003, BCE management began to refer to BGM as a non-core asset; as a result, much attention was given to the likely sale of the company, and potentially a breakup into several different pieces.

On December 2, 2005, Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) announced that it would sell an 8.5% interest to The Woodbridge Company Limited (increasing their total ownership to 40%), a 20% interest to Torstar, and a 20% interest to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.[15] BCE retained 20% of the group—a condition that ensured that Bell Satellite TV, Sympatico, and other Bell units continued to have access to Bell Globemedia (BGM) content. The transaction closed on August 30, 2006.[16]

This deal put to rest any rumors about a possible breakup of the company. However, Torstar's involvement led to additional media concentration concerns, mainly from media unions. Torstar insisted it was committed to maintaining the editorial independence of the Globe and its own Toronto Star, and ultimately there were no major regulatory hurdles due to this.

Wikinews has related news:

On July 12, 2006, BGM announced a friendly bid to take over CHUM Limited for an estimated $1.7 billion. The acquisition would bring the secondary broadcast system (Citytv), other stations including CablePulse24, MuchMusic, Star!, Bravo!, and Space, and all of CHUM's radio stations, into the BGM fold. BGM originally announced that CHUM's A-Channel stations, Access, CKX-TV, MusiquePlus, MusiMax, Canadian Learning Television, SexTV: The Channel and BGM's own OLN would not be retained.

On September 7, 2006, in order to pay for the CHUM acquisition, BGM sold additional shares to its existing shareholders. BCE did not participate in the refinancing; the net effect was an increase in Teachers' ownership to 25%, while BCE's interest was reduced to 15%.[17]

CTVglobemedia (2007–11)

[edit]
The logo for CTVglobemedia since January 1, 2007.

As a result of BCE's reduced ownership in the company, Bell Globemedia was renamed CTVglobemedia Inc. on January 1, 2007.[11]

In April of that year, Rogers Communications announced a tentative deal to purchase A-Channel, CKX-TV, Access Alberta, Canadian Learning Television, and Cooking Channel from CTVglobemedia, if its purchase of CHUM was approved. Astral Media made a similar deal for CHUM's 50% interest in MusiMax and MusiquePlus.

That June, the CRTC approved the CHUM takeover, on condition that CTV sell off the Citytv stations, because of the CTV network's owned-and-operated station stations serving the very same cities. CTV ultimately chose to keep the A-Channel stations along with the rest of CHUM Ltd. assets it had previously said it would sell, except for MusiquePlus/MusiMax. Rogers Communications was announced as the buyer of the Citytv stations on June 11, 2007, and the CHUM acquisition was finalized on June 22.

Subsequently, CTVglobemedia, Inc. sold off its interests in various non-core channels. Rogers purchased several of these assets, including CTV's 33% interest in OLN in late 2007, as well as radio stations CHST-FM in London, Ontario and CHBN-FM in Edmonton, Alberta in 2010.[18][19] Corus Entertainment would acquire Canadian Learning Television, Cooking Channel, and Drive-In Classics for a combined $113 million. TQS entered bankruptcy protection and was ultimately acquired by Remstar (which renamed the network "V"). Meanwhile, Glassbox Television acquired Travel + Escape in late 2010. In two cases, the operations were closed down, specifically CBC affiliate CKX-TV in Brandon, Manitoba (which left the air in October 2009 after a deal to sell that station to Bluepoint Investment Corporation fell through) and the A station in Wingham, CKNX-TV (which left the air one month prior to CKX and is now a rebroadcaster of the A station in London, CFPL-TV).

CTVglobemedia acquired Toronto station CFXJ-FM from Milestone Radio in 2010.[20][21]

On September 10, 2010, BCE announced plans to re-acquire 100% of the company's broadcasting arm, including CTV Inc. Under the deal, Woodbridge, Torstar, and Teachers' would together receive $1.3 billion in either cash or equity in BCE, while BCE would also assume $1.7 billion in debt (BCE's existing equity interest was $200 million, for a total transaction value of $3.2 billion). Woodbridge would also regain majority control of The Globe and Mail Inc., with BCE retaining a 15% interest. The overall deal was expected to close by April 2011.[22] However, the sale of The Globe, which did not require CRTC approval, was completed in late December 2010.[23] The deal was approved by the CRTC on March 7, 2011,[24][25] and was officially closed on April 1, 2011. On the same day, CTVglobemedia was renamed as Bell Media Inc..[26]

Post-2011 developments

[edit]

Expansion (2011–13)

[edit]

On December 9, 2011, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan announced the sale of its majority stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to BCE and its rival, Rogers Communications, in a deal valued at around $1.32 billion. Additionally, Larry Tanenbaum increased his stake in the company to 25%.[27] The deal closed in August 2012.[28]

On March 16, 2012, BCE announced that it had entered in an agreement to acquire Montreal-based broadcaster Astral Media for an estimated value of $3.38 billion; the assets of which were to be incorporated into Bell Media. The acquisition was primarily centered on Astral's premium services (such as The Movie Network and its stake in HBO Canada) and its French-language radio and television stations. Bell planned to use Astral's premium offerings to enhance its own multi-platform services to compete against the likes of services such as Netflix, and its French media outlets to better compete against the dominant Québecor Média.[29] The merger was notably opposed by a coalition of competing cable providers (which included Cogeco, EastLink, and Vidéotron—the last of which is also owned by Québecor Média, who felt that Bell's control of a majority of Canadian media would harm consumer choice, and lead to increased carriage fees which could cripple smaller cable companies.[30]

BCE's first proposal was denied by the CRTC in October 2012; the commission believed that the combined company would have had too much market power. Soon afterward, Bell and Astral began to negotiate a second proposal that would involve selling most of Astral's English-language television channels in order to quell fears by the CRTC.[31][32][33] On March 18, 2013, the Competition Bureau cleared the revised proposal.[34] Unlike the previous deal, which would have given Bell a 42% share of the English-language television market, the new deal would only give Bell a total market share of 35.7%, but still increase its French-language market share to 23% (in comparison to 8% before).[35] Following hearings by the CRTC in May 2013,[36] the CRTC approved Bell's acquisition of Astral Media on June 27, 2013. The deal is subject to conditions, including the requirement to provide fair treatment to its competitors, to not impose "restrictive bundling practices" on Astral's premium movie channels, invest $246.9 million over the next seven years on Canadian-produced programming, and to maintain the operation and local programming levels of all of its television stations through 2017. The CRTC also approved Bell's proposed exemptions for maintaining ownership of Montreal's CKGM.[37][38] Bell put Family, Disney XD, the two Disney Junior services, MusiMax, MusiquePlus, and five radio stations up for sale, while Corus Entertainment acquired Historia, Séries+, and Teletoon from Astral and competitor Shaw Media.

