Bell Media, Canada’s largest media and telecom company, has announced significant programming cuts and layoffs in response to restructuring efforts initiated by its parent company, BCE Inc.
In an internal memo addressed to Bell Media employees, Vice-Presidents Dave Daigle and Richard Gray revealed that several television newscasts, including those on CTV and BNN Bloomberg, would be discontinued immediately. Additionally, the company is terminating weekday noon newscasts at all CTV stations except Toronto, as well as 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts on weekends at select CTV and CTV2 stations.
The restructuring comes after BCE Inc. disclosed plans to lay off 4,800 employees and sell 45 of its 103 regional radio stations. Chief Executive Mirko Bibic emphasized in an open letter that the job cuts, amounting to 9% of the company’s workforce, would affect employees at all levels, with fewer than 10% of the layoffs specifically targeting Bell Media.
While some employees have already been notified of their layoffs, the company aims to minimize job losses by utilizing vacancies and natural attrition. Bibic assured that the layoffs would be conducted gradually, with the remaining affected employees to be informed by the spring.
The Unifor union reported that approximately 800 of its members were laid off in the Bell cuts, with around 100 job losses occurring in the media sector. Bibic acknowledged challenges in the company’s advertising revenue, indicating a need for strategic adjustments to navigate the evolving media landscape.
The decision to streamline operations and reduce workforce reflects the broader challenges facing the media industry, compounded by shifts in consumer behavior and digital disruption. As Bell Media adapts to these changes, the impact of the restructuring on employees and programming underscores the need for agility and resilience in an increasingly competitive market.
