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 News Forum features a variety of current affairs and public policy programming hosted by Canadian broadcasters and commentators. Regular hosts include Theresa Skubic, who anchors Forum Daily, the news forums flag ship news program; Wyatt Sharpe, who hosts “Forum Focus,” Catherine Murray, who hosts The Buck Stops Here, which covers financial and policy issues; Anthony Feor, the host of Opinionated, a commentary program discussing national issues from a centre-left perspective; and Stephen LeDrew, who presents interviews and political commentary on The Stephen LeDrew Show. The channel’s programming is oriented toward long-form interviews and discussion-based formats. [13]
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