NorthEast Radio Watch 2/12 and 2/19/2024: Bell’s Big Sell-Off

In this week’s issue… Bell sheds small markets, news staff – Audacy sells Boston sites – CT owner adds a signal – KDKA PD exits

By SCOTT FYBUSH

Jump to: ME – NH – VT – MA – RI – CT – NY – NJ – PA – Canada

[Programming note: we’re still here, and still on an irregular schedule as we deal with more ongoing family health issues and some upcoming travel. This double issue will serve as the Feb. 12 and 19 editions, and we’ll be back, and hopefully back on a more regular schedule, on Feb. 26.]

*CANADA‘s biggest media company is about to get considerably smaller. Bell’s announcement on Thursday was a stunner: cuts of 4800 jobs across its entire workforce, including hundreds within Bell Media; the end of weekend and holiday newscasts at most of its CTV stations; the cancellation of “W5” as a standalone TV documentary news show after more than half a century – and the impending sale of most of its small-market radio portfolio, 45 of its 103 stations nationwide.

Bell’s chief legal and regulatory officer, Robert Malcolmson, couldn’t have been blunter about the radio stations when he spoke to the Canadian Press:  “It’s because it’s not a viable business anymore,” he said. “This is a business that’s going in the wrong direction.”