281 people across Canada who were working for CHUM lost their jobs as a result of the proposed takeover of the company by Bell Globemedia, CBC says.

On Tuesday it was announced that Bell Globemedia offered $1.7 billion to buy out CHUM Limited. It was also announced that newscasts on CHUM television stations across the country would be cut or shortened.

Bell Globemedia also said it would probably sell the company’s A-Channel stations, including the ones in Barrie and London in Ontario.

CBC says about 80 people at City TV stations in Calgary and Edmonton lost their jobs as a result of the takeover bid.

“They weren’t even allowing ? me to go and get my stuff right now because apparently the emotions are pretty high there in the newsroom there,” former Calgary sports anchor Tim Butcher said to the CBC.

The deal between CHUM and Bell Globemedia is still subject to the approval of the CRTC before it becomes official. Critics warn that this could lead to media concentration in Canada, despite Bell Globemedia insisting that CHUM’s editorial content will not be the same as CTV’s, and that the CHUM stations will be keeping their original voice on the Canadian media landscape.






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