Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the committee.
My name is Richard Gray. I'm vice-president of CTV News. I'm pleased to be here today alongside my colleague, Jean-Philippe Pineault, general manager of news and operations at Bell Media in Quebec.
We are here on behalf of Bell Media's news organizations, including CTV News and Noovo Info, which together form the largest private sector news-gathering operation in Canada.
Throughout my 35-year career in television news, I've been deeply connected to the realities of producing daily journalism for Canadian communities. I began my career as a local reporter and weekend news anchor in Timmins, before moving into newsroom leadership roles in communities including Pembroke, Ottawa and Victoria. Today, I oversee CTV's national news operations, working closely with local news directors across the country.
CTV News produces local newscasts across Canada that deliver trusted, community-based journalism at a time when many local news outlets have closed or significantly reduced their operations. Each week, more than six million Canadians watch CTV local newscasts. Last year, we produced over 20,000 hours of local news. That level of production goes well beyond minimum regulatory requirements and reflects our strong commitment to serving communities. CTV National News provides Canadians with trusted reporting on national and international events. Together, this local and national structure ensures that stories from every region of Canada are reflected both in local newscasts and in national reporting.
Just as importantly, CTV News is Canada's number one digital news provider, reaching 15 million Canadians each month, while upholding the accuracy, credibility and public trust essential to professional journalism. As of last year, live local and national news is available to Canadians on Bell Media's Crave streaming service.
These significant investments in broadcast and digital journalism are being made in the face of significant structural challenges. Advertising revenues have migrated rapidly to global digital platforms. Viewing habits continue to shift. At the same time, Canadian broadcasters face far greater regulatory and financial obligations than foreign digital and streaming companies competing in the same market.
As a result, the economics of local journalism remain under serious strain. At Bell Media alone, news operations lose approximately $40 million a year, despite continued investment and strong audience performance. These pressures are real, and they directly affect the long-term sustainability of local news.
From our perspective, there is a constructive path forward. Extending the Canadian journalism labour tax credit to broadcast news would recognize the role that television and digital newsrooms continue to play in communities across Canada. Ensuring a level regulatory playing field between Canadian broadcasters and global digital platforms is essential if local journalism is to remain viable.
I'll now turn to Jean-Philippe to speak about Noovo Info in Quebec.