Global Courant
BCE Inc. is cutting 1,300 positions and closing or selling nine radio stations as the company plans to make significant changes to the way it delivers news.
The eliminated features include a six percent cut at Bell Media.
Bell says the job cuts are a response to unfavorable public policy and regulations that can no longer wait.
The plan includes moving to a single newsroom approach across all brands.
Bell executive vice president Robert Malcolmson says the company’s media arm cannot afford to continue to operate independently with its various brands.
Being put on shutter:
Winnipeg Funny 1290; Funny 1060 from Calgary; TSN 1260 radio from Edmonton; Vancouver’s BNN Bloomberg Radio 1410; Vancouver’s Funny 1040; London’s NewsTalk 1290.
Bell Media is also selling Hamilton’s AM Radio 1150 and AM 820, as well as Windsor’s AM 580, to an undisclosed third party, subject to CRTC approval.
Management positions will be cut by six percent, according to the company. There are also 20 percent fewer managerial positions in the company than in 2020.
An internal company memo on Wednesday says staff affected by cuts will be notified this week.
About 30 percent of the positions that expire are current vacancies that are not filled.
In an open letter, Bell Canada president and CEO Mirko Bibic says Bell Canada expects to lose more than $250 million in old phone revenue per year, while its news business incurs $40 million in annual operating losses.
“To succeed in today’s challenging economic, regulatory and competitive environment and be ready for what’s to come, we must accelerate our shift from how telecoms and media companies have operated in the past,” Bibic said.
