Bell Announces Mass Layoffs / Closure Of 6 AM Stations / Sale Of 3 Others

Bell has announced 1,300 layoffs (across various services) and the immediate shutdown of 6 AM properties as well as three more being put up for sale.

The eliminated positions equate to a six per cent cut at Bell Media. The company says the job cuts are due to "unfavourable public policy and regulatory conditions that it can no longer outwait."

Bell executive vice-president and chief legal and regulatory officer Robert Malcolmson told CP that the company "can’t afford” to continue operating it's various brands, including CTV National News, BNN, CP24, local TV news stations and radio independently of one another. Meanwhile Richard Grey has announced that Rosa Hwang, executive producer, CTV National News and CTV News, has been relieved of her duties. LA & UK bureaus are gone and the Washington bureau is being scaled back. Off air as of today are: 1290 AM Winnipeg

1060 AM Calgary

TSN AM Edmonton

BNN Bloomberg 1410 Vancouver

Funny 1040 Vancouver

NewsTalk 1290 London ON

For sale are: 1150 AM Hamilton 820 AM Hamilton 580 AM Windsor