Editing Bell Media (section)

== Origins ==
=== Baton Broadcasting ===
{{Redirect|Baton Broadcasting|the defunct television system owned by Baton|Baton Broadcast System}}
For all practical purposes, Bell Media is the successor to '''Baton Broadcasting Incorporated''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|eɪ|t|ɒ|n}} {{respell|BAY|ton}}), which by the late 1990s had become one of Canada's largest broadcasters.

Formed in 1960 as '''Baton Aldred Rogers Broadcasting Ltd.''', the company was originally created to establish Toronto's first private television station, [[CFTO-DT|CFTO-TV]]. The name of this company derived from its initial investors, including the [[John W. H. Bassett|<u>Ba</u>ssett]] and [[John David Eaton|Ea<u>ton</u>]] families ([[Telegram Corporation|Baton]]), and Aldred-Rogers Broadcasting (owned by broadcaster Joel Aldred<ref name=":1">[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?n=joel-walkden-aldred&pid=154189621&fhid=8490 Joel Walkden Aldred]</ref> and [[Edward S. Rogers Jr.|Ted Rogers]]); [[Foster Hewitt]] was also an initial investor, but in a much smaller role.<ref name="Nolan2001">{{cite book|author=Michael Nolan|title=CTV, the Network that Means Business|url=https://archive.org/details/ctvnetworkthatme00nola|url-access=registration|year=2001|publisher=University of Alberta|isbn=978-0-88864-384-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/ctvnetworkthatme00nola/page/n51 20]}}</ref> Aldred sold his shares in 1961, followed by Rogers by 1970, thereby relieving their names from the company title. With the Bassett and Eaton families firmly in control, the company went public in the early 1970s.

CFTO was one of the charter affiliates of CTV when that network formed in 1961, becoming the network's flagship. In 1966, Baton became a part-owner in the network when it was reorganized as a station-owned [[cooperative]]. The [[Board of Broadcast Governors]] was initially skeptical about the proposal to turn CTV into a cooperative. Since CFTO was by far the largest and richest station in the network, the BBG feared Baton would take advantage of this to dominate the network. However, it approved the deal after Baton and the other owners included a provision in the cooperative's bylaws stipulating that the eight station owners would each have a single vote regardless of audience share. Additionally, if one owner ever bought another station, the acquired station's shares would be redistributed among the remaining owners so that each owner would still have one vote out of eight.

In 1972, Baton began purchasing other CTV affiliates, starting with [[CFQC-DT|CFQC-TV]] in [[Saskatoon]]. This did not, however, give Baton a substantially higher investment in CTV, since its shares were redistributed among the other owners. As a result, Baton still had only one vote out of eight.

In 1987, Baton began a concerted effort to take over CTV. It started this drive with a further expansion into [[Saskatchewan]], purchasing [[CKCK-DT|CKCK-TV]] in [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]], [[Yorkton]] [[twinstick]] [[CKOS-TV]]/[[CICC-TV]], and CBC affiliate [[CKBI-TV]] [[Prince Albert, Saskatchewan|Prince Albert]]. A twinstick CTV affiliate was soon launched in Prince Albert, [[CIPA-TV]].

In the late 1980s, Baton applied for a high-power station in [[Ottawa]] on channel 60. The licence was approved by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC), appealed to [[Cabinet of Canada|federal cabinet]] by rival broadcasters, and ultimately sent back to the CRTC for review.<ref>[https://lois.justice.gc.ca/en/B-9.01/SI-87-91/text.html Order Referring back to the CRTC a Decision Respecting Nation's Capital Television Incorporated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181627/http://lois.justice.gc.ca/en/B-9.01/SI-87-91/text.html |date=2011-07-06 }}, 28 April 1987</ref> However the license was surrendered when Baton was instead able to acquire the local CTV affiliate, [[CJOH-DT|CJOH-TV]], from [[Allan Slaight]]'s [[Standard Broadcasting]].

