BCE Inc. is divesting 45 of its 103 regional radio stations and implementing a nine percent reduction in its workforce, which includes journalists and other staff within its Bell Media subsidiary. The impacted stations are located in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.

In an open letter signed by CEO Mirko Bibic, the company announced the elimination of 4,800 jobs “at all levels of the company.” Some employees have already been informed of layoffs, while the remainder will be notified by spring. Bibic stated that the company will utilize vacancies and natural attrition to mitigate layoffs whenever possible.

This marks the second significant downsizing at the media and telecommunications conglomerate since the previous spring when six percent of Bell Media jobs were cut, and nine radio stations were closed or sold.

In an internal memo, Bell Media president Sean Cohan outlined plans to divest the 45 radio stations to seven buyers, pending approval from the CRTC and other closing conditions. These buyers include Vista Radio, Whiteoaks, Durham Radio, My Broadcasting Corp., ZoomerMedia, Arsenal Media, and Maritime Broadcasting.

Bell’s chief legal and regulatory officer, Robert Malcolmson, characterized the divestiture as significant, citing the lack of viability in the radio business. He noted the company’s commitment to operating viable stations while acknowledging the industry’s overall decline.

The total number of job cuts specific to Bell Media was not disclosed by the company. Malcolmson highlighted Bell Media’s ongoing digital transformation in both entertainment and news sectors but expressed uncertainty about its profitability without regulatory support.

Malcolmson criticized the federal government for delays in providing relief for media companies and the CRTC for its slow response to the industry’s immediate crisis. He referenced two pieces of legislation aimed at supporting Canada’s struggling media sector: Bill C-18, known as the Online News Act, and Bill C-11, which updates the Broadcasting Act.

Regarding Bill C-18, Malcolmson criticized Meta, Facebook’s parent company, for blocking news links on its platforms, and he expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to cap broadcast media’s share of Google’s annual payments at $30 million, diverting the remainder to print and digital news outlets.

Malcolmson characterized the legislative efforts as underwhelming and questioned their efficacy in addressing the challenges faced by the media industry.

Thursday’s job reductions at Bell Media are directly influenced by regulatory developments surrounding Bill C-11, according to Malcolmson. The CRTC conducted a hearing in late 2023 to assess whether streaming services should contribute to the Canadian content system to create a more equitable playing field with local companies. The commission aims to establish new regulations by late 2024.

However, Malcolmson emphasized the company’s need for immediate relief, proposing a fund where streamers would subsidize local or national news. He stressed the urgency of the situation, expressing that waiting for regulatory changes is not feasible, leading to the actions taken on Thursday.

Bell has challenged various regulatory decisions over the past year, arguing that they exacerbate challenges for its struggling broadcast division. This includes an application to the Federal Court of Appeal in October seeking to overturn a CRTC decision renewing broadcast licenses for three years without a public hearing. Bell argued that this decision could prejudice its requests made in June to waive local news and Canadian programming requirements for its television stations.

In his letter, Bibic highlighted Bell Media’s declining advertising revenues of $140 million in 2023 compared to the previous year, with the news division experiencing over $40 million in annual operating losses.

Bell indicated the possibility of further reducing network investments in its telecom division due to disagreements with the CRTC over what it perceives as “predetermined” regulatory direction.

When questioned about the company’s reputation amid ongoing cuts, Malcolmson pointed out that Bell has reduced the size of its executive team in recent years and frozen executive salaries. He emphasized the company’s responsibility to both shareholders and employees, ensuring rational management of the business.

List of divested Bell Media radio stations (New owner)

CHOR, Summerland, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CJAT, Trail, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKKC, Nelson, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKGR, Golden, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKXR, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKCR, Revelstoke, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CJMG, Penticton, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKOR, Penticton, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CJOR, Osoyoos, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CICF, Vernon, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CHSU, Kelowna, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CILK, Kelowna, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKFR, Kelowna, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKNL, Fort St. John, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CHRX, Fort St. John, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CJDC, Dawson Creek, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKRX, Fort Nelson, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CFTK, Terrace, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CJFW, Terrace, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CHTK, Prince Rupert, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKTK, Kitimat, B.C. (Vista Radio)

CKLH, Hamilton, Ont. (Whiteoaks)

CHRE, St. Catharines, Ont. (Whiteoaks)

CHTZ, St. Catharines, Ont. (Whiteoaks)

CKTB, St. Catharines, Ont. (Whiteoaks)

CKLY, Lindsay, Ont. (Durham Radio)

CKPT, Peterborough, Ont. (Durham Radio)

CKQM, Peterborough, Ont. (Durham Radio)

CFJR, Brockville, Ont. (My Broadcasting Corporation)

CJPT, Brockville, Ont. (My Broadcasting Corporation)

CFLY, Kingston, Ont. (My Broadcasting Corporation)

CKLC, Kingston, Ont. (My Broadcasting Corporation)

CJOS, Owen Sound, Ont. (ZoomerMedia)

CHRD, Drummondville, Que. (Arsenal Media)

CJDM, Drummondville, Que. (Arsenal Media)

CFEI, St-Hyacinthe, Que. (Arsenal Media)

CFZZ, St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que. (Arsenal Media)

CIKI, Rimouski, Que. (Arsenal Media)

CJOI, Rimouski, Que. (Arsenal Media)

CFVM, Amqui, Que. (Arsenal Media)

CIKX, Grand Falls, N.B. (Maritime Broadcasting)

CJCJ, Woodstock, N.B. (Maritime Broadcasting)

CKBC, Bathurst, N.B. (Maritime Broadcasting)

CKTO, Truro, N.S. (Maritime Broadcasting)

CKTY, Truro, N.S. (Maritime Broadcasting)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2024.