On June 6, 2013, Bell announced that Bravo would be its first network to implement a TV Everywhere service, which would allow subscribers to Bravo on participating television service providers to stream video on demand content and the Bravo channel live via the Bravo Go app. Apps for some of its other networks were also released over the following months.[39]

Layoffs, new partnerships (2014–17)

[edit]

In December 2014, Bell Media launched CraveTV, a subscription video on-demand service.[40] Initially, the service was available only through television providers; Bell Media president Kevin Crull argued that Bell did not want the service to cannibalize its linear television business, because its content "[would not] exist if you didn't have the traditional TV system. So you really can't sustainably have one without the other."[41]

On April 9, 2015, Crull stepped down as president of Bell Media, and was replaced by Mary Ann Turcke, the subsidiary's former head of media sales. The move came following allegations reported by The Globe and Mail that, after the CRTC's March 2015 decision to mandate that pay television providers offer a la carte packages, Crull ordered all Bell-owned news properties, including CTV News, not to air any remarks by CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais during reports regarding the decision. Although the CTV News Channel program Power Play and a report aired on the local evening newscasts complied with Crull's order, the CTV National News that night defied Crull's demand by airing a story on the changes that included remarks by Blais. CTV News president Wendy Freeman, Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife, and the program's anchor Lisa LaFlamme felt that the inclusion of remarks by Blais was necessary due to the nature of the story. In response to the dismissal, BCE CEO George A. Cope explained that the journalistic independence of its news operations was "paramount importance to our company and to all Canadians".[42][43]

Shortly after taking the position, Turcke was criticized for remarks that considered the use of virtual private network services to evade geo-blocking and access the U.S. version of subscription video on demand service Netflix to be "stealing".[44][45][46]

In late August 2015, Bell Media began a series of layoffs, which included directors and vice presidents. On November 6, 2015, additional layoffs of 380 jobs from production, editorial, sales, and administrative roles in Toronto and Montreal were revealed.[47] On November 17, 2015, further cuts were made, which included high-profile on-air talent from radio and television properties in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver.[48]

On November 20, 2015, Corus announced that it would wind down the operation of Movie Central, a premium television service that had been granted exclusivity in Western Canada, and cede its regional monopoly to Bell Media's The Movie Network, which was similarly restricted to Eastern Canada, allowing it to become available nationwide in 2016. Bell Media subsequently announced that it had acquired exclusive Canadian rights to all current HBO programming in Canada (rights previously shared with Corus due to its joint venture HBO Canada).[49]

On January 6, 2016, iHeartMedia announced that it had partnered with Bell Media to launch a localized version of its online radio service iHeartRadio Canada.[50] On January 14, 2016, CraveTV became available as a standalone service without requiring an existing television subscription.[51]

On May 4, 2016, Bell acquired rights to the programming and branding of Canadian specialty channel Gusto TV. The channel was shut down, and re-launched on September 1, 2016, replacing M3 under its existing Category A license.[52][53][54]

On January 31, 2017, Bell Media announced that it planned to perform another round of layoffs in 24 locations, citing various developments across Canada's broadcasting industry, as well as the impact of recent regulatory decisions (such as one that prevents the federal simsub rules from being used on the Super Bowl, whose Canadian broadcast rights are currently owned by Bell Media).[55]

Randy Lennox presidency (2017–20)

[edit]

On February 27, 2017, Turcke left Bell to join the National Football League as president of NFL Media. She was succeeded as president by Randy Lennox.[56] That month, Bell also announced that it had partnered with record executive Scott Borchetta to develop a new, international television format that would "uncover, develop, and promote pop culture's next musical superstars", and "leverage Bell Media's massive reach and extensive platforms to showcase musicians on the national and international stage."[57] CTV officially announced the new series, The Launch, in April 2017.[58]

On June 7, 2017, Wow Unlimited Media announced that it would acquire a specialty channel from the company (later revealed to be Comedy Gold; however, the sale would later be aborted, leading to the channel's shutdown in 2019)[59] to form a new network targeting children and young adults, and provide children's television content for Bell's over-the-top ventures. As part of the purchase, BCE will take 3.4 million common voting shares in the company.[60]

On August 9, 2017, Bell announced that it would acquire Larche Communications' four Ontario radio stations, pending CRTC approval.[61]

On October 17, 2017, Bell Media announced its intent to acquire Historia and Séries+—two French-language networks whose Astral-owned stakes were divested during its acquisition by Bell—from Corus Entertainment for $200 million.[62] On May 28, 2018, both transactions were blocked by the Competition Bureau, citing a condition on the Bell/Astral deal which forbade Bell from re-acquiring properties divested in the sale for 10 years after its completion.[63]

On January 23, 2018, Bell Media announced that it had reached licensing agreements with Starz Inc. and Lionsgate, and that TMN Encore would be rebranded under the Starz brand in 2019, featuring its programming.[64][65] The following month, Bell launched SnackableTV, a streaming video app with short-form content from Bell Media properties and other sources.[66]

In April 2018, Bell Media acquired a controlling stake in the Pinewood Toronto Studios complex.[67] In May 2018, Bell Media announced that it, along with several other parties, would contribute French-language content to Radio-Canada's subscription streaming service Ici Tou.tv Extra.[68]

In May 2018, Bell Media laid off 17 employees, resulting in the cancellation of Discovery's Daily Planet and Space's Innerspace.[69]

On June 7, 2018, during the CTV upfronts, it was announced that four Bell Media specialty channels would re-brand in September 2019, with the original Bravo, Comedy Network, Gusto, and Space respectively becoming CTV Drama Channel, CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Life Channel, and CTV Sci-Fi Channel. Two new ad-supported video-on-demand platforms were also announced: CTV Movies and CTV Vault (renamed CTV Throwback on launch). These rebrandings and launches will be incorporated into a larger, unified digital platform containing content from all six services.[70][71][72] Later that day, it was also announced that Bell Media was one of two Canadian companies that had acquired a stake in the Montreal-based comedy festival Just for Laughs.[73]

On August 16, 2018, Vice Media announced a long-term output deal with Bell Media, which would see its networks and properties hold rights to Viceland programming in Canada.[74]

On July 24, 2019, Bell announced its intent to acquire the French-language broadcast television network V from V Media Group pending CRTC approval, as well as its streaming outlet Noovo. CTVglobemedia previously owned a 40% stake in the network prior to its sale to Remstar.[75] On April 3, 2020, the sale was approved; as a condition of the purchase, the CRTC stated that all five V stations must air five hours of local programming per-week through the 2020-2021 broadcast year, and expanding to eight-and-a-half hours per-week in Montreal and Quebec City by 2021–2022. At least half of all local programming must be locally-reflective.[76] The sale was closed on May 15, 2020.[77] V would later be renamed to Noovo on August 31, 2020.[78]

Wade Oosterman era (2021–2023)

[edit]

On October 19, 2020, BCE announced that Lennox would be leaving the organization on January 4, 2021, and that Bell group president Wade Oosterman, to whom Lennox had reported, would take over operational leadership of Bell Media directly, while maintaining oversight of Bell's wireless, residential, and small-business telecom operations.[79] BCE subsequently clarified that Oosterman had taken the title of president of Bell Media while remaining vice-chair of BCE and Bell Canada.[80]

Immediately following Lennox's departure, Oosterman announced a new, simplified executive structure. As a result, several senior executives of Bell Media, some having served with the company's predecessors since the late 1990s, left the company; two of the three senior vice presidents reporting to Oosterman under the new structure also have roles overseeing parts of Bell's telecom business.[81][82] Several other lower-level managers were laid off about two weeks later.[83] This in turn was followed in early February by the elimination of hundreds of rank-and-file positions, including at least 210 in the company's Toronto offices alone, the removal of dedicated newsrooms for news-talk radio stations CJAD Montreal and CFRB Toronto, and the reformatting of three TSN Radio outlets as automated business news or comedy stations with little locally produced content.[84][85][86]