In 1990, Baton purchased the [[Mid-Canada Communications|MCTV]] system of [[twinstick]] operations in [[Pembroke, Ontario|Pembroke]], [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], [[Timmins]], and the [[Huron Broadcasting]] twinstick in [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario|Sault Ste. Marie]]. In 1993, Baton purchased [[CFPL-DT|CFPL-TV]] in [[London, Ontario|London]], [[CKNX-TV]] in [[Wingham, Ontario|Wingham]] and received a license for a new independent station, [[CHWI-DT|CHWI-TV]], in [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]].

In 1991, the company launched Ontario Network Television, a secondary affiliation carried by Baton's CTV and [[independent station]]s in Ontario. This was expanded in 1994 into the [[Baton Broadcast System]] (BBS), which included Baton's Saskatchewan stations. BBS was meant as a backup in case Baton's ongoing acquisitions did not translate into control of CTV itself. A year earlier, CTV had been recently restructured into a corporation, with each owner holding a 14.3% stake in the network. However, any ''future'' acquisitions by Baton would come with all of that affiliate's CTV shares. It was around this time that former CBC executive [[Ivan Fecan]] joined the company.

=== {{Anchor|Baton-Electrohome alliance}}Baton-Electrohome alliance and CTV Inc. (1996–2000) ===
In 1996, the CRTC approved two major deals involving Baton. First was the acquisition of [[CFCN-DT|CFCN-TV]] in [[Calgary]] from [[Rogers Communications]], which had recently purchased [[Maclean Hunter]]. Second, Baton and [[Electrohome]]—owner of [[CKCO-DT|CKCO-TV]] in [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]] and [[CFRN-DT|CFRN-TV]] in [[Edmonton]]—formed an alliance, under which the companies would share ownership of CFCN; Baton's stations in Saskatchewan and its independent stations in southwestern Ontario; and Electrohome's CKCO. The deals doubled Baton's own interest in CTV to 28.6%. However, as part of the deal, Baton took control of Electrohome's CTV vote, allowing it to command 42.9% of CTV's shares.<ref>[https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1996/DB96-251.htm Decision CRTC 96-251], June 21, 1996</ref>

In January 1997, Baton-Electrohome's "Vancouver Television" proposal emerged as the CRTC's choice for the new independent station in [[Vancouver]], beating out four other competitors. The new station, [[CIVT-DT|CIVT-TV]], would compete directly with [[Western International Communications]]'s two CTV affiliates in the market when it was launched that fall.<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1997/DB97-39.htm Decision CRTC 97-39], January 31, 1997</ref>

On February 25, 1997, the Baton-Electrohome alliance and [[CHUM Limited]] announced that several stations would be swapped between them. Baton-Electrohome would acquire CHUM's [[CTV Atlantic|Atlantic Television System]] (ATV), consisting of four CTV affiliates in the [[Maritimes]], the [[CTV 2 Atlantic|Atlantic Satellite Network]] (ASN), and a further 14.3% in CTV. CHUM would receive Baton's independent stations in southwestern Ontario, as well as [[CHRO-TV]] in Pembroke, which had recently disaffiliated from CTV. The Baton-Electrohome alliance now held 57.2% of CTV.

Shortly thereafter, Electrohome announced it would sell its broadcasting assets—including CFRN, its interest in the alliance, and its CTV shares—to Baton in exchange for cash and shares in Baton. These two deals were approved by the CRTC in August.<ref>[https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1997/DB97-527.HTM Decision CRTC 97-527], August 28, 1997</ref> Baton now held controlling interest in CTV, triggering a [[put option]] that allowed the other owners to sell their stakes in the network while still keeping their stations. Accordingly, Baton acquired the remaining CTV shares from WIC and [[Moffat Communications]] (Newfoundland Broadcasting, owner of [[CJON-TV]], had effectively relinquished its vote when CTV became a corporation) that fall.

The BBS television system was merged into CTV, with the company itself being renamed '''CTV Inc'''. the following year. The [[T. Eaton Company|Eatons]]' remaining shares, representing 41% of Baton (estimated at [[CA$]]450 million),<ref>Anderson, Peter S. 2011 November 28. "[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/baton-broadcasting-incorporated Baton Broadcasting Incorporated]." ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (last edited 2015 July 17).</ref> were sold off to the general public in early 1998. By the end of 2001, nearly all CTV stations were consolidated under network ownership (including one replacement).

