The News Forum

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The News Forum
The News Forum logo.png
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaCanada
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Ownership
OwnerThe News Forum Inc.
History
LaunchedAugust 27, 2020; 17 months ago (2020-08-27)
Links
Websitewww.thenewsforum.ca
Availability
Terrestrial
RogersChannel 107
TelusChannel 842

The News Forum is a Canadian English language news channel owned by The News Forum Inc., a group founded by Tore Stautland. The channel primarily broadcasts opinion-based talk shows, and has a conservative editorial position.

History[]

The News Forum was founded by Tore Stautland, who previously worked for ZoomerMedia's Faith TV and Joytv. The network has officially described itself as being a centre-right outlet designed to provide "politically balanced domestic and international perspectives, inclusive of a conservative counterbalance for the current media landscape."[1] Ethnic Channels Group was contracted to provide advertising and distribution services for the network.[1]

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 licenses. 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.[2][1]

The News Forum launched with a three-month free preview on all Bell Canada-owned TV service providers on August 27, 2020.[3] However, its presence went unnoticed by most Canadian media outlets until a trailer and press release[4] announcing its launch was released on September 29.[1][5] It currently operates as an exempted discretionary service.[6]

In October 2021, The News Forum filed an application with the CRTC for licensing as a national news channel, which would require it to be offered by all Canadian television providers.[6]

Programming[]

The channel's programming consists primarily of opinion-based talk shows, with its launch programs including personalities such as Conservative Party minister Tony Clement.(Boom and Bust), and former 2018 Ontario Progressive Conservative candidate Tanya Granic Allen (Counterpoint). Former Alberta Wildrose Party leader and CHQR host Danielle Smith,[7][6] and Conservative MP Dean Allison,[8] later joined the network. Former CHFD anchor Nima Rajan hosts Forum Daily,[1] a national newscast drawn primarily from Canadian Press wire stories.[6]

In November 2021, the Toronto Star reported that Allison's show, The Hill Update, had featured guests who questioned the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and advocated against vaccination mandates.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Thiessen, Connie (September 30, 2020). "New conservative-friendly specialty channel 'The News Forum' makes its debut". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  2. ^ Dialogue, Broadcast (2020-10-09). "Broadcast Dialogue - The Podcast: Tore Stautland, CEO of The News Forum". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  3. ^ "Free previews". Bell Canada. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  4. ^ THE NEWS FORUM Launches Nationally on Bell Platforms in Canada, Global Newswire press release, September 29, 2020
  5. ^ "Brand new news channel, The News Forum, launches on Bell". Cartt.ca. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Faguy, Steve. "Conservative news-talk TV channel The News Forum seeks must-offer licence from CRTC". Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  7. ^ Faguy, Steve. "New Canadian news channel tries to revive the Sun News Network model". Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