In a memo announcing the end of the restructuring, Oosterman described the moves as necessary to "reflect the reality of sweeping change facing [Bell Media]" including impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, changing media consumption patterns and "aggressive" competition from global players.[86] They were also widely seen as indicating a corporate shift in focus away from traditional media outlets and towards Bell's streaming services like Crave and iHeartRadio.[81][82] However, observers including Unifor, the main labour union representing Bell employees, questioned the need for the layoffs, given that parent company BCE had accepted $122 million in assistance through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy in 2020, while being able to increase its dividend payments to shareholders.[87]

In March 2023, Bell Media acquired a minority stake in Montreal-based studio Sphere Media, producer of CTV series 19-2 and Transplant.[88] In June 2023, BCE announced that it was cutting 1,300 positions across its telecom and media operations (around three per cent of its workforce, and of which approximately 30% were unfilled vacancies), including six per cent of positions at Bell Media (which had 5,645 employees at the end of 2022).[89][90] The company also announced it would be closing or selling nine AM radio stations, some of which had changed to automated formats during previous rounds of cuts: CFRW, CKMX, CFRN, CKST, CFTE, and CJBK all closed immediately, while CKWW, CKOC, and CHAM were slated for sale to one or more third-party buyers to be named later.[89]

BCE blamed a number of industry changes and increasing losses in its news divisions for the cuts, while questioning the regulatory priorities of the federal government and the CRTC; one BCE executive mentioned having waited for reforms on some items for years, while also citing "relentless regulatory intervention" by the CRTC to cut wireless and Internet service pricing.[89] This rationale was questioned by union officials and other experts who felt Bell should have better prepared for industry changes, or could have waited for the full implementation of the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) and the Online News Act (Bill C-18).[89]

In June 2023, The Globe and Mail reported that after the controversial dismissal of long-time CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme in 2022, Oosterman was recorded urging news managers from its CTV, BNN, CP24 properties to get their journalists to "help" by providing favourable coverage when reporting on Bell as long as it did not "distort reality". Oosterman also criticized CTV for not forcing conflict between opposing viewpoints to get more viewers. Oosterman's remarks seemingly violated the company's 2015 journalistic independence policy.[91]

On August 16, 2023, Vrak and Z were removed from Vidéotron. As a consequence, Vrak closed down on October 1, 2023.[92][93]

Sean Cohan presidency (2023–present)

[edit]

On October 3, 2023, BCE announced that Oosterman would be retiring from the conglomerate by early January 2024, and would be replaced as president of Bell Media by Sean Cohan, a former executive for the American media companies A&E Networks and Nielsen.[94] On October 23, 2023, Bell Media acquired Outfront Media's Canadian business for $410 million.[95] On October 27, 2023, Bell Media announced a co-development deal with Fox Entertainment and Neshama Entertainment (a Toronto-based studio minority-owned by Fox subsidary MarVista Entertainment), to co-develop new programming for Bell and Fox platforms.[96]

On February 8, 2024, BCE announced that it would cut 4,800 positions (10% of which coming from Bell Media), citing declining revenues, and new CRTC requirements mandating that the company offer wholesale access to its fibreoptic telecom networks to competitors. Due to the restructuring, Bell Media announced that it would cut most noon and weekend newscasts across all CTV stations, cut programming at CTV News Channel and BNN Bloomberg, and sell 45 of its 103 radio stations to Arsenal Media, Durham Radio, Maritime Broadcasting System, My Broadcasting Corporation, Vista Radio, Whiteoaks Communications Group, and ZoomerMedia.[97][98][99] Bell executive Robert Malcolmson told the Canadian Press that radio was "not a viable business anymore".[100]

MTV2 was closed on March 29, 2024. This left the main MTV network to be the last remaining licensed Paramount Global channel under Bell Media.

See also: 2024 Canadian specialty television realignment

On June 10, 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced that it had acquired the rights to all of Warner Bros. Discovery's factual and lifestyle brands starting in January 2025. This would mark the end of Bell Media and CTV's long-running relationship with Discovery and its sibling networks.[101] Bell filed a court injunction seeking to halt the agreement, arguing that their contract with WBD provides for a two-year non-compete clause ("window to adjust") if the company does not renew its licensing agreements. Rogers claims the suit is without merit.[102]

On October 8, 2024, Bell settled with WBD and Rogers, and concurrently reached an agreement to renew its licensing agreement with the company for HBO and Warner Bros. entertainment content on Crave. Bell and WBD also entered into an agreement to co-produce new programming, and license Bell Media original productions for international distribution outside of Canada.[103] On October 17, Bell announced planned rebrands and relaunches for its Discovery-branded networks taking effect January 1, 2025. Animal Planet, Discovery Science, and Discovery Velocity would be brought under Bell's CTV-branded specialty networks as CTV Wild, Nature, and Speed Channel respectively. Meanwhile, Bell announced a new licensing agreement with NBCUniversal, which would see Discovery Channel and Investigation Discovery relaunched as Canadian versions of USA Network and Oxygen respectively.[104] In an unrelated move, MTV Canada would also wind down on December 31, 2024, with Bell citing “changing audiences”.[105]

On March 26, 2025, Bell Media acquired a majority stake in Sphere Media's international distribution arm Abacus Media Rights (which Sphere had originally acquired in 2024).[106] The company will handle international distribution for Bell Media's programming catalogue.[107] In an interview with Deadline Hollywood, Cohen also stated that the company had begun an internal initiative known as "Northern Lights" to pursue more international production partnerships, explaining that they had "a responsibility to elevate what gets made and the perception of Canadian content, Canadian creative, in the eyes of the global community".[107] In October 2025, Bell Media announced a partnership with Fox-owned free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service Tubi to co-develop programming and handle Canadian advertising sales.[108]

Operations

[edit]
Main article: List of assets owned by Bell Media

Bell Media's largest division is CTV Inc., which owns the following broadcast television assets:

Bell Media owns 27 English and 12 French specialty television channels, frequently in partnership with U.S. companies which operate similar channels.

Genre Channels[109] International partner
CTV Entertainment CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, CTV Nature Channel, CTV Sci-Fi Channel, CTV Speed Channel, CTV Wild Channel, Much
Licensed Entertainment E!, Oxygen, USA Network Licensed by NBCUniversal
Sports TSN1, TSN2, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5 ESPN (part-owner/licensor)
Premium Crave 1, Crave 2, Crave 3, Crave 4, HBO 1, HBO 2, Starz 1, Starz 2 HBO Max, HBO, Starz
News BNN Bloomberg, CP24, CTV News Channel BNN Bloomberg licensed by Bloomberg
French Entertainment Canal D, Canal Vie, Investigation, Z
French Sports RDS, RDS2, RDS Info ESPN (part-owner/licensor)
French Premium Cinépop, Super Écran 1, Super Écran 2, Super Écran 3, Super Écran 4
Pay-per-view Vu! and Venus n/a
Radio iHeartRadio Canada iHeartMedia (licensor), Premiere Networks (supplier of American programming for Orbyt Media)

Through its Bell Media Radio division, the company is also Canada's largest private-sector radio broadcaster and operates a localized version of iHeartMedia's iHeartRadio platform in Canada, even owning the radio syndication company Orbyt Media, which supplies its American programming from iHeartMedia's Premiere Networks division.

