Bell Media

Bell Media is the mass-media subsidiary of BCE Inc., one of Canada's largest integrated communications companies. Its principal businesses span conventional television, specialty and premium channels, sports media, radio, streaming, production, and digital publishing. The portfolio includes the CTV television network and local stations, CTV2, TSN, RDS, Crave, and a broad collection of radio and digital properties. Bell Media's programming mix covers national and local news, scripted and unscripted entertainment, sports, documentaries, music, and regional content in English and French. The company is the successor to a chain of broadcasting businesses whose most important predecessor was Baton Broadcasting. Baton was created in 1960 to establish CFTO-TV in Toronto and subsequently expanded through acquisitions of CTV affiliates and other stations. By the 1990s it had become a major private-sector broadcaster and had obtained effective control of the CTV network. Baton acquired NetStar Communications in the late 1990s, bringing TSN and related sports assets into the group, and was renamed CTV Inc. in 1998. BCE acquired CTV in 2000 and combined it with The Globe and Mail and internet properties associated with Sympatico in a new media venture called Bell Globemedia. The structure reflected a period of media-convergence strategies in which telecommunications companies sought ownership of content that could support television, satellite, and internet services. BCE later reduced its stake, and the company became CTVglobemedia in 2007 after ownership was shared with Woodbridge, Torstar, and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. CTVglobemedia acquired CHUM Limited in 2007, gaining additional television, specialty-channel, and radio operations. Regulatory conditions required the divestiture of CHUM's Citytv stations, which were sold to Rogers Communications. The enlarged company subsequently disposed of various non-core assets. In 2011, BCE reacquired the company, excluding The Globe and Mail, and renamed the broadcasting and media operation Bell Media. Today, Bell Media operates within BCE's broader telecommunications ecosystem. Its television networks and specialty services remain important Canadian distributors of sports and entertainment, while Crave provides subscription streaming and TSN delivers television, streaming, and digital sports products. The business is principally Canadian and is subject to Canadian broadcasting, ownership, local-content, and regulatory requirements.

Bell Media's corporate history reaches back to Baton Aldred Rogers Broadcasting, formed in 1960 to launch Toronto's CFTO-TV. CFTO became a founding CTV affiliate when the network was established in 1961. Baton gradually bought additional CTV affiliates and other stations, especially during the 1970s through the 1990s. Its expansion accelerated through purchases in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and western Canada, as well as alliances with Electrohome and transactions involving CHUM. These moves gave Baton effective control of CTV. The Baton Broadcast System, created as a secondary programming system for Baton's stations, was eventually merged into CTV, and the company adopted the name CTV Inc. in 1998. CTV acquired NetStar Communications in the late 1990s. NetStar's assets included TSN, making sports a central part of the company's future portfolio. Regulatory approval required the sale of CTV's interest in Sportsnet, which went to Rogers. BCE then acquired CTV Inc. in 2000 for approximately CA$2.3 billion and combined it with The Globe and Mail and internet operations associated with Sympatico. The resulting Bell Globemedia was intended to link content production and distribution across television, satellite, and internet services. BCE reduced its ownership in 2006 through a transaction involving Woodbridge, Torstar, and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. The company was renamed CTVglobemedia in January 2007. That year it purchased CHUM Limited, adding the A-Channel television group, specialty networks, radio stations, and other assets. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission required the divestiture of CHUM's Citytv stations because CTV already operated stations in the same markets. Rogers acquired Citytv, while CTVglobemedia retained many of the other CHUM properties and later sold several non-core assets. The company subsequently rationalized its portfolio. Some channels and stations were sold to Rogers, Corus, and other buyers; certain operations entered bankruptcy protection or were closed. In 2011, BCE acquired full control of CTVglobemedia's broadcasting assets, while The Globe and Mail remained outside the transaction. The business was renamed Bell Media Inc. Bell Media then developed a portfolio centered on CTV, TSN, specialty television, radio, premium content, and digital services. Crave became its principal subscription-streaming brand, while TSN expanded across television and digital delivery. The company continues to operate primarily in Canada under BCE ownership and within the country's broadcasting regulatory framework.