In 1999, CTV Inc. acquired [[CTV Specialty Television|NetStar Communications]], a company that was spun out from the broadcasting division of the [[Labatt Brewing Company]] after its acquisition by [[Interbrew]] in 1995. The sale was approved by the CRTC March 24, 2000, but CTV had to divest either Netstar's TSN or their own [[Sportsnet]]; they chose to sell the latter to [[Rogers Media|Rogers]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rogers Media {{!}} History of Canadian Broadcasting|url=https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-groups/rogers-media/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=broadcasting-history.ca}}</ref>

=== {{Anchor|Under BCE ownership – Bell Globemedia (2000–2006)}}Bell Globemedia (2000–06) ===
At the beginning of the 2000s, [[BCE Inc.|Bell Canada Enterprises]] (BCE) [[Mergers and acquisitions|acquired]] '''CTV Inc.''' (including the '''NetStar''' assets) and bought ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', folding the two into a new media venture, '''Bell Globemedia Inc''' ('''BGM''').<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=CTVglobemedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ctvglobemedia |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-09-10 |title=BCE-CTV deal remakes media landscape |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/bce-ctv-deal-remakes-media-landscape/article1379835/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 March 2011 |title=BCE's takeover of CTV approved |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bce-s-takeover-of-ctv-approved-1.1002005 |access-date=9 May 2024 |website=CBC}}</ref>

This venture was masterminded by former [[Bell Canada]] chief executive [[Jean Monty]], largely as a response to [[Canwest]]'s purchase of the [[Southam Newspapers|Southam]] newspaper chain as well as the trend of [[media convergence]], particularly the [[AOL-Time Warner]] merger. Monty believed that to survive in a changing technological landscape, and in particular to drive subscriptions to [[satellite television]] provider [[Bell Satellite TV|Bell ExpressVu]]<!-- As it was known at the time. --> and [[internet service provider]] [[Bell Sympatico]], BCE had to have control over content.

The transaction was structured as follows. In 2000, BCE acquired CTV Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at [[Canadian dollar|CA$]]2.3 billion.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bce-announces-2-3-billion-bid-for-ctv-1.210573 BCE announces $2.3 billion bid for CTV], CBC.ca, February 25, 2000 (modified November 11, 2000); accessed August 9, 2006</ref> Soon after, Monty arranged to have [[Thomson Corporation]] transfer control of ''The Globe and Mail'', the [[Toronto]]-based national newspaper, to BCE in exchange for a significant interest (20%) in the merged CTV/''Globe'' entity. The Thomson family's [[holding company]] ([[The Woodbridge Company|The Woodbridge Company Limited]]) invested in the company directly to obtain an additional 9.9% interest, and it later bought Thomson Corporation's interest.

The resulting company (Bell Globemedia) consisted of CTV, ''The Globe and Mail'', and the [[Internet]] portal then known as [[Sympatico]]-[[Lycos]] (Lycos was later replaced by [[MSN]]). Fecan was named the combined firm's president and CEO (a role he remained in for the duration of the BGM/CTVglobemedia era). After Monty resigned and was replaced by [[Michael Sabia]] in 2002, it became clear that Monty's vision was not producing anything near the desired results, notwithstanding the good results for the individual units, particularly the CTV network.

The following years provided a few cosmetic changes in BGM's assets. In 2001, CTV acquired [[CKY-DT|CKY-TV]] in [[Winnipeg]] and [[CFCF-DT|CFCF-TV]] in Montreal, and moved the CTV affiliation in British Columbia to CIVT, replacing two affiliates that had been purchased by Canwest. That fall also brought the launch of the first digital [[specialty channel]]s, including several owned by CTV.

The company acquired partial ownership in TQS in 2002, the Sympatico portal was sold back to Bell Canada, while a further investment from the Thomsons (whose ownership increased to 31.5%) funded the acquisition of 15% of [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment]]. However, beginning in 2003, BCE management began to refer to BGM as a non-core asset; as a result, much attention was given to the likely sale of the company, and potentially a breakup into several different pieces.

