The News Forum

Last updated
The News Forum
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
Headquarters St. Catharines, Ontario
Ownership
OwnerThe News Forum Inc.
History
LaunchedAugust 27, 2020;5 years ago (2020-08-27)
FounderTore Stautland
Links
Website www.thenewsforum.ca
Availability
Terrestrial
Rogers Channel 107
Telus Channel 842
Cogeco Cable Channel 806
Shaw Direct Channel 253

The News Forum is a Canadian English language news channel owned by The News Forum Inc., a group founded by Tore Stautland. Launched on August 26, 2020, the channel primarily broadcasts conservative-leaning news commentary and talk shows. [1]

Contents

History

The News Forum was founded by Tore Stautland, who previously worked for ZoomerMedia's Faith TV and Joytv. At launch, the network described itself as being a centre-right outlet offering "politically balanced domestic and international perspectives, inclusive of a conservative counterbalance for the current media landscape." [2] Since then, the network has hired a number of progressive voices, to counter claims that it only broadcasts conservative editorial positions. [3] Ethnic Channels Group was contracted to provide advertising and distribution services for the network. [2] It launched with a three-month free preview on Bell Fibe TV and Bell Satellite TV on August 27, 2020. [4] However, its presence went unnoticed by most Canadian media outlets until a trailer and press release [5] announcing its launch was released on September 29. [2] [6]

As Stautland is not currently a Canadian citizen, his 22.25% equity stake in the network (shared with his wife Jule) is represented as a voting trust to comply with CRTC rules, as only Canadian citizens may hold broadcast licences. The trust will be dissolved if Stautland becomes a Canadian citizen. The remainder of the network is owned by a group of other unnamed shareholders. [7] [2] 92.3% of the network's ownership, which is incorporated as The News Forum Inc., is held by Canadian shareholders. [8]

The News Forum initially operated as an exempted discretionary service. [9] In October 2021, The News Forum filed an application with the CRTC for formal licensing as a national news discretionary service, requiring that it be offered by all Canadian television providers as with CBC News Network and CTV News Channel. [9]

On May 17, 2022, the CRTC granted a licence to The News Forum as a national news discretionary service, but declined its request for must-offer status since its schedule did not meet a quota for regularly-updated news programming. [8] In July 2022, The News Forum submitted another application for must-offer status, which included a proposed schedule adding regular news updates between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET daily. [10] On November 1, 2022, the CRTC granted The News Forum's request for must-offer status, finding that its schedule now met the programming requirements for national news discretionary services. [11] [12]

Programming

The channel's programming consists primarily of news commentary and discussion programs. [2] [13] Its main newscast is Forum Daily, which is drawn primarily from Canadian Press wire stories. [13]

Its launch lineup featured hosts and pundits such as former Conservative Party minister Tony Clement (Boom and Bust), former 2018 Ontario Progressive Conservative candidate Tanya Granic Allen (Counterpoint), and former CHFD anchor Nima Rajan, [14] later joined by former Alberta Wildrose Party leader (now Premier of Alberta) Danielle Smith, [15] [13] Conservative MP Dean Allison, [16] former BNN Bloomberg anchor Catherine Murray (The Buck Stops Here). [17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Muck Rack | For journalists and public relations". muckrack.com. 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Thiessen, Connie (September 30, 2020). "New conservative-friendly specialty channel 'The News Forum' makes its debut". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ "The News Forum | Shows". The News Forum. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  4. ↑ "Free previews". Bell Canada. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ THE NEWS FORUM Launches Nationally on Bell Platforms in Canada, Global Newswire press release, September 29, 2020
  6. ↑ "Brand new news channel, The News Forum, launches on Bell". Cartt.ca. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ Dialogue, Broadcast (2020-10-09). "Broadcast Dialogue - The Podcast: Tore Stautland, CEO of The News Forum". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  8. 1 2 "The News Forum - Licensing of a national news discretionary service". CRTC. 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  9. 1 2 Faguy, Steve. "Conservative news-talk TV channel The News Forum seeks must-offer licence from CRTC" . Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  10. ↑ Faguy, Steve. "The News Forum tries again to seek must-offer licence from CRTC" . Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  11. ↑ "The News Forum - Distribution pursuant to paragraph 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act". CRTC. 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  12. ↑ CARTT.ca (2022-11-02). "The News Forum granted mandatory distribution". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  13. 1 2 3 Faguy, Steve. "Conservative news-talk TV channel The News Forum seeks must-offer licence from CRTC" . Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  14. ↑ Thiessen, Connie (September 30, 2020). "New conservative-friendly specialty channel 'The News Forum' makes its debut". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  15. ↑ Faguy, Steve. "New Canadian news channel tries to revive the Sun News Network model" . Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  16. ↑ Levitz, Stephanie (2021-11-03). "Conservative MP invites scientists challenging the widespread use of COVID-19 vaccines to appear on his TV". The Toronto Star. ISSN   0319-0781 . Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  17. ↑ CARTT.ca (2022-11-02). "The News Forum granted mandatory distribution". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
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