Canadians embracing the next generation of television with Bell

On World TV Day, Bell highlights its fast growth in television services, ongoing investment in new broadband networks, innovative new choices for consumers

MONTRÉAL, Nov. 21, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Today is World TV Day and Bell is highlighting its commitment to consumers in a rapidly evolving Canadian television landscape with an intense commitment to investment in content, network expansion and new service options for Canadians.

"World TV Day underlines the importance of television in informing, enlightening and entertaining Canadians, and just how quickly the sector is transforming. With our focus on delivering new choices to consumers and enhancing competition in the Canadian TV sector, Bell is ready for the new world of television," said Kevin Crull, President of Bell Media. "The federal government is committed to more choice and flexibility for Canadian consumers. We look forward to working closely with the federal government, the CRTC, content creators and other industry stakeholders to ensure we give consumers the content options and programming packaging flexibility they want as new technology, investment and competition means more choice than ever before."

TV is a key driver of Bell's ongoing competitive transformation and fundamental to the company's future growth. In fact, Bell growth services - TV, wireless, Internet and media - now account for 82% of Bell's revenue, while traditional Home Phone services now make up just 8%.

Bell is committed to investing in the best content, the high-capacity fibre and mobile networks, and the innovative new products required to deliver TV to consumers in whatever way they want it. Bell Media continues to be Canada's most active private-sector investor in new Canadian TV content development in both English and French, while Bell TV is growing rapidly thanks to its fast-expanding Fibe network and competitive new products and pricing choices.

World TV Day today
Established in 1996 by the United Nations, World TV Day recognizes the role of television in helping shape modern democracy, freedom of expression, and cultural diversity. Bell Media is shining the spotlight on TV's crucial contribution to Canadians and their communities with segments on its news, entertainment and digital properties, which are also airing the official World TV Day public service announcement throughout the day.

As part of the celebrations, Bell also participated in two industry forums in Ottawa this week - the International Institute of Communications Canada conference and the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing Canada's 2013 Broadcaster Forum - underscoring the need for close cooperation between government, broadcasters, service providers and creators in delivering expanded choice to Canadian TV consumers.

In addition, Bell Media is the presenting sponsor of Canada's first and only public television festival, the Canadian International Television Festival (CITF), which launched November 16 with free screenings at the TIFF Bell Lightbox showcasing some of Canada's best television series and talent.

CTV GO launched this week
Canada's #1 television lineup is now available live and on demand on CTV GO, enabling consumers to access more than 3,000 hours of programming from CTV and CTV Two on their smartphones, tablets and computers at no additional charge. CTV GO joins TMN GO, the first ever Canadian TV Everywhere product from a broadcaster to offer premium on demand programming, Bravo GO and RDS Go. Bell Media plans to launch TSN GO and CTV News GO services in the near future.

Bell Mobile TV's millionth subscriber
As part of its commitment to deliver the best content to Canadians across any screen they choose, Bell has built a worldwide leadership position in mobile television. Bell Mobile TV welcomed its one millionth subscriber recently, and carries more than 40 channels of live and on-demand news, sports, entertainment and children's programming from a broad range of Canadian broadcasters. Bell Mobile TV is uniquely easy to access for consumers - available as a bonus with many Bell Mobility data plans, Mobile TV is available to any customer as a $5 a month add-on for 10 hours of viewing, with no impact on the customer's data plan.

Bell Fibe changing the TV game

Bell is rapidly rolling out new broadband fibre networks in Québec and Ontario to support the growth of the popular Fibe TV service, which is bringing enhanced choice to consumers and competition to the established cable operators. With Ottawa most recently added to a growing footprint encompassing 4.1 million households in Québec City, Montréal, the GTA and Hamilton, Fibe TV continues to set growth records.

Fibe TV gained 72,813 net new subscribers in Bell's most recent financial quarter, about 70% more than in the same period last year, doubling the Fibe TV customer base to approximately 420,000 since 2012. In the fact, Bell gained TV subscribers while its main cable TV rivals faced significant net subscriber losses in the most recent quarter.

About Bell
Headquartered in Montréal since 1880, Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business customers with leading TV, wireless, Internet, media, home phone and business communications solutions. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more information, please visit Bell.ca.

The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is a national charitable program that promotes Canadian mental health across Canada with the Bell Let's Talk Day anti-stigma campaign and significant funding for community care, research and workplace best practices. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

SOURCE: Bell Canada