Bell Media
A Canadian media group operating national television, specialty channels, radio, sports, streaming, and digital-media businesses.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Bell Media is the mass-media subsidiary of BCE Inc., one of Canada's largest integrated communications companies. Its principal businesses span conventional television, specialty and premium channels, sports media, radio, streaming, production, and digital publishing. The portfolio includes the CTV television network and local stations, CTV2, TSN, RDS, Crave, and a broad collection of radio and digital properties. Bell Media's programming mix covers national and local news, scripted and unscripted entertainment, sports, documentaries, music, and regional content in English and French. The company is the successor to a chain of broadcasting businesses whose most important predecessor was Baton Broadcasting. Baton was created in 1960 to establish CFTO-TV in Toronto and subsequently expanded through acquisitions of CTV affiliates and other stations. By the 1990s it had become a major private-sector broadcaster and had obtained effective control of the CTV network. Baton acquired NetStar Communications in the late 1990s, bringing TSN and related sports assets into the group, and was renamed CTV Inc. in 1998. BCE acquired CTV in 2000 and combined it with The Globe and Mail and internet properties associated with Sympatico in a new media venture called Bell Globemedia. The structure reflected a period of media-convergence strategies in which telecommunications companies sought ownership of content that could support television, satellite, and internet services. BCE later reduced its stake, and the company became CTVglobemedia in 2007 after ownership was shared with Woodbridge, Torstar, and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. CTVglobemedia acquired CHUM Limited in 2007, gaining additional television, specialty-channel, and radio operations. Regulatory conditions required the divestiture of CHUM's Citytv stations, which were sold to Rogers Communications. The enlarged company subsequently disposed of various non-core assets. In 2011, BCE reacquired the company, excluding The Globe and Mail, and renamed the broadcasting and media operation Bell Media. Today, Bell Media operates within BCE's broader telecommunications ecosystem. Its television networks and specialty services remain important Canadian distributors of sports and entertainment, while Crave provides subscription streaming and TSN delivers television, streaming, and digital sports products. The business is principally Canadian and is subject to Canadian broadcasting, ownership, local-content, and regulatory requirements.
History
Bell Media's corporate history reaches back to Baton Aldred Rogers Broadcasting, formed in 1960 to launch Toronto's CFTO-TV. CFTO became a founding CTV affiliate when the network was established in 1961. Baton gradually bought additional CTV affiliates and other stations, especially during the 1970s through the 1990s. Its expansion accelerated through purchases in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and western Canada, as well as alliances with Electrohome and transactions involving CHUM. These moves gave Baton effective control of CTV. The Baton Broadcast System, created as a secondary programming system for Baton's stations, was eventually merged into CTV, and the company adopted the name CTV Inc. in 1998. CTV acquired NetStar Communications in the late 1990s. NetStar's assets included TSN, making sports a central part of the company's future portfolio. Regulatory approval required the sale of CTV's interest in Sportsnet, which went to Rogers. BCE then acquired CTV Inc. in 2000 for approximately CA$2.3 billion and combined it with The Globe and Mail and internet operations associated with Sympatico. The resulting Bell Globemedia was intended to link content production and distribution across television, satellite, and internet services. BCE reduced its ownership in 2006 through a transaction involving Woodbridge, Torstar, and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. The company was renamed CTVglobemedia in January 2007. That year it purchased CHUM Limited, adding the A-Channel television group, specialty networks, radio stations, and other assets. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission required the divestiture of CHUM's Citytv stations because CTV already operated stations in the same markets. Rogers acquired Citytv, while CTVglobemedia retained many of the other CHUM properties and later sold several non-core assets. The company subsequently rationalized its portfolio. Some channels and stations were sold to Rogers, Corus, and other buyers; certain operations entered bankruptcy protection or were closed. In 2011, BCE acquired full control of CTVglobemedia's broadcasting assets, while The Globe and Mail remained outside the transaction. The business was renamed Bell Media Inc. Bell Media then developed a portfolio centered on CTV, TSN, specialty television, radio, premium content, and digital services. Crave became its principal subscription-streaming brand, while TSN expanded across television and digital delivery. The company continues to operate primarily in Canada under BCE ownership and within the country's broadcasting regulatory framework.
- 2011
Bell Media is established
[1]BCE reacquires full control of the broadcasting and media business, excluding The Globe and Mail, and changes its name to Bell Media.
- 2007
Bell Globemedia becomes CTVglobemedia
[1]The name changes after BCE reduces its ownership and the company completes its acquisition of CHUM Limited.
- 2000
BCE acquires CTV
[1]BCE acquires CTV Inc. and combines it with The Globe and Mail and internet properties to create Bell Globemedia.