In addition, Bell Media also owns television & radio production studios and websites associated with all of the above properties, as well as the TheLoop.ca (formerly Sympatico.ca) Internet portal previously operated through Bell Canada.

Bell Media has six locations:

Logo history

[edit]
  • CTV inc. (1998–2001)
    CTV inc. (1998–2001)
  • Bell Globemedia (2001–December 31, 2006)
    Bell Globemedia
    (2001–December 31, 2006)
  • CHUM Limited (used until June 22, 2007)
    CHUM Limited
    (used until June 22, 2007)
  • CTVglobemedia (January 1, 2007–March 31, 2011)
    CTVglobemedia
    (January 1, 2007–March 31, 2011)
  • Bell Media (April 1, 2011–present, English)
    Bell Media
    (April 1, 2011–present, English)
  • Bell Media (April 1, 2011–present, French)
    Bell Media
    (April 1, 2011–present, French)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Bell Media

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from Grokipedia
Bell Media Inc. is a Canadian media conglomerate and wholly owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., functioning as the country's largest broadcaster with primary operations in television, radio broadcasting, digital platforms, and out-of-home advertising. Formed on April 1, 2011, through the rebranding and expansion of CTVglobemedia following BCE's reacquisition of its media assets, the company controls key networks including CTV, Canada's top-rated English-language television service, alongside French-language outlets like Noovo and numerous specialty channels, as well as over 100 radio stations nationwide. Bell Media has achieved market dominance in conventional and specialty TV, digital content distribution, and audio media, bolstered by acquisitions such as CHUM Limited in 2007, yet it has encountered significant controversies, including large-scale layoffs exceeding 400 media employees in 2024 amid profitability pressures, allegations of toxic workplace conditions at outlets like CTV News, and claims of political bias favoring the Liberal Party in coverage.

Historical Development

Origins in Baton Broadcasting and CTV Formation (Pre-2000)

Baton Broadcasting Incorporated was established on June 1, 1960, to hold the licence for CFTO-TV, the first private in , which began operations on January 1, 1961. Initially controlled by the Bassett family, publishers of the Toronto Telegram, the company positioned CFTO as a flagship affiliate of the , launched on October 1, 1961, as a loose affiliation of independently owned stations aimed at providing private-sector English-language programming across Canada. In 1962, Baton expanded by acquiring CFQC-TV in , marking its entry into . Throughout the and early , Baton pursued aggressive growth to increase its leverage within CTV, acquiring CFCN-TV in and in 1987 and the broadcast assets of Western Broadcasting—including CHCH-TV in Hamilton—in 1990. By 1993, further purchases of independent stations such as CFPL-TV and CKNX-TV Wingham, along with the launch of CHWI-TV, bolstered Baton's regional networks in and . Facing affiliation constraints and financial strains within CTV, Baton launched the Baton Broadcast System (BBS) in October 1994 by merging its Ontario and Saskatchewan station groups, enabling alternative programming to compete directly with the network and pressure other owners. In early 1997, Baton acquired CHUM Limited's 14.3% stake in CTV for C$10 million, followed by deals involving Electrohome and other shareholders. On August 29, 1997, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved transactions granting Baton approximately 58% ownership of CTV, establishing effective control and stabilizing the network amid declining revenues. The BBS was discontinued by early 1998 as Baton integrated its stations into CTV operations. In December 1998, Baton Broadcasting Incorporated rebranded as CTV Inc., consolidating its identity as the dominant owner and manager of the CTV Television Network, with assets valued at around $450 million from the sale of Eaton family holdings. This restructuring unified ownership under a single corporate entity, paving the way for CTV's future expansions while ending the cooperative model that had defined the network since 1961.

Evolution through Alliances and Globemedia (2000–2011)

In February 2000, BCE Inc. announced its acquisition of CTV Inc., Canada's largest private broadcaster, for C$2.3 billion, with the deal completing in April 2000 following shareholder and regulatory approvals. This move secured BCE control over the CTV Television Network and associated specialty channels, including The Sports Network (TSN) and Réseau des sports (RDS), as part of a broader convergence strategy linking telecommunications infrastructure with content production and distribution. In September 2000, BCE deepened its media alliances by partnering with the Thomson Corporation to incorporate The Globe and Mail newspaper, valued at approximately C$1.85 billion in the overall media meld. These acquisitions laid the groundwork for integrating news, entertainment, and digital services like the Sympatico portal. Bell Globemedia Inc. was formally established in 2001 to consolidate these assets, with BCE holding a 70% controlling interest and the Thomson family's Woodbridge Company owning the remaining 30%. The entity oversaw operations across television broadcasting, print media, and early internet ventures, emphasizing synergies between BCE's broadband capabilities and content libraries to compete in an emerging multimedia landscape. However, by December 2005, BCE divested significant stakes to refocus on core telecom profitability, selling 20% to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and adjusting shares such that its ownership fell to 20%, with Woodbridge increasing its position. This transaction, yielding BCE approximately C$1.3 billion, reflected challenges in achieving sustained returns from media convergence amid regulatory scrutiny and market shifts. With BCE's reduced stake, the company rebranded as CTVglobemedia Inc. effective January 1, , shifting emphasis to broadcasting strengths. Expansion continued through the July announcement of a C$1.7 billion takeover of , which added music and youth-oriented channels like MuchMusic, Bravo!, and , alongside conventional stations such as the A-Channel network. The Canadian Radio-television and Commission (CRTC) approved the deal in June but required divestiture of CHUM's Citytv stations to for C$465 million to mitigate excessive concentration in conventional TV ownership. The acquisition closed in late June , enhancing CTVglobemedia's specialty TV portfolio to over 20 channels and bolstering digital and production capabilities. By , 2010, BCE moved to regain full control, agreeing to purchase the remaining 85% of CTVglobemedia for an equity value of C$1.3 billion (total transaction C$3.2 billion including assumed debt), funded via bank facilities and new shares. This reacquisition, approved by the CRTC in March 2011, underscored evolving views on benefits for content delivery across platforms, culminating in the to Bell Media on , 2011. The 2000–2011 era thus highlighted iterative alliances balancing expansion with divestitures, driven by regulatory demands and strategic pivots in Canada's media-telecom sector.

Acquisition by BCE and Initial Integration (2011–2013)

On March 7, 2011, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved BCE Inc.'s application to acquire the remaining 85% interest in CTVglobemedia Inc. that it did not already own, subject to conditions including tangible benefits totaling approximately $200 million over seven years for programming and local content initiatives. The acquisition, valued at $1.3 billion in cash for the 85% stake (with BCE's prior 15% interest bringing the total enterprise value to $3.2 billion), closed on April 1, 2011, earlier than the initially anticipated timeline. Following the completion, CTVglobemedia was renamed Bell Media Inc., and BCE launched Bell Media as a consolidated business unit integrating CTV's national television network, over 20 specialty channels, radio stations, and digital properties with BCE's pre-existing media assets, such as 29 radio outlets and iMusic digital services. The initial integration emphasized operational efficiencies and strategic alignment between media content and BCE's telecommunications infrastructure, enabling cross-promotion of programming via Bell's internet, IPTV, and mobile platforms to foster bundled service offerings. BCE anticipated synergies in content distribution, advertising sales, and production costs, with the unified structure projected to enhance competitiveness in a converging media-telecom environment. In its first full year, Bell Media generated operating revenues of $1,542 million, bolstered by robust advertising performance across television and radio segments despite market challenges. From 2011 to 2013, integration efforts included streamlining administrative functions, leveraging combined purchasing power for content acquisition, and investing in digital expansion to adapt to shifting viewer habits, though specific cost-saving figures remained internal to BCE disclosures. This period marked BCE's recommitment to media ownership after divesting most of its prior stake in 2006, positioning Bell Media as Canada's largest multi-platform content provider with advantages for content delivery over Bell's broadband and wireless . The CRTC's approval reflected regulatory acceptance of the deal's potential to strengthen production, contingent on compliance with benefits commitments like increased independent production funding.

