Bell to CRTC: Telus and Rogers Are Shutting Us Out of TV Bundles

Bell Media is ramping up its battle at the CRTC, filing complaints against both Rogers and Telus for what it says is unfair treatment of its rebranded TV channels.

In separate filings, Bell alleges its rivals are favouring Rogers’ new Discovery-branded channels while downplaying or sidelining Bell’s own content, which includes renamed versions of former Discovery channels like USA Network, Oxygen True Crime, and CTV Nature.

What Changed in 2025?

At the start of the year, Bell lost the rights to use Warner Bros. Discovery brands. It rebranded five of its English-language channels — including Discovery Channel and Investigation Discovery (ID) — while keeping much of the same Canadian and U.S. programming. Around the same time, Rogers Sports & Media (RSM) launched brand-new versions of Discovery Channel and ID under a new licensing deal with Warner Bros.

Bell argues the new RSM channels are getting better packaging and promotion from major distributors, especially Rogers-owned Shaw Direct and Telus Optik TV, while Bell’s services are being treated like unfamiliar newcomers — despite offering many of the same shows and popular Canadian content.

Complaint Against Rogers

Bell’s complaint against Rogers, filed in early February, focuses on how Shaw Direct is packaging Rogers channels like Discovery and ID in high-profile TV bundles, while Bell’s equivalent rebranded services are left out. Bell says this gives Rogers an undue preference, violating Section 9 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations.

Corus Entertainment, which also owns channels in similar genres, filed a letter of support later in February of Bell’s claim, saying its channels are being pushed aside in the same way.

On May 26, 2025, Rogers responded by saying it followed the rules and accused Bell of using the CRTC process to gain a competitive edge. “Bell is playing games with the standstill rule and the undue preference provisions to seek a competitive advantage, not to address actual harm,” wrote Rogers.

Complaint Against Telus

Bell Media is also going after Telus, filing a separate complaint with the CRTC on April 25, 2025, over how Telus is handling the new Rogers Discovery-branded channels.

According to Bell, Telus added Rogers’ new Discovery and Investigation Discovery channels to a theme pack called Discovery & Reality, making them available to roughly 300,000 existing customers — many of whom had previously subscribed to Bell’s now-rebranded services, like USA Network and Oxygen True Crime.

In its complaint, Bell says Telus is giving preferential treatment to the new Rogers channels while treating Bell’s rebranded ones as if they’re completely new and unfamiliar — despite carrying much of the same programming and long-standing Canadian content.

“Telus takes the position that their subscribers only care about the Discovery brand and content, and they have attempted to misrepresent the content of the Rebranded Services,” Bell wrote.

Bell also highlighted that the Rogers channels are operating under an exempt status, meaning they’re not subject to full Canadian content rules, while Bell’s services are licensed and continue to carry shows like Highway Thru Hell, Heavy Rescue: 401, and Mayday.

Bell’s June 5 Update

In its follow-up filing on June 5, Bell stood firm, rejecting claims that it was abusing CRTC rules. Instead, it argued that both Telus and Rogers are giving their own channels a major advantage by placing them in popular TV packages while Bell’s comparable services are left on the sidelines.

Bell wants the CRTC to declare that both companies are violating Section 9 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations by showing undue preference. It’s asking the regulator to force Telus and Rogers to offer Bell’s rebranded channels in the same packages and under the same conditions as the Rogers channels. Bell also wants the standstill rule — which freezes channel changes during disputes — to remain in effect until a decision is made.

What happens if nothing changes? Bell warns that continued favouritism will damage competition, limit viewer choice, and reduce visibility for Canadian programming.

The CRTC has yet to issue a ruling. In the meantime, the industry battle feels less like a regulatory process and more like a family feud over who gets the TV remote. Keep that popcorn flowing folks, this isn’t over yet.

Thanks Commissioner Miner