The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition when the CRTC decided last week to unbundle
cable packages, Kevin Crull, president of Bell Media, which owns CTV, intervened in the way the network's
journalists covered the news. The Globe's James Bradshaw writes the incident happened last
Thursday, not long after the 4 p.m. release of the CRTC's so-called
"pick-and-pay" decision, which could be bad for the
bottom line at BCE, the parent company of Bell Media. Shortly after the announcement,
CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais appeared on BNN, a Bell
Media-owned business news station, for a six-minute interview with reporter Greg Bonnell.
Almost immediately, Mr. Crull called Wendy Freeman, the president
of CTV News. Mr. Crull told Ms. Freeman he was in charge of the network and that Mr. Blais was not to appear on air
again that day. After the call, sources say, Ms.
Freeman contacted CTV staff to tell them of the directive from Mr.
Crull and not to use clips of Mr. Blais. Mr. Blais was booked for an interview
on the CTV show Power Play at 5 p.m., hosted by Don Martin.
Minutes before the show went to air, CTV cancelled Mr.
Blais's appearance. Mr. Crull declined to comment on the matter to The Globe.
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.