Bell asks CRTC to drop local news requirements after mass layoffs
TORONTO –
BCE Inc.’s media arm is asking the federal telecommunications regulator to waive native news and Canadian programming necessities for its tv stations, saying its obligations are primarily based on outdated market realities.
In an software to the CRTC filed June 14, Bell Media requested the regulator drop necessities for spending on native news and on the variety of hours per week that stations are required to broadcast regionally reflective news in main and smaller markets.
The software was filed the identical day Bell introduced it’s chopping 1,300 positions, shutting or promoting 9 radio stations and shutting two overseas bureaus amid plans to “significantly adapt” the way it delivers the news within the face of rising monetary strain.
In its submitting, Bell famous its 35 native tv stations branded as CTV, CTV Two, and Noovo plus three discretionary tv news companies — CP24, CTV News Channel and BNN Bloomberg — are underneath monetary pressure.
It requested the elimination of a requirement for English-language tv stations in metropolitan markets to broadcast not less than 14 hours of native programming per week. In Quebec, Bell additionally requested the regulator to eliminate its obligations to broadcast not less than 5 hours of native programming per week at its Montreal station.
Among the opposite asks, Bell urged the CRTC to permit for its stations in main markets to now not must broadcast not less than six hours of weekly regionally reflective news. For its non-metropolitan stations, Bell needs to have the ability to broadcast lower than three hours of regionally reflective news every week.
It additionally requested the regulator to waive the requirement for the corporate to commit 11 per cent of the earlier yr’s gross revenues to the acquisition of or funding in regionally reflective news.
“The requested relief we are seeking would allow us to better manage our regulatory obligations through the evolving competitive landscape of the Canadian broadcasting industry in the face of competition from digital media broadcasting undertakings,” the applying acknowledged.
The submitting famous Bell Media’s common annual news working loss totalled $28.4 million between 2016 and 2019, a determine which jumped to $40 million final yr as internet giants scooped up the Canadian promoting market.
Bell mentioned the CRTC’s implementation of the Online Streaming Act has the potential to offer aid to media firms by compensation from on-line streaming giants, but it surely can not afford to attend for the result of the regulator’s consultations on the laws.
It reiterated most of the issues expressed final week by Bell chief authorized and regulatory officer Robert Malcolmson in regards to the laws, which acquired royal assent in April and is now in a session section.
Malcolmson mentioned the core challenge for Bell is that standard U.S. content material is not accessible to Canadian broadcasters as a result of American platforms are providing it on to customers on their in-house streaming companies. He urged policymakers to mandate assurances that might permit Canadian broadcasters to pay American firms to be able to air that content material.
The regulator has begun its personal first three of not less than 9 consultations on the invoice, which can probably span greater than a yr.
“Notably, absent this relief, we will be required to continue operating these stations in an environment of significant regulatory uncertainty while the Commission works to implement Bill C-11’s policy directives,” the applying acknowledged.
“The traditional broadcasting industry is in crisis, which is why the Commission must act now and grant the regulatory relief we are seeking.”
Last week’s layoffs included a six per cent minimize at Bell Media. Malcolmson advised The Canadian Press the corporate was present process “a consolidation of news gathering (and) news delivery” with “one news-gathering and delivery platform.”
In a second software filed by Bell on June 14, the corporate additionally requested that the CRTC scale back its obligation for Canadian content material spending on English-language tv stations from 30 per cent of the earlier yr’s revenues to twenty per cent.
It additionally requested to cut back the quantity its English-language tv stations should spend per yr on applications of nationwide curiosity from 7.5 per cent of the earlier yr’s revenues to 5 per cent.
“The reduction we are proposing … will ensure that broadcasters are better able to sustain themselves and compete,” the submitting acknowledged. “Such an approach may improve broadcasters’ prospects allowing them to better invest in the long term in Canadian productions.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed June 23, 2023.
CTV News is a division of Bell Media, which is a part of BCE Inc.
Statement from BCE Inc. supplied to CTV News
Bell Media is the main supplier of native news in Canada, however to maintain news operations into the longer term, public coverage adjustments are desperately wanted now. Even although we’re Canada’s news chief, Bell Media’s news operations misplaced $40 million in income final yr. Without altering how we function to align with right now’s shifting shopper calls for, these working losses will solely develop. Now is the time for the CRTC to make cheap regulatory enhancements that can present extra flexibility in how Bell Media and different broadcasters ship native news in main and smaller markets.