Expansion and Strategic Shifts (2013–2017)

In July 2013, Bell Media completed its acquisition of for approximately $3.1 billion in cash, following CRTC approval on June 4 after an initial 2012 proposal was on grounds. This deal expanded Bell Media's portfolio by adding 27 pay and specialty television channels, including The Movie Network, HBO Canada, and , as well as over 20 radio stations, though regulatory conditions required divestitures of five English-language specialty channels to and DHX Media, and 30 radio stations to Newcap Inc. for $230 million. The integration positioned Bell Media as Canada's largest media company by revenue, with enhanced content distribution capabilities across TV, radio, and digital platforms, though it faced scrutiny for concentrating market power in pay-TV services. To adapt to rising digital consumption, Bell Media launched CraveTV, a subscription video-on-demand service, on December 11, 2014, priced at $4 per month and initially available to subscribers of select providers like and Telus Optik TV. Featuring over 10,000 hours of premium content including series and exclusive Canadian originals, CraveTV marked a strategic pivot toward over-the-top streaming, competing with amid trends, and expanded nationwide by January 1, 2016. Complementing this, Bell Media secured rights to more than 850 hours of 's scripted programming library in September 2014, bolstering its premium content offerings for both linear TV and digital platforms. Further expansions targeted niche markets, including the acquisition of Gusto TV's programming and branding rights on May 4, 2016, which led to the channel's relaunch under Bell Media control focused on food content. In April 2017, Bell Media partnered with ole for worldwide rights management of its 12,000-track audio-visual library, aiming to monetize music assets more effectively. The period culminated in October 2017 with the $200 million purchase of French-language specialty channels Séries+ and Historia from Corus Entertainment, reinforcing Bell Media's commitment to Québec-market growth and bilingual content diversity. These moves reflected a broader strategy of selective acquisitions and digital integration to counter declining traditional ad revenues, with Bell Media's revenues rising 14.9% in 2014 partly due to Astral synergies.

Leadership Changes and Restructuring (2017–2023)

In February 2017, Bell Media underwent a significant leadership transition when Randy Lennox was appointed president, succeeding Mary Ann Turcke who departed the company. Lennox, who had joined Bell Media in 2015 as president of content and broadcasting, reported to BCE Group President Wade Oosterman and focused on integrating traditional broadcasting with digital strategies during his tenure. Later that year, on September 7, 2017, Bell Media announced further senior leadership team organizational changes under Lennox, including the appointment of Stewart Johnston as president of media sales, marketing, and TSN following Stuart Garvie's departure to GroupM. In May 2019, Bell Media restructured its CTV News operations, resulting in job cuts across stations in , , , , and , as part of efforts to streamline regional news production amid declining linear TV viewership. Randy Lennox announced his departure from Bell Media on October 19, 2020, effective in 2021, with Wade Oosterman assuming operational leadership of the division while retaining his role as BCE group president and vice-chair. This shift marked a move toward greater integration of Bell Media within BCE's broader corporate structure, emphasizing cost efficiencies and digital pivots in response to pandemic-related disruptions. In January 2021, following the exit of senior vice-president of content development Rachel Cosentino, Bell Media reorganized its content leadership, promoting Karine Moses to senior vice-president of content development and news. By 2023, under Oosterman's oversight, Bell Media implemented a major that eliminated approximately 1,300 positions—primarily in management (6% reduction) and executive roles (20% fewer)—while shuttering six AM radio stations, driven by advertising revenue declines and a strategic emphasis on digital audio and streaming platforms. On October 3, 2023, BCE announced Wade Oosterman's retirement from Bell at year-end, appointing Sean Cohan, formerly president of A+E Networks' international content and co-productions, as the new president of Bell Media effective November 2023, to guide further adaptations in a competitive media landscape.

Recent Challenges and Adaptations (2023–2025)

In early 2024, Bell Media's parent company BCE Inc. launched a sweeping restructuring amid pressures from cord-cutting, competitive streaming services, and softening traditional advertising markets, resulting in the elimination of 4,800 jobs across BCE—about 9% of its total workforce—and the planned sale of 45 radio stations operated by Bell Media. These measures followed a year of strained performance in 2023, where linear television and radio segments grappled with viewer migration to digital alternatives, prompting Bell Media to curtail multiple local newscasts and adjust programming schedules to reduce costs. Job reductions continued into 2025, with Bell Media dismissing 98 employees—primarily in service and corporate roles in and —in February, sparing newsroom staff, followed by smaller additional cuts in March. BCE's broader initiative targeted another 1,200 unionized positions company-wide that month, reflecting persistent efforts to streamline operations amid elevated debt and demands in . Concurrently, the 2024 Canadian specialty television realignment disrupted content licensing and distribution, with Bell Media executives later citing fallout from channel swaps and negotiations as a key operational hurdle. To counter these headwinds, Bell Media accelerated its pivot to digital and subscription-based models, achieving a 42% share of revenues from digital sources in 2024—rising from 35% in 2023—bolstered by an 18% year-over-year increase in Crave streaming subscriptions. This shift supported EBITDA growth of 14.2% at Bell Media in the fourth quarter of 2024, aided by disciplined cost management and a 10.1% rise in third-quarter operating revenues to $782 million, fueled by recovery. The company also committed to original content production, unveiling slates of 98 titles for 2024/25 (totaling 839 hours) and 116 for 2025/26, emphasizing premium English- and French-language programming to retain audiences across broadcast and streaming platforms.