On December 2, 2005, [[Bell Canada|Bell Canada Enterprises]] (BCE) announced that it would sell an 8.5% interest to [[The Woodbridge Company|The Woodbridge Company Limited]] (increasing their total ownership to 40%), a 20% interest to [[Torstar]], and a 20% interest to the [[Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=CTV Television Network {{!}} History of Canadian Broadcasting|url=https://broadcasting-history.ca/television/television-networks/ctv-television-network/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=broadcasting-history.ca}}</ref> BCE retained 20% of the group—a condition that ensured that [[Bell Satellite TV]], [[Sympatico]], and other Bell units continued to have access to Bell Globemedia (BGM) content. The transaction closed on August 30, 2006.<ref>"[http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/August2006/30/c9716.html BGM Ownership Deal Closes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202033123/http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/August2006/30/c9716.html |date=December 2, 2007 }}", BGM press release, August 30, 2006</ref>

This deal put to rest any rumors about a possible breakup of the company. However, Torstar's involvement led to additional [[media concentration]] concerns, mainly from media [[trade union|union]]s. Torstar insisted it was committed to maintaining the [[editorial independence]] of the ''Globe'' and its own ''[[Toronto Star]]'', and ultimately there were no major regulatory hurdles due to this.

{{Wikinews|Canadian media company Bell Globemedia to acquire rival CHUM}}On July 12, 2006, BGM announced a friendly bid to take over [[CHUM Limited]] for an estimated $1.7 billion. The acquisition would bring the secondary broadcast system ([[Citytv]]), other stations including [[CP24|CablePulse24]], [[Much (TV channel)|MuchMusic]], [[E! (Canadian TV channel)|Star!]], [[CTV Drama Channel|Bravo!]], and [[CTV Sci-Fi Channel|Space]], and all of CHUM's radio stations, into the BGM fold. BGM originally announced that CHUM's [[CTV 2|A-Channel]] stations, [[CTV 2 Alberta|Access]], [[CKX-TV]], [[Elle Fictions|MusiquePlus]], [[Max (Canadian TV channel)|MusiMax]], [[Oprah Winfrey Network (Canadian TV channel)|Canadian Learning Television]], [[Cooking Channel (Canadian TV channel)|SexTV: The Channel]] and BGM's own [[Bravo (Canadian TV network)|OLN]] would not be retained.
[[File:Bell Globemedia.svg|thumb]]
On September 7, 2006, in order to pay for the CHUM acquisition, BGM sold additional shares to its existing shareholders. BCE did not participate in the refinancing; the net effect was an increase in Teachers' ownership to 25%, while BCE's interest was reduced to 15%.<ref>[https://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2006/07/c3905.html Bell Globemedia Completes Financing to Pay for CHUM Limited Shares] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930222027/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2006/07/c3905.html |date=2007-09-30 }}, BGM press release, September 7, 2006</ref>

=== {{Anchor|CTVglobemedia}}CTVglobemedia (2007–11) ===
[[File:CTVglobemedia.svg|thumb|The logo for CTVglobemedia since January 1, 2007.]]
As a result of BCE's reduced ownership in the company, '''Bell Globemedia''' was renamed '''CTVglobemedia Inc.''' on January 1, 2007.<ref name=":0" />

In April of that year, [[Rogers Communications]] announced a tentative deal to purchase [[A-Channel]], [[CKX-TV]], [[Access Alberta]], [[Canadian Learning Television]], and [[Cooking Channel]] from CTVglobemedia, if its purchase of CHUM was approved. [[Astral Media]] made a similar deal for CHUM's 50% interest in [[Musimax|MusiMax]] and [[MusiquePlus]].

That June, the CRTC approved the CHUM takeover, on condition that CTV sell off the Citytv stations, because of the CTV network's [[owned-and-operated station]] stations serving the very same cities. CTV ultimately chose to keep the A-Channel stations along with the rest of CHUM Ltd. assets it had previously said it would sell, except for MusiquePlus/MusiMax. [[Rogers Communications]] was announced as the buyer of the Citytv stations on June 11, 2007, and the CHUM acquisition was finalized on June 22.

