Just before 6pm PDT (9pm EDT) on Friday evening, after most media had called it a night ahead of the weekend, Bell CEO Mirko Bibic released a statement on LinkedIn regarding the recent ousting of CTV News anchor Lisa LaFlamme.
Allegations are that LaFlamme was let go because of her decision to let her hair go grey during COVID-19, and her ongoing clashes with CTV Vice President Michael Melling.
Bibic explains, “as the situation continues to unfold, it’s time for you to hear directly from me on all that has gone on at Bell Media over the last two weeks. There is certainly no denying that Lisa LaFlamme has made an important contribution to Canadian news for three decades. Since Bell Media’s decision to end her contract, there has been heavy criticism.”
“The narrative has been that Lisa’s age, gender or grey hair played into the decision. I am satisfied that this is not the case and wanted to make sure you heard it from me. While I would like to say more on the Bell Media decision, we are bound by a mutual separation agreement negotiated with Lisa, which we will continue to honour,” continued Bibic.
Bibic goes on to say “broadcasting in Canada is undergoing massive change and Bell Media needs to adapt or be left behind. We are at a crossroads where viewing behaviours have changed dramatically and traditional broadcasting is under severe stress worldwide. In an environment of declining ratings and global online platforms, we can’t keep relying on traditional broadcasting. The days when viewers wait until 11 PM to get their news are gone.”
“While some may resist change, it is necessary and we need to confront this. The CTV national news team needs to work on an integrated and aligned basis, dedicated to a common strategy and Bell Media needs to provide our journalists with the resources they need on all platforms where news is consumed,” says Bibic.
An independent review of the Bell Media working environment is underway, says Bibic. “Any necessary changes that become evident will be implemented swiftly to ensure a respectful, unified workplace.”
As for Melling, who was alleged to have made the decision to oust LaFlamme based on various factors, Bibic says “Michael is on leave effective immediately, pending the outcome of the workplace review that is proceeding.”
“I do hope this post provides context for the strategy at CTV News and the difficult decisions made,” says Bibic, concluding, “finally, I’d like to acknowledge the dedication of all my colleagues at BCE, Bell and Bell Media. This has been a difficult time for all concerned. Thank you for everything you do and for keeping Canadians connected and informed.”
The comments on Bibic’s LinkedIn post remain open. Reactions were not in Bell Media’s favour, as you can see below:
Earlier this month, LaFlamme broke her silence on the cancelling of her contract, after a 35-year career with Bell Media. In a video on Twitter, LaFlamme says she was “blindsided” by the decision to cancel her contract, adding she had to stay quiet until Bell Media made a statement on the matter, about one and a half months later.
The decision saw Bell Media receive huge blowback on social media. Bell later said it regretted how it handled the ousting of LaFlamme, explaining the decision at a company town hall, denying it had anything to do with the anchor’s gender, age or hair colour, as per allegations.
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You have got to love how all the quote samples contain spelling or punctuation errors; except for the last one.
Again, not a big fan of her but I appreciate even less the way they let her go. That rationale that news broadcasting is changing and therefore people (who apparently performed well) must be fired is nonsense. If the news broadcasting is changing, can’t people who are in the business change along? The medical field is changing all the time, should we fire doctors and surgeons? Or, do they change and adapt and continually learn as the field evolves?
Hard to take that as a serious analogy. MDs are higher trained and skilled. TV news is entertainment. It’s about viewers. That’s the real job, keeping and attracting viewers.
If it was just about keeping her employed and if viewership was tanking, would it have been better to change her role to a camera person or sound system? Or is she too good for that?
Apparently she was offered a different position with Bell Media – which she turned down. Her choice.
Not sure why SJWs and a bunch of 70 “have beens” feel the need to defend a highly paid but pretty useless TV anchor of a dying station.
Just watch her cringe worthy “reporting” on Ukraine…from Poland.
SMH…
Why are we still waiting for 11PM news with the new dude?
It’s a business. It’s entertainment. Talent is expensive. If they needed to drop one lead, they’d be getting trashed whichever one the picked. Brown guy or older women…which one will the SJW’s express note faux outrage over?
This is all about cost cutting. Sportsnet did something similar when they let go some of their top TV talent because they were paid alot. LaFlamme was no different. Some of the Sportsnet folks who were let go have gone to have successful podcasts. LaFlamme could do something similar if she has a strong following.
It would be interesting if she starts a podcast to see how many listeners she can attract. I doubt any other networks will want to pay top $$ to hire her, and let go their own staff.
It’s not cost cutting when you have two years left in a contract. They would have had to buy her out at basically full price. They literally flushed money down the toilet. It was a sunk cost. If her contract was up for renewal, and they didn’t renew, maybe that argument would carry water. That wasn’t the case here.
He posts this on LinkedIn at 9 PM on a Friday night. How weak and pathetic. Probably caught wind of the letter from 70 prominent Canadians about to be published and figured he’d strike first. He lost. Badly.
So when do viewers experience some of the drastic changes said to ultimately occur? You are sooooo full of it. I’m not a Lisa fan, but what you did to her was nothing short of disgraceful. The replacement better stay on his toes….
Why does a CEO of a non-government feel the need to address the public in the first place.
Why are people whining about this person being let go. If you don’t like the decision, tune out and let ratings drop. Trust me here, the message will be received by upper management.
However Bell has been around for a long time and know how the public thinks. The public lashes out, there is a few louder people that complain (usually for the attention) but slowly and consistently, people forget and nothing changes.
What do we expect when Bell is part of a monopoly that has the citizens of this country by the …er tender parts.