Corporate Structure and Operations

Television and Broadcasting Assets

Bell Media's television portfolio centers on the , Canada's largest English-language commercial broadcaster, which operates 21 owned-and-operated stations serving major markets from to Halifax, supplemented by regional affiliates to achieve near-universal coverage. CTV 2 provides secondary conventional programming focused on entertainment and lifestyle content, while serves as the French-language conventional network, targeting audiences with local and national programming. These networks collectively form the backbone of Bell Media's over-the-air broadcasting, with 35 local stations contributing to regional news and community-focused content. The company's specialty channels number approximately 25, spanning sports, news, entertainment, and factual genres, including the dominant English-language TSN (with five national channels and regional variants) and its French counterpart RDS, which hold exclusive rights to major leagues like the NHL and CFL. News offerings include for Toronto-focused coverage, for business, and the national Channel. Entertainment channels under the CTV brand, such as , , , and , deliver targeted genres, while others like E!, Much, and cater to youth and music audiences. In the , specialty assets include Canal D (documentary), Canal Vie (lifestyle), and (youth), alongside RDS for sports. services comprise Crave (premium movies and series), STARZ (encore programming), and Super Écran (French premium). Recent rebrands effective January 1, 2025, shifted former Discovery properties to align with U.S. partnerships: to , to Oxygen True Crime, Discovery Science to CTV Nature, Discovery Velocity to CTV Speed, and Animal Planet to CTV Wild, reflecting strategic content licensing amid declining linear viewership.
CategoryKey Assets
SportsTSN (5 channels + regionals), RDS
News/BusinessCP24, BNN Bloomberg, CTV News Channel
Entertainment/FactualCTV Comedy/Drama/Life/Sci-Fi, E!, Much, Canal D, USA Network (post-2025 rebrand)
Pay/PremiumCrave, STARZ, Super Écran

Radio and Audio Platforms

Bell Media's radio operations encompass a portfolio of approximately 55 owned stations concentrated in major Canadian markets, following the divestiture of smaller-market outlets to broadcasters such as Vista Radio and Maritime Broadcasting System in 2024 and 2025. These divestitures aligned with a strategic shift away from low-revenue rural and regional stations, retaining assets in key urban centers like , , , and . The stations operate under distinct formats and brands tailored to local audiences, including Virgin Radio for contemporary hit music, Pure Country for country programming, Bounce Radio for classic hits, and Move Radio for adult contemporary. French-language brands such as Énergie and Rouge FM serve Quebec markets, emphasizing energetic top-40 and adult hits respectively. Programming combines local content, syndicated shows, and music events, with a focus on advertising revenue from regional advertisers. Complementing traditional broadcasting, Bell Media's primary audio platform is iHeartRadio Canada, a digital streaming service launched through an exclusive licensing agreement with , extended long-term in September 2025. The platform streams Bell's owned stations alongside partner content from entities like Pattison Media and Vista Radio, aggregating over 360 licensed Canadian stations across 170 markets, 212 curated music channels, and on-demand access to hundreds of thousands of podcasts. Bell Media handles Canadian representation of 's global podcast catalog, enabling ad sales integration between linear radio and . This hybrid model supports listener engagement via personalized playlists, live event streaming, and podcast discovery, positioning iHeartRadio as a unified hub for audio consumption amid declining traditional radio listenership.

Digital Media and Streaming Services

Bell Media's digital media operations include premium streaming services, online audio platforms, and content websites tied to its broadcast assets, emphasizing premium video-on-demand and across devices. The company leverages these properties to distribute content from its television networks, such as CTV and , alongside licensed international programming. Crave serves as Bell Media's flagship streaming service, offering subscription-based access to , Max, , and Showtime content, including originals like and , as well as Canadian productions. Launched as CraveTV on June 10, 2014, it initially required a cable subscription from Bell or affiliated providers like Rogers, limiting standalone access. By 2018, following a merger with the linear premium channel The Movie Network, the service rebranded to Crave and shifted toward broader availability, expanding to all Canadian households without traditional TV prerequisites. In June 2024, Crave marked its 10-year milestone with over 1,000 hours of exclusive French-language content added to its bilingual library, positioning it as a competitor to global streamers through exclusive deals and prestige awards bait like Emmy-winning series. For audio streaming, Bell Media operates iHeartRadio Canada in partnership with , launched on January 6, 2016, to provide on-demand radio, custom stations, and from its 80+ station network. The platform integrates Bell's radio brands like and 98.5 FM, with Bell handling ad sales for iHeart's catalog in . A multi-year extension announced on September 12, 2025, enhanced content distribution and added stations from partners like Pattison Media, totaling over 130 live streams by late 2024. In the French market, Noovo.ca functions as a video-on-demand and digital hub for network content, acquired by Bell Media on July 24, 2019, as part of the $230 million purchase of Groupe V Média's assets including V and specialty channels. The platform expanded with Noovo Info, a dedicated digital news service launched on January 17, 2022, to bolster real-time reporting and extend 's linear audience online. Bell Media has also explored (FAST) channels, with plans announced in 2024 to launch CTV-branded FAST options and integrate for ad sales partnerships starting in 2025. These services support Bell Media's digital advertising ecosystem, which generated targeted video and display inventory across apps and sites like CTV.ca, reaching millions via connected TV and mobile. Bundled streaming options through Bell Canada further integrate Crave with telecom services, streamlining access on one bill.

Additional Ventures and Partnerships

Bell Media has diversified beyond its core broadcasting assets through strategic investments in content production and distribution entities. On March 26, 2025, it acquired a majority stake in Sphere Abacus, the international sales and distribution arm of Montréal-based Sphere Media, enhancing its global content licensing capabilities and building on prior collaborations with the parent company. Similarly, on June 9, 2025, Bell Media made a strategic investment in Blink49 Studios, an independent Canadian production firm specializing in premium scripted and unscripted content, via its Bell Ventures arm; this funding round also included participation from global distributor FIFTH SEASON, aimed at accelerating innovative projects and supporting domestic entrepreneurship. In content development, Bell Media announced a co-development partnership with PAGEBOY Productions, founded by actor and producer , on January 27, 2025, to create original scripted series for CTV and Crave, emphasizing underrepresented narratives. This aligns with other initiatives, such as a February 20, 2025, agreement with comedian to produce original Canadian programming. Key distribution and advertising partnerships include a September 12, 2025, long-term extension with , building on a since 2016, under which Bell Media handles sales representation for iHeart's podcast portfolio in and integrates content across radio stations, apps, and live events. On October 23, 2025, Bell Media entered a with , becoming the exclusive Canadian ad sales partner for the free ad-supported streaming service while launching its FAST channels—such as and TSN The Ocho—on the platform and co-developing original titles for international audiences. These efforts leverage Bell Media's reach to 98% of monthly alongside Tubi's younger, multicultural user base.

Leadership and Governance

Key Executives and Transitions

Bell Media was established on April 1, 2011, following BCE Inc.'s acquisition of CTVglobemedia, with Kevin Crull appointed as its inaugural president. Crull, previously executive vice-president of , oversaw the integration of assets including CTV and radio stations until his departure in April 2015 amid over instructing CTV journalists to limit airtime for specific political figures, prompting regulatory scrutiny from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Mary Ann Turcke succeeded Crull as president in April 2015, focusing on content strategy and operational streamlining during a period of executive reshuffles. She departed in February 2017 to join the , after which Randy Lennox, formerly president of entertainment production and audio at Bell Media since 2015, was elevated to president on February 27, 2017. Lennox, with prior experience as CEO of Universal Music Canada, emphasized original content development and digital expansion until his announced exit on January 4, 2021. Wade Oosterman, then Bell Group president and BCE vice-chair, assumed leadership of Bell Media in January 2021 to ensure continuity amid industry shifts toward streaming. Oosterman retired at the end of 2023, transitioning the role to Sean Cohan, who joined as president on November 1, 2023, bringing experience from Warner Bros. Discovery in content sales and operations. Under Cohan, Bell Media has pursued cost efficiencies and digital growth, including appointments like Matt McGowan as senior vice-president of business solutions in April 2025 and internal shifts such as Stewart Johnston to senior vice-president of content and sales in May 2024. As of October 2025, Cohan reports to BCE CEO Mirko Bibic and oversees Bell Media's integration within BCE's broader executive structure.