- 1998
Baton becomes CTV Inc.
[1]The Baton Broadcast System is folded into CTV and the corporate entity adopts the CTV Inc. name.
- 1961
CFTO joins the CTV network
[1]CFTO becomes one of the original CTV affiliates and later serves as the network's flagship station.
- 1960
Baton Aldred Rogers Broadcasting is formed
[1]The company is established to create Toronto private television station CFTO-TV, the foundational broadcasting asset of the later Bell Media group.
Products and positioning
A leading Canadian multiplatform media company combining broadcast networks, sports rights, radio, premium television, streaming, and digital content.
Television network · 1961
CTV
Bell Media's flagship English-language conventional television network, combining national programming with local owned-and-operated stations and affiliates. CTV carries news, entertainment, scripted programming, reality formats, and selected major events.
Sports media
TSN
A major Canadian sports-media service acquired through NetStar. TSN operates television channels and digital products covering Canadian and international sports, including live events, analysis, news, and streaming access.
French-language sports media
RDS
Bell Media's French-language sports network and digital sports operation, serving francophone audiences in Canada with live coverage, sports news, studio programming, and analysis.
Subscription streaming
Crave
A Canadian subscription streaming service offering television series, films, premium programming, and Bell Media content through internet-delivered packages.
Television network
CTV2
A secondary television network and station group complementing the CTV network with entertainment, news, and other programming across selected Canadian markets.
Radio and digital audio
iHeartRadio Canada
The branded radio and digital-audio platform associated with Bell Media's Canadian radio operations, combining live stations, music, spoken-word programming, and online audio access.
Brand decisions
2011
BCE returns to full ownershipM&ABackground
BCE had previously reduced its stake in Bell Globemedia and CTVglobemedia while retaining a minority position.
Action taken
BCE acquired the remaining interest in the broadcasting and media business, excluding The Globe and Mail, and relaunched it as Bell Media.
Aftermath
Bell Media became a wholly controlled BCE media subsidiary and was more closely aligned with Bell's telecommunications and distribution businesses.
2007
Acquire CHUM while divesting CitytvM&ABackground
CTVglobemedia sought to expand its television, specialty-channel, and radio portfolio through CHUM, but the transaction created station-ownership overlaps in markets already served by CTV.
Action taken
The company completed the CHUM acquisition after regulatory approval and sold the Citytv stations to Rogers Communications, retaining many other CHUM assets.
Aftermath
The transaction substantially broadened the portfolio while demonstrating the ownership constraints imposed by Canadian broadcasting regulation.
Recent events
Bell Media and TikTok team up for MuchMusic relaunch[3]
Reported:
Bell Media announced a partnership with TikTok for the planned relaunch of the MuchMusic brand; the article said MuchMusic would return on July 7.
Noovo expands its digital viewing destination and launches an app[4]
Reported:
Bell Media expanded Noovo.ca's digital offering and introduced the Noovo app, making more than 5,000 hours of French-language programming available across the website and app.
Bell Media cuts staff at CJAD[5]
Reported:
Bell Media laid off CJAD reporters and confirmed a limited number of staff reductions at the station, including changes in on-air broadcast roles due to programming decisions.
Ten iHeartRadio Canada stations rebranded as Move Radio[6]
Reported:
Bell Media announced that 10 iHeartRadio Canada stations across Canada had been rebranded as Move Radio. The stations are also available on the iHeartRadio Canada app and at MoveRadio.ca.
Bell Media completes deal to bring Holmes Family Effect to FOX[7]
Reported:
Bell Media announced that it had completed a deal with FOX for FOX to acquire the CTV Original series Holmes Family Effect, bringing the program to FOX's U.S. audience and its 2020/21 midseason schedule.
Bell Media launches all-in-one CTV digital video platform[8]
Reported:
Bell Media launched an ad-supported digital video platform that makes CTV live and on-demand programming available through CTV.ca and the CTV app at no additional cost to Bell customers.
Sources8 sources
- 1Bell Mediaen.wikipedia.org
- 2Bell Media corporate websitebellmedia.ca
- 3Bell Media与TikTok合作重启MuchMusicdailyhive.com
- 4Noovo扩展数字观看平台并推出应用newswire.ca
- 5Bell Media削减CJAD员工montrealgazette.com
- 6十家 iHeartRadio Canada 电台更名为 Move Radiomobilesyrup.com
- 7Bell Media完成《Holmes Family Effect》登陆FOX的交易prnewswire.com
- 8Bell Media 推出 CTV 一站式数位影音平台mobilesyrup.com
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