All articles tagged with #bell media
Canada’s Crave has optioned Penelope Douglas’s adult romance novel Five Brothers for a TV series, following the success of its Heated Rivalry adaptation. The book centers on a woman who uncovers the secrets of the five Jaeger brothers (Macon, Army, Iron, Dallas, Trace). Bell Media plans a multi-season series, building on Crave’s track record with Heated Rivalry, which is returning for a second season in 2027.
Crave will stream Saturday Night Live in Canada this fall, with new 52nd-season episodes arriving on Crave a day after air and simulcast on CTV; the episodes join Crave’s SNL Collection, replacing Global TV. Bell Media has also picked up SNL UK for Crave, underscoring SNL’s Canadian ties and its Toronto-born creator; Connor Storrie from Heated Rivalry recently hosted SNL in Canada.
SNL will leave its longtime Canadian home on Global TV for Bell Media’s Crave and CTV platforms starting with the 52nd season, in a deal that shifts NBCUniversal’s Canadian distribution away from Corus/Global while Peacock remains U.S.-focused, reflecting ongoing streaming-driven broadcaster realignments in Canada.
Bell Media chief Sean Cohan says the hit Heated Rivalry is catalyzing a new wave of Canadian drama, fueling Crave subscriber growth and a “re‑heating” binge phenomenon while Bell plans more in‑house projects (including Yaga, Slo Pitch, Beer, Lesbians and Baseball!) to take Canadian storytelling global, even though Heated Rivalry isn’t Emmy eligible.
At a NATPE panel, Bell Media and other executives explained that Heated Rivalry hit a chord by moving quickly, embracing provocative content, and staying true to its source material, which helped it feel more relatable and engaging for subscribers. The show’s rapid storytelling and willingness to push boundaries illustrate how streaming can reward bold creative choices, though industry-wide mergers and budget pressures continue to complicate decision-making for programmers.
Bell Media is selling 45 of its 103 radio stations in Canada and cutting 4,800 jobs as part of a major restructuring. The company cited the radio business as no longer viable and will continue to operate only the viable stations. The 45 stations are being sold to seven different buyers, pending CRTC approval, with no disclosed terms for the sales. The stations being divested are spread across various provinces in Canada, and the restructuring is part of a significant shift in the Canadian media landscape.