Strategic Decision-Making Under BCE

BCE's formation of Bell Media in 2011 through the acquisition of CTVglobemedia for approximately $1.36 billion CAD integrated conventional television (CTV Network), specialty channels, radio stations, and digital properties under a single division, enabling synergies with BCE's wireline and networks for content delivery and . This structure positioned Bell Media to leverage BCE's broadband infrastructure, with the company stating the move would "enable our promise to deliver the best content experience anywhere, anytime." In 2013, BCE sought to expand Bell Media's pay and specialty television holdings via a proposed $3.38 billion CAD acquisition of , aiming to consolidate in French- and English-language channels; Radio-television and Commission (CRTC) initially denied approval on October 22, 2012, citing excessive concentration in ownership and reduced competition. A revised $3.1 billion CAD deal, approved by the CRTC on June 27, 2013, required Bell Media to divest 11 specialty channels and 10 radio stations to mitigate antitrust concerns, alongside $200 million CAD in tangible benefits for production. By 2015, Bell Media had completed these divestitures, transferring assets to independent buyers while retaining core Astral properties like The Movie Network and Super Écran. Facing and advertising revenue declines in linear media, BCE directed Bell Media toward cost discipline and portfolio optimization in the late 2010s and early 2020s, including the 2018 acquisition of Historia and Séries+ channels from , approved by the conditional on maintaining programming diversity. In October 2023, Bell Media acquired OUTFRONT Media's Canadian out-of-home advertising business for up to $410 million CAD, diversifying into digital billboards and transit ads to offset traditional media losses. By 2024, amid BCE's emphasis on generation amid high interest rates and media sector pressures, Bell Media executed divestitures of 45 radio stations to seven buyers—including Vista Radio and —as part of a broader announced February 8, 2024, which also targeted $250 million CAD in annual media cost savings. This followed BCE's partial divestiture of its MLSE stake (jointly held with Rogers) announced in September 2024, freeing capital but signaling a retreat from non-core sports media investments. Into 2025, BCE's three-year strategic plan, unveiled October 14, 2025, prioritized customer-centric growth and network investments over aggressive media expansion, guiding Bell Media toward targeted content ventures like a June 2025 strategic investment in - and Vancouver-based Blink49 Studios for partnerships and a March 2025 majority stake acquisition in Sphere Abacus to bolster global content distribution. These moves reflect BCE's causal focus on high-margin digital and enterprise-adjacent opportunities, while corporate releases highlight adjusted EBITDA growth of 14.2% at Bell Media in Q4 2024, attributed to operational efficiencies despite ongoing linear TV challenges.

Financial Performance and Market Position

Bell Media's operating revenue reached $3,254 million in 2022, driven by increases in advertising and subscriber revenues. This marked a 7.2% year-over-year rise, reflecting strength in conventional broadcasting and emerging digital platforms. However, revenue fell 4.2% to $3,117 million in 2023, primarily due to declines in subscriber revenues from cord-cutting and softer advertising markets amid economic pressures. In 2024, revenue stabilized with a modest increase to approximately $3,145 million, supported by gains in digital advertising and streaming subscriber growth, though traditional segments continued to face headwinds. Early 2025 results indicated acceleration, with Q1 revenue rising 6.9% year-over-year to $775 million and Q2 up 3.8% to $843 million, fueled by 8.1% higher subscriber revenues from services like Crave and 12% growth in digital revenues, which comprised 42% of total revenues by year-end 2024. On profitability, adjusted EBITDA stood at around $745 million in 2022 with a 22.9% margin, benefiting from scale in content distribution. It declined 6.4% to $697 million in 2023, with the margin slipping to 22.4%, as operating costs outpaced revenue contraction in legacy media. Recovery ensued in 2024, with EBITDA climbing 8.8% to $758 million and the margin expanding to 24.1%, attributed to cost , lower content expenses, and higher-margin digital contributions. This trend persisted into 2025, with Q2 adjusted EBITDA up 7.8% and first-half growth of 17.6%, underscoring adaptations to streaming and amid ongoing impairments in linear assets. Despite these gains, unadjusted operating results have occasionally reflected losses from asset writedowns, such as media impairments contributing to BCE's broader Q3 2024 net loss.

Responses to Industry Disruptions

In response to accelerating and the dominance of global streaming services, Bell Media has prioritized expansion of its Crave platform, originally launched as CraveTV in December 2014 as a low-cost video-on-demand service before pivoting to premium content by late 2018. By 2025, Crave reported subscriber growth, prompting Bell Media to announce a major overhaul including a new and integration of over of additional content from CTV linear channels, set for rollout by year's end. Strategic partnerships, such as bundling Crave with Disney+ and offering its ad-supported tier via starting October 1, 2025, aim to counter competition from and others by enhancing accessibility and content aggregation. These moves reflect a causal shift toward models, as traditional linear TV subscribers declined amid broader industry fragmentation. To address revenue pressures from falling advertising income—exacerbated by rates that surged sevenfold in by 2015—Bell Media implemented aggressive cost reductions, including the elimination of 1,300 positions (about 6% of its workforce) and closure of six radio stations in June 2023, attributing these to unfavorable regulatory policies and a deteriorating operating environment. Further cuts followed, with 98 jobs removed via layoffs and buyouts in February 2025, primarily in service and corporate functions, as part of ongoing restructuring to preserve profitability amid stagnant legacy media returns. These measures align with industry-wide adaptations, where empirical data shows linear TV ad dollars migrating to digital platforms, forcing incumbents like Bell to streamline operations rather than subsidize unprofitable assets. Digitally, Bell Media has pursued transformation through cloud-integrated broadcast and flexible tools, such as 14-day campaign cancellation terms introduced in August 2025 to match digital agility, alongside advanced targeting for premium content extensions. Digital revenue's share within Bell Media rose from 16% in 2020, driven by initiatives like the 2019 Alt TV mobile app for cord-cutters and unified video strategies emphasizing multisite origination for efficiency. Regulatory advocacy, including calls to the CRTC in November 2023 for exemptions on domestic streamers like Crave, underscores efforts to level the playing field against unregulated foreign competitors, though outcomes remain contested amid broader debates on policy's role in causal revenue declines.

Controversies and Criticisms

Workplace Issues and Layoffs

In February 2024, BCE Inc., the parent company of Bell Media, announced a restructuring plan that included 4,800 job cuts across its operations, with fewer than 10%—approximately 440 positions—affecting Bell Media specifically; this followed a June 2023 round of 1,300 media-related layoffs, bringing the total to over 6,000 dismissals in less than a year. The cuts at Bell Media targeted news operations, including the cancellation of multiple local television newscasts and programming reductions, as the company cited declining advertising revenue and competition from digital platforms. Additional layoffs continued into 2025, with nearly 100 workers affected in February, including 43 technicians, and Unifor confirming six direct dismissals plus two dozen buyout offers to its members in March. Union representatives, particularly from , criticized the execution of these layoffs, alleging that hundreds of workers were terminated in virtual group meetings in March 2024, which they described as impersonal and exacerbating employee distress amid broader industry pressures. Bell Media's actions drew further scrutiny for offering voluntary severance packages selectively, excluding some media roles from broader 2025 union buyouts targeting 1,200 positions company-wide, while management cuts occurred alongside. These events unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing financial challenges, with BCE emphasizing the need for cost efficiencies to sustain operations in a shifting . Beyond layoffs, Bell Media has faced allegations of a toxic workplace culture, particularly in its news divisions, with employee accounts from 2022 highlighting , abusive language, and unsustainable workloads at outlets like CTV, contributing to reported emotional harm among staff. In response to the abrupt departure of anchor that year, the company commissioned an independent workplace review to investigate claims of toxic behavior, including prior formal complaints involving managerial and in newsrooms. Anonymous employee reviews on platforms like and have echoed these concerns into 2025, citing nepotistic leadership, constant restructuring-induced stress, and a lack of merit-based advancement as factors eroding morale post-layoffs. A notable individual case involved a former presenter who filed a complaint against Bell Media in 2025, alleging ; the matter was settled out of court in July without admission of liability by the company. While union sources and employee testimonies portray systemic issues, Bell Media has maintained that such reviews and settlements address isolated concerns, with broader reforms aimed at improving internal practices amid external economic strains. These workplace tensions reflect deeper causal pressures from digital disruption and revenue declines, rather than inherent mismanagement, though critics argue inadequate handling has amplified employee hardship.