1. 2011Bell Media is established

   BCE reacquires full control of the broadcasting and media business, excluding The Globe and Mail, and changes its name to Bell Media.

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2. 2007Bell Globemedia becomes CTVglobemedia

   The name changes after BCE reduces its ownership and the company completes its acquisition of CHUM Limited.

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3. 2000BCE acquires CTV

   BCE acquires CTV Inc. and combines it with The Globe and Mail and internet properties to create Bell Globemedia.

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4. 1998Baton becomes CTV Inc.

   The Baton Broadcast System is folded into CTV and the corporate entity adopts the CTV Inc. name.

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5. 1961CFTO joins the CTV network

   CFTO becomes one of the original CTV affiliates and later serves as the network's flagship station.

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6. 1960Baton Aldred Rogers Broadcasting is formed

   The company is established to create Toronto private television station CFTO-TV, the foundational broadcasting asset of the later Bell Media group.

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A leading Canadian multiplatform media company combining broadcast networks, sports rights, radio, premium television, streaming, and digital content.

• CTVTelevision network1961

  Bell Media's flagship English-language conventional television network, combining national programming with local owned-and-operated stations and affiliates. CTV carries news, entertainment, scripted programming, reality formats, and selected major events.

• TSNSports media

  A major Canadian sports-media service acquired through NetStar. TSN operates television channels and digital products covering Canadian and international sports, including live events, analysis, news, and streaming access.

• RDSFrench-language sports media

  Bell Media's French-language sports network and digital sports operation, serving francophone audiences in Canada with live coverage, sports news, studio programming, and analysis.

• CraveSubscription streaming

  A Canadian subscription streaming service offering television series, films, premium programming, and Bell Media content through internet-delivered packages.

• CTV2Television network

  A secondary television network and station group complementing the CTV network with entertainment, news, and other programming across selected Canadian markets.

• iHeartRadio CanadaRadio and digital audio

  The branded radio and digital-audio platform associated with Bell Media's Canadian radio operations, combining live stations, music, spoken-word programming, and online audio access.

• 2011BCE returns to full ownershipM&A

  BCE had previously reduced its stake in Bell Globemedia and CTVglobemedia while retaining a minority position.

  What changed. BCE acquired the remaining interest in the broadcasting and media business, excluding The Globe and Mail, and relaunched it as Bell Media.

  Aftermath. Bell Media became a wholly controlled BCE media subsidiary and was more closely aligned with Bell's telecommunications and distribution businesses.

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• 2007Acquire CHUM while divesting CitytvM&A

  CTVglobemedia sought to expand its television, specialty-channel, and radio portfolio through CHUM, but the transaction created station-ownership overlaps in markets already served by CTV.

  What changed. The company completed the CHUM acquisition after regulatory approval and sold the Citytv stations to Rogers Communications, retaining many other CHUM assets.

  Aftermath. The transaction substantially broadened the portfolio while demonstrating the ownership constraints imposed by Canadian broadcasting regulation.

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• 2011BCE reacquires CTVglobemedia's broadcasting and media assets

  BCE announced and completed the acquisition of the remaining interest in CTVglobemedia, excluding The Globe and Mail, and renamed the business Bell Media.

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• 2007CTVglobemedia completes acquisition of CHUM Limited

  The acquisition added CHUM television, specialty-channel, and radio assets, subject to regulatory conditions requiring the sale of the Citytv stations.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2007Citytv stations sold to Rogers after CHUM transaction

  Rogers Communications acquired the Citytv stations after the regulator required their divestiture because of overlapping station ownership in several markets.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2000CTV acquires NetStar Communications

  The transaction brought TSN and related sports-media operations into the CTV group; regulatory approval required CTV to divest Sportsnet.

  M&ARegulation
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1. Bell Media
2. Bell Media corporate website