Globe says BCE execs bemoan "uneven playing field"
2024-04-12 07:38 ET - In the News
The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that the federal government has been too slow to aid media companies in crisis, BCE executives told a parliamentary committee, as they urged Ottawa to speed up regulations that even the playing field so Canadian providers can compete with global streaming giants. The Globe's Jenna Legge writes that the House of Commons heritage committee is looking into the February announcement by BCE, which owns Bell Media, that it would cut its work force by 4,800, ending several television newscasts and selling 45 of its 103 radio stations. Chief executive officer Mirko Bibic and chief lobbyist Robert Malcolmson defended the cuts, arguing that BCE pays high fees that the global giants do not pay, and pushing back against criticism from MPs that the cuts harmed local news. "Let me be clear, we're not asking for special protections. We're asking for a level playing field with global media Web giants," Mr. Bibic said. "Bell pays almost $2-billion a year in federal regulatory fees and contributions. In contrast, Amazon, Disney, Netflix and others, each many, many times larger than Bell, have not paid anything. This despite the billions of dollars in revenue they earn from Canadians."