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Bell Media asks regulator to remove its obligations to local TV news

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Bell Media has asked the federal broadcast regulator to drop the spending requirements and dedicated airtime imposed on the company’s local television news programming.

BCE’s media arm says it wants the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to amend “certain conditions of licence” regarding its local English- and French-language TV stations, CTV and Noovo.

Bell Media calls it “regulatory relief” to counter online competition and help offset losses wracked up in recent years.

“Unfortunately, Bell Media has been losing tens of millions alone in the production and delivery of local news,” it said in a summary of the application posted Friday and filed on June 14 — the same day BCE announced it’s cutting 1,300 positions, shutting or selling nine radio stations and closing two foreign bureaus.

“In the four-year period between 2016 and 2019, [Bell Media’s] average annual news operating loss was $28.4 million,” the company said.

It said that number increased to $40 million last year because of internet advertising that has captured a “massive share” of revenue from Canadian businesses.

Last week’s layoffs included a six per cent cut at Bell Media.

Fewer hours for local news

The company wants the CRTC to waive requirements for the number of hours its TV stations must devote to local news each week.

Bell Media said the commission said in 2021 that the average number of hours Canadians spent watching traditional television services has decreased a total of 16.5 per cent since 2013.

“Over the last decade, the operating environment for traditional, private Canadian broadcasters has changed dramatically,” the company said.

“Whereas in the past, Canadians looked to domestic services for information and entertainment, they can now access a virtually unlimited array of DMBUs [digital media broadcasting undertakings] such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple+, most of which are foreign‑owned and controlled.”

Bell said the CRTC’s implementation of the Online Streaming Act has the potential to provide relief to media companies through compensation from online streaming giants, but it cannot afford to wait for outcome of the regulator’s consultations on the legislation.

 

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RCMP arrest second suspect in deadly shooting east of Calgary

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EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.

Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.

Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.

Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.

Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.

RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.

Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.

But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.

“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.

While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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26-year-old son is accused of his father’s murder on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast

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RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.

Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.

The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.

It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.

Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.

The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Metro Vancouver’s HandyDART strike continues after talks break with no deal

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VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”

However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.

He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.

The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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