Subsequently, CTVglobemedia, Inc. sold off its interests in various non-core channels. Rogers purchased several of these assets, including CTV's 33% interest in OLN in late 2007, as well as radio stations [[CHST-FM]] in [[London, Ontario]] and [[CHBN-FM]] in [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]] in 2010.<ref>[http://www.radio-info.com/news/canadas-rogers-broadcasting-buys-edmonton-chr-bounce-fm Canada's Rogers Radio acquires Edmonton top 40 station 91.7 The Bounce] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627032732/http://www.radio-info.com/news/canadas-rogers-broadcasting-buys-edmonton-chr-bounce-fm |date=2010-06-27 }} — Retrieved 2010-06-22</ref><ref>[http://www.radio-info.com/news/canadas-rogers-broadcasting-buys-bob-fm-in-london-ontario Canada's Rogers Radio acquires 102.3 Bob FM in London, Ontario] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804172359/http://www.radio-info.com/news/canadas-rogers-broadcasting-buys-bob-fm-in-london-ontario |date=2011-08-04 }} — Retrieved 2010-06-22</ref> [[Corus Entertainment]] would acquire [[Canadian Learning Television]], [[Cooking Channel]], and [[Drive-In Classics]] for a combined $113 million. TQS entered bankruptcy protection and was ultimately acquired by [[Remstar]] (which renamed the network "V"). Meanwhile, [[Glassbox Television]] acquired [[Travel + Escape]] in late 2010. In two cases, the operations were closed down, specifically CBC affiliate [[CKX-TV]] in [[Brandon, Manitoba]] (which left the air in October 2009 after a deal to sell that station to Bluepoint Investment Corporation fell through) and the A station in Wingham, [[CKNX-TV]] (which left the air one month prior to CKX and is now a rebroadcaster of the A station in London, [[CFPL-TV]]).

CTVglobemedia acquired Toronto station [[CFXJ-FM]] from [[Milestone Radio]] in 2010.<ref>[http://www.radio-info.com/news/torontos-urban-flow-935-is-sold-to-the-chum-radio-group Toronto's rhythmic station Flow 93.5 is sold to CTVglobemedia, Inc.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630220920/http://www.radio-info.com/news/torontos-urban-flow-935-is-sold-to-the-chum-radio-group |date=2010-06-30 }} — Retrieved 2010-06-24</ref><ref name="CRTC-decision-CFXJ">{{cite web
 | url = http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-964.htm
 | title = ARCHIVED – Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-964
 | author = Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
 | date = 2010-12-23
 | publisher = Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
 | access-date = 2016-03-21 }}
</ref>

On September 10, 2010, BCE announced plans to re-acquire 100% of the company's broadcasting arm, including CTV Inc. Under the deal, [[The Woodbridge Company|Woodbridge]], [[Torstar]], and Teachers' would together receive $1.3 billion in either cash or equity in BCE, while BCE would also assume $1.7 billion in debt (BCE's existing equity interest was $200 million, for a total transaction value of $3.2 billion). Woodbridge would also regain majority control of The Globe and Mail Inc., with BCE retaining a 15% interest. The overall deal was expected to close by April 2011.<ref name="bell-pr-2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2010/10/c8677.html|title=Bell to acquire 100% of Canada's No.1 media company CTV|publisher=CNW Group|author=Bell Canada|date=2010-09-10|access-date=2010-09-10}}</ref> However, the sale of ''The'' ''Globe'', which did not require CRTC approval, was completed in late December 2010.<ref name="globesale-2011">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/companies/article/915934--torstar-completes-first-stage-of-ctvglobemedia-sale|title=Torstar completes first stage of CTVglobemedia sale|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=2011-01-04|access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref> The deal was approved by the CRTC on March 7, 2011,<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2011/r110307.htm CRTC approves BCE's purchase of CTVglobemedia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305155104/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2011/r110307.htm |date=2015-03-05 }}, ''CRTC'', March 7, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-163.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-163], Change in effective control of CTVglobemedia Inc.'s licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, ''CRTC'', March 7, 2011</ref> and the company was officially closed on April 1, 2011. It was renamed as '''Bell Media Inc'''.<ref>[https://www.ctvnews.ca/crtc-approves-bce-s-purchase-of-ctvglobemedia-1.615461 CRTC approves BCE's purchase of CTVglobemedia, Inc.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629044310/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110307/crtc-approves-ctvglobemedia-purchase-by-bce-110307/ |date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref>