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BCE Inc. today announced that it has completed its $3.2-billion acquisition of
CTV and launched Bell Media, a new business unit encompassing all CTV and other
Bell content assets. Moving quickly to make the best mobile media available to
as many Canadians as possible, Bell Media announced a world-class package of top
news, sports and entertainment content for Canada's mobile providers.
Bell fulfilled all regulatory, legal and other requirements to close the
transaction today, approximately 90 days earlier than originally expected due to
expeditious approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
Commission and the Competition Bureau. Bell plans to update its 2011 financial
guidance to reflect the acquisition, and the earlier-than-expected closing, when
it delivers its BCE Q1 2011 results on May 12, 2011.
"Our acquisition of Canada's #1 media company leverages our strategic
investments in broadband networks and services and enables our promise to
deliver the content Canadians want most across every screen - smartphone,
tablet, computer and TV," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and
BCE. "The Bell Media team joins a re-energized Bell executing a strategy to
deliver a better customer experience at every level and dedicated to achieving a
clear goal: For Bell to be recognized by customers as Canada's leading
communications company."
Bell announced in September 2010 that it would acquire 100% of CTV to accelerate
the delivery of media to Canadians across multiple broadband platforms. With
approximately $3 billion in annual capital expenditures, Bell is investing far
more in Canada's next-generation network infrastructure than any other company,
bringing broadband access to rural and remote locations, small towns and major
cities alike. The acquisition of Canada's premier media company also more than
levels the competitive playing field in a marketplace where Bell's major
competitors are integrated communications and broadcast companies.
Bell today unveiled Bell Media, a new business unit led by President Kevin Crull
that includes all CTV properties and other Bell content assets.
Bell Media now operates CTV, Canada's #1 television network and lead broadcaster
of the London 2012 Olympic Games; 29 specialty channels, including BNN -
Business News Network, Discovery Channel, Much, MTV, The Comedy Network, SPACE,
and TSN and RDS, Canada's top English and French-language specialty channels; 33
radio stations, including TSN Radio 1050 set to launch April 13; Dome
Productions, a mobile broadcast facilities provider; and dozens of high-traffic
news, sports and entertainment web sites, now including Bell's popular
Sympatico.ca portal.
"I am honoured to lead the team that has built the country's most respected
media brands as we embrace the opportunities ahead, represented both by evolving
viewer and listener demands for compelling content and rapid innovation in
high-speed delivery networks. Addressing these opportunities means more
enjoyment anywhere and anytime for our audience, and greater access to that
audience for our advertisers," said Mr. Crull. "With passion and an unrelenting
commitment to excellence, Bell Media is ready to lead in Canada's fast-changing
media landscape. Our mission is to entertain, inform and inspire Canadians on
the latest television, mobile and fibre-based broadband platforms."
As previously announced, Ivan Fecan retires today as President and CEO of
CTVglobemedia and CEO of CTV Inc.
"As the Canadian innovator who transformed CTV from a collection of regional
stations into a national media power, Ivan is a true broadcasting legend," said
Mr. Cope. "We congratulate him on his unparalleled accomplishments in
broadcasting and thank him for leading CTV to its status as Canada's #1 media
company."
Bell Media today announced a compelling new package of mobile content featuring
the most popular news, entertainment and sports programming in Canada, including
live or on-demand programming from CTV News Channel, TSN, TSN2, RDS, BNN, MTV
and The Comedy Network. Bell Media is offering the package on commercial terms
to all Canadian wireless providers eager to deliver the best video content
available to their mobile clients.
"Canada's most-watched programming is now available in a package that rivals the
best mobile TV content available anywhere around the world," said Mr. Crull.
"This is the content that smartphones, tablets and fast mobile networks are
built for, and Bell Media is proud to make it available to all Canadians through
their mobile provider of choice."
Bell Media looks forward to announcing new partnerships with multiple wireless
providers in order to ensure the broadest possible access to the best mobile
content, and to making more of Bell Media's world-class content available to
Canadians in future.
Bell will also proceed with the implementation of an approximately $240-million
package of programming, job-creation and technological benefits for the Canadian
broadcasting industry, a package that includes the development of new,
independently produced programming of national interest including dramas,
documentaries and new media content; extended news programming in cities across
Western Canada; increased Bell Satellite TV carriage of local stations and
deployment of advanced MPEG-4 technology; and enhanced local programming on
CTV's /A\ channels.
Canadian TV viewers will feel another benefit of the transaction directly in
their pocketbooks - they won't pay a new Value For Signal fee with Bell TV.
The Federal Court recently approved the CRTC's jurisdiction to implement VFS,
and the model planned by the CRTC allows TV broadcasters and TV service
providers to negotiate VFS on a level playing field. Bell supports this
straightforward approach to promoting access to local and national programming,
and today announces Bell TV will not pass on costs associated with VFS to its
subscribers.
Source: Broadcaster | April 1, 2011
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