Editorial Practices and Bias Allegations

Bell Media's editorial practices for its news outlets, including and , emphasize adherence to journalistic standards such as accuracy, fairness, and independence, as outlined in internal codes and regulated by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC). However, the company has faced recurring accusations of executive interference in content decisions, with a 2015 analysis documenting instances where senior leaders allegedly overrode judgments on story selection and framing, potentially compromising . Prominent allegations of political bias center on claims of a pro-Liberal or left-leaning slant, particularly from Conservative critics. In September 2024, Conservative Leader accused of anti-conservative bias after the network aired an edited clip splicing his remarks to falsely imply he was initiating a non-confidence motion against the government; two CTV employees were subsequently dismissed for the incident, prompting Poilievre to impose a temporary of Bell Media platforms. Poilievre has repeatedly characterized outlets like CTV as part of a "pro-Liberal" media ecosystem, citing selective coverage of Conservative policies. In March 2025, CTV cancelled a planned segment on " " for its morning show amid backlash from Poilievre's supporters, which critics interpreted as yielding to conservative pressure rather than upholding rigorous verification. Conversely, some internal and external critiques have alleged biases in international coverage. In 2023–2024 reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict, anonymous CTV journalists claimed Bell Media enforced a "culture of fear" by prohibiting the term "Palestine," suppressing stories critical of Israel, and unevenly editing interviews with Palestinian guests compared to Israeli ones, suggesting a pro-Israel tilt influenced by corporate priorities. These claims align with broader concerns about Canadian media's reliance on government subsidies—Bell Media received over CAD 60 million in federal aid since 2019—which opponents argue incentivizes favorable coverage of ruling Liberal policies, though Bell denies any quid pro quo. Independent evaluators present mixed assessments of CTV's overall bias. Media Bias/Fact Check rated CTV News as "least biased" with high factual accuracy in December 2024, based on balanced sourcing and minimal , while acknowledging occasional editorial choices favoring progressive narratives on social issues. Conservative-leaning analyses, however, dismiss such ratings as overlooking systemic left-leaning institutional pressures in Canadian journalism, where outlets like CTV are accused of underreporting scandals involving Liberal figures while amplifying Conservative missteps. Bell Media maintains that its practices prioritize evidence-based reporting and has rejected claims as politically motivated, emphasizing and measures like the 2024 staff terminations. Bell Media has engaged in several regulatory disputes with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), primarily concerning broadcasting license conditions and content obligations. In November 2023, Bell Media applied to the CRTC to amend its licenses for 14 owned-and-operated television stations, seeking relief from requirements to air a minimum amount of local news and dedicated airtime, arguing that these mandates contributed to annual losses exceeding $100 million in its conventional TV operations amid declining linear viewership. The CRTC partially approved modifications in subsequent decisions but maintained core commitments to local reflection, reflecting ongoing tensions between regulatory mandates for Canadian content and market-driven financial pressures. In October 2025, the CRTC issued a decision on a against and Bell Media regarding accessibility barriers, finding that set-top boxes and related devices impeded access to programming for persons with disabilities, in violation of Broadcasting Act requirements; the regulator ordered remedial measures including improved navigation aids and compliance. Bell Media has also participated in broader CRTC proceedings on online streaming regulation, advocating against imposing quotas on foreign platforms while resisting similar obligations on its own services, as highlighted in June 2025 hearings where it argued outdated models hinder innovation. On the legal front, Bell Media settled a complaint in July 2025 with a former on-air personality, who alleged discrimination in her termination; terms were confidential, but the resolution followed an Human Rights Tribunal filing claiming workplace bias. In October 2024, Bell Media resolved a contractual dispute with by expanding their and Max content licensing deal, ending litigation stemming from Warner's exit from a prior Rogers agreement that affected Bell's Crave platform rights. Bell Media has actively enforced copyrights through litigation, obtaining Federal Court site-blocking orders against pirate sites; in January 2025, the court upheld a novel order in Bell Media Inc. v. John Doe 1 (Soap2day) requiring ISPs to block access to unlawful streaming domains, marking an escalation in anti-piracy efforts under Canada's Copyright Act. In September 2025, Bell Media filed a $2.3 million claim against the City of in Ontario , disputing inadequate compensation for land expropriated for a road crossing project adjacent to its facilities. Additionally, in July 2024, the approved Bell Media's acquisition of Outedge Media (operator of podcast network ) subject to a agreement addressing potential competition concerns in audio advertising.

Branding and Corporate Identity

Logo and Visual Evolution

Bell Media adopted its current logo on April 1, 2011, coinciding with BCE Inc.'s completion of its $3.2 billion acquisition of the remaining 85% stake in CTVglobemedia Inc., consolidating media operations under the new business unit. The design features the established Bell corporate wordmark—a stylized "Bell" in a bold font with a signature blue hue—followed by "Media" in a matching typographic style, emphasizing continuity with BCE's branding while signaling the media division's scope. This marked a shift from the predecessor CTVglobemedia logo, which integrated elements of the CTV network's identity alongside "globemedia" text, introduced on January 1, 2007, after Bell Globemedia's acquisition of and subsequent rebranding to reflect reduced BCE ownership. The visual identity prior to CTVglobemedia stemmed from Bell Globemedia, formed in 2001 through BCE's consolidation of CTV Inc. and other assets, utilizing a logo that paired the Bell mark with "Globemedia" to denote global media ambitions. This progression reflects a pattern of branding evolution tied to corporate mergers: from CTV Inc.'s flat logo in the late , emphasizing simplicity, to more integrated designs post-2001 that incorporated BCE's visual elements. Bell Media's 2011 logo streamlined this heritage, prioritizing the parent company's recognizable blue palette and typography for unified across broadcasting, digital, and out-of-home assets. Since its introduction, the Bell Media has remained unchanged, with variants for English and French markets maintaining the core to accommodate bilingual operations. A French-language version substitutes equivalent phrasing while preserving the Bell mark's form. This stability underscores a strategic choice for brand consistency amid industry consolidation, contrasting with periodic refreshes in brands like CTV in , which updated on-air graphics without altering the corporate . No comprehensive of the Bell Media visual identity has occurred as of 2025, even as the BCE undertook a broader platform refresh focused on connectivity themes.

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