by

Bell statement on Quebecor’s illegal threat to deny Bell TV customers access to TVA Sports

CRTC issues directive that Quebecor’s plan to arbitrarily cut off service to Bell customers would breach broadcast regulations

MONTRÉAL, April 8, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ – Cable and media company Quebecor, owner of Videotron and TVA Group, has threatened to deny Bell TV subscribers access to its TVA Sports channel over a business dispute between the two companies. In an unprecedented move, Quebecor also issued a series of misleading statements on its hockey broadcasts and other media platforms that falsely claimed Bell itself planned to remove access to TVA Sports, and that also directed Bell TV customers to switch to Quebecor’s cable TV subsidiary Videotron.

Bell requested and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today issued a directive requiring Quebecor to continue to provide TVA Sports to Bell TV and its customers.

“Quebecor’s reckless campaign and illegal actions are all about our negotiations over pricing for its TVA Sports channel and Bell’s Media’s RDS sports network,” said Martine Turcotte, Bell’s Vice Chair, Québec. “Quebecor actually wants to charge Bell more to access its TVA Sports channel than Quebecor/Videotron is willing to pay for RDS. However, the reality is that RDS is the leading French-language sports network by far, consistently outpacing TVA Sports in both content and viewership, and Bell Media will not devalue the clear fan favourite.”

In 2018, the latest period for which audience figures are available, RDS viewership was on average 67% higher than for TVA Sports.

“Bell will continue to negotiate with Quebecor in good faith as we always have and we look forward to a fair resolution. Our focus is always on delivering for the fans, and that’s why RDS is #1,” said Ms. Turcotte.

About Bell
Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is Canada’s largest communications company, providing advanced broadband wireless, Internet, TV, media and other communication services to consumers and business customers throughout the country, and a proud partner of the Montreal Canadiens and their home, the Bell Centre.

The Bell Let’s Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives across the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX. NYSE: BCE). To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

Media inquiries:

Caroline Audet
514 391-9794
caroline.audet@bell.ca
@Bell_News

 

SOURCE Bell Canada

by

Wireless to the Home Project – Letter to Locals in Ontario and Quebec

April 8, 2019

 

To:                   All Bell Craft, BTS and Expertech Craft Locals in Ontario and Quebec

 

Re:                   Wireless to the Home Project

 

 

Sisters and Brothers,

 

Late last week, at the same time the company was announcing the first ever surplus (82 jobs) in the Bell Craft unit, the union was informed of Bell’s intention to contract out the entire Wireless to the Home (WTTH) project.

 

This project (as far as we understand) is the next major undertaking of the company as it relates to providing quality home internet service in rural communities across several provinces. With an estimated 1.2 million potential added customers and an opportunity to move the project east to Atlantic Canada in the future.

 

The company provided no valid explanation (business case) to the union other than to say that their frustration with the current state of labour relations in Bell units made it a decision they felt they had to make.  Essentially, trying to blame the union. Ironically, today, just two days later, the company has launched this new service on line in communities across Ontario.

 

https://www.bell.ca/Bell_Internet/Wireless-to-the-Home

 

 

Read More here…..Letter to locals Ont & Quebec re Wireless to the Home Project

by

Rally for Education, Saturday April 6, 2019

 

Ontario members,

I write today to ask for your help in defending our education system from the devastating changes planned by Doug Ford’s Conservative government.

It is clear that Ford is hell-bent on implementing his corporate agenda with no qualms about injuring the most vulnerable or tearing down cherished institutions, as witnessed by his attack on elementary and highschool students and their teachers.

Ontario Minister of Education Lisa Thompson has announced that the Conservative government intends to:

  • Increase class sizes in grades 4-8 and in high school; reducing attention given to students and limiting access to equipment and other resources
  • Cut thousands of teacher and support staff jobs
  • Remove 1.4 billion dollars from the public education system
  • Download the government’s duty to support higher needs students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) onto schools without adequate funding
  • Require students to take several online courses; replacing personal attention with e-learning
  • Introduce a regressive sexual education curriculum

The Conservative government’s changes to the education system will hurt children, and they know it.

To add insult to injury Ford has warned teacher unions against taking legal protest action to protect their students. Ontario workers will not be silenced and the unions that represent them will not be intimidated!

Show you oppose these cuts and Ford’s bully efforts at the Rally for Education on Saturday April 6.

I especially reach out to those who normally don’t or who may have never attended a rally. Now is the time to stand up as union members, as concerned citizens and as grandparents and parents.

Rally for Education, Saturday April 6, 2019

12:00 p.m. Queen’s Park, Toronto

More information here  

See you there.

In solidarity,

Jerry Dias
National President

by

Bell to bring new broadband wireless internet to Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough County

Bell has announced that it’s bringing its Wireless Home Internet broadband service to Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough County. Operating in the 3500 MHz spectrum band on Bell’s advanced LTE wireless network, the service offers affordable high-speed internet connectivity to residents and cottagers in smaller, rural areas.
With this expansion, the following communities will receive Wireless Home Internet:
Bobcaygeon
Bridgenorth
Burleigh Falls
Fenelon Falls
Havelock
Kinmount
Lakefield
Nephton
Omemee

The service is currently available in the Buckhorn, Kirkfield, Lindsay and Little Britain communities. “As Canada’s leader in broadband communications innovation, we are pleased to extend high-speed Internet to residents and cottagers alike in Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough County,” said Rizwan Jamal, president of Bell residential and small business, in a press statement……

Read more here …..