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Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
No matter how hard they try, Bell will never be able to look like the victims in this mess that they made themselves.
But that doesn't mean they're not trying.
Bell says facts have been ‘distorted’ amidst criticisms over its mass layoffs. Here’s what it’s saying
- RadioActive
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
A former CTV News reporter-turned-politician blasts the head of Bell Media at the Canadian Heritage Committee, accusing him of "gutting local news."
It's a short clip - only 53 secs. - but it's pretty powerful and he doesn't mince words. Worth a quick watch here.
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
RadioActive wrote:
A former CTV News reporter-turned-politician blasts the head of Bell Media at the Canadian Heritage Committee, accusing him of "gutting local news."
It's a short clip - only 53 secs. - but it's pretty powerful and he doesn't mince words. Worth a quick watch here.
Wow! He's not wrong. Does Bell care? Nope.
- SpinningWheel
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
A former CTV News reporter-turned-politician blasts the head of Bell Media at the Canadian Heritage Committee, accusing him of "gutting local news."
It's a short clip - only 53 secs. - but it's pretty powerful and he doesn't mince words. Worth a quick watch here.
I agree with Kevin Waugh 100%. Bravo!
- Glen Warren
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I was able to catch a bit of the hearing...
The Bloc MP seemed to want to start throwing some soft balls to Bibic, and was emphasizing to the committee that Bibic was not refusing to appear before The Heritage Committee, but that it was simply just a scheduling conflict on the part of their respective calendars (being Bibic's and the Heritage Committee)
A "scheduling conflict" ? It wasn't an invitation to appear as a keynote speaker at an industry event and he (Bibic) declined to RSVP... Bibic was summoned to present himself/appear before the Parliamentary Committee to provide testimony and answer questions put to him by committee members of all parties.
I guarantee you that if anyone of "us" as lesser Canadian mortals refused, er, declined to appear before a Parliamentary Legislative Committee, that our rear ends would be cooling themselves in a holding cell awaiting trial on charges of Parliamentary Contempt....
As it was, Bibic did not appear before yesterday's committee in person. His appearance was by a remote meeting or conferencing platform.
The NDP leader was less than cordial with Mr. Bibic throughout his initial five minutes of questioning... The committee chair even had to interrupt the hearing a few times, and emphasize that Mr. Singh indeed have the floor, and directed him to continue.... ouch!
- paterson1
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
Bell certainly has got itself into a public relations mess. Even their own stations were showing that clip of Kevin Waugh ripping into CEO Mirko Bibic yesterday. Powerful stuff.
Most of this mess is Bell's fault in my opinion, but not all. Even today because the layoffs at Bell Media and the much larger number at BCE are written in a way that implies that all 6,000 layoffs were Bell Media.
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How many times did the media report that 100 Source stores were closing? How many people lost their jobs with this? Or how many employees were let go at Bell Mobility? Not a lot was reported on the big cutbacks at BCE and the expansion of their cellular networks. We did hear much about the 45 radio stations that were sold, and the cancelling of weekend newscasts. Some media reports even said initially that Bell was closing 45 radio stations.
Almost all of the reporting focused on what Bell Media was doing, but very little regarding the much bigger number of people being let go in other divisions of BCE. In reality Bell Media over the past six months has downsized by about 600 positions, including jobs that were vacant. About the same number as the layoffs at CBC. Still a lot and a shame for those out of work, but not 6,000.
Bell should have clarified all of this right at the beginning. They either didn't or did a very poor job explaining. Not a good look for a communications company. However, the news media reporting the story should do their homework and get their facts straight. They did and continue to do a lousy job reporting on the impact of all of these cutbacks and not only at Bell Media.
Regarding CTV in Saskatoon with only 1 hour of local news every day. How many hours of local news do the Global and CBC stations in Saskatoon carry every day? Regina and Saskatoon still have a local morning show from 6am to 9am weekdays with CTV Morning Live Saskatchewan. We have nothing like that here in Toronto or Ontario and must put up with the national CTV Morning Live program.
- ED1
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
Scott Roberts was the former 6 PM anchor at CTV Vancouver until he was laid off in 2022 (he's now the 6 PM anchor on Global Edmonton).
He recorded a clip of the proceedings where they bring up his name to BCE's CEO.
- ED1
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
Regarding CTV in Saskatoon with only 1 hour of local news every day. How many hours of local news do the Global and CBC stations in Saskatoon carry every day? Regina and Saskatoon still have a local morning show from 6am to 9am weekdays with CTV Morning Live Saskatchewan. We have nothing like that here in Toronto or Ontario and must put up with the national CTV Morning Live program.
The only local newscast on CTV in Saskatoon is the weekday 6 PM news (1 hour). The station also produces a 30 minute newscasts for CIPA Prince Albert at 5 PM. They recently re-instated a local Saskatoon 11:30 news, but it is really a cut down replay of the 6 PM news. Everything else (morning, noon, 5 PM, weekends) comes from Regina and includes content from Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Yorkton.
Global still does separate morning newscasts for Saskatoon and Regina. Each station still has their own morning show (3 hours), 6 PM (30 minutes), and 10 PM (1 hour), and weekends 6 PM & 10 PM (30 minutes each). The only provincial newscast on Global Saskatoon and Regina is the weekday 5 PM.
CBC''s operations are province-wide (except for CBC Radio One where Saskatoon gets a local morning show). They get an hour of radio simulcast at 6 AM, and 30 minutes at 6 PM on CBC TV and Radio-Canada.
Citytv doesn't do news in Saskatchewan, and no one has a noon newscast anymore - apart from CBC's simulcast of CBC News Network.
At least in Toronto, you have a choice of either CP24, Global, Citytv, or CTV's Toronto-centric national morning show.
Last edited by ED1 (April 12, 2024 10:45 am)
- RadioAaron
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
Regina and Saskatoon still have a local morning show from 6am to 9am weekdays with CTV Morning Live Saskatchewan. We have nothing like that here in Toronto or Ontario and must put up with the national CTV Morning Live program.
Ottawa has both, where Bell runs CTV and CTV2 essentially as one station from the same studio. CTV gets their local requirement in at 5, 6, and 11 while CTV2 gets it in mornings.
- Skywave
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I wasn't able to watch the hearing live, but ironically CTV has the entire 2+ hours here:
Needless to say, it was a train wreck. I don't understand where Bell spent 1 billion in capital to provide better service to its viewers, never mind the billions spent to upgrade their decades old twisted copper pairs to fibre. And the committee was quick to remind Bibic of the governmental subsidies Bell has received. He also talked about the creation of new jobs, but I wish someone had asked him how many jobs have been offshored to the Manila call centre.
They reminded him of his 13 million salary plus equity compensation. He makes more in one day than many of his employees make in a year.
Bibic was evasive, oftern answering the question he wished they had asked, instead of the real question.
American stations still see local news as a revenue driver, not an expense to be minimized.
Bottom line is that Bell doesn't know broadcasting, doesn't have any passion for it, and has no business being in the business.
- In Phase
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Now, don't get me wrong. I do not agree with Mr. Bibic's taking government subsidies and then following up with layoffs (which is rather disgusting).
However, he is not going to be the defender of broadcasting, news departments, fibre optics in remote areas, or reducing the cost of my cell phone bill.
His job is to get the stock price up and to "maximize shareholder value" (argh). He works for "The Board" and on behalf of shareholders.
Bell is a big operation and they don't sit around the corporate boardroom table discussing ways to improve news service or add "personality" to the afternoon drive. They do discuss increasing market share, acquisitions, government regulations, budgets and quarterly results.
Sadly, for us listeners, viewers, employees, and customers, our expectations of Mr. Bibic are misguided.
BCE stock has troubles
Many investors are watching the saga of BCE (TSX:BCE) as the stock enters the second year of its downtrend. The telco has been in the headlines as it grapples with high interest rates, significant capital spending on 5G infrastructure, rising competition from industry consolidation, falling data prices, and regulatory tussle. It sent BCE stock into a two-year-long downtrend from its peak of above $73 in April 2022 to its 10-year low of around $44, a 39% dip.
As the stock enters the third year of the downtrend, it has made investors apprehensive, making you wonder how low it can go.
- Binson Echorec
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
oftern answering the question he wished they had asked, instead of the real question.
That is PR101.
- paterson1
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Re: Bell Goes On The Offensive Over Criticism Of Its Mass Layoffs
Now, don't get me wrong. I do not agree with Mr. Bibic's taking government subsidies and then following up with layoffs (which is rather disgusting).
However, he is not going to be the defender of broadcasting, news departments, fibre optics in remote areas, or reducing the cost of my cell phone bill.
His job is to get the stock price up and to "maximize shareholder value" (argh). He works for "The Board" and on behalf of shareholders.
Bell is a big operation and they don't sit around the corporate boardroom table discussing ways to improve news service or add "personality" to the afternoon drive. They do discuss increasing market share, acquisitions, government regulations, budgets and quarterly results.
Sadly, for us listeners, viewers, employees, and customers, our expectations of Mr. Bibic are misguided.
BCE stock has troubles
Many investors are watching the saga of BCE (TSX:BCE) as the stock enters the second year of its downtrend. The telco has been in the headlines as it grapples with high interest rates, significant capital spending on 5G infrastructure, rising competition from industry consolidation, falling data prices, and regulatory tussle. It sent BCE stock into a two-year-long downtrend from its peak of above $73 in April 2022 to its 10-year low of around $44, a 39% dip.
As the stock enters the third year of the downtrend, it has made investors apprehensive, making you wonder how low it can go.
In September 2023 BCE's debt stood at about CA$35 billion. Bay and Wall St.are not panicked about this yet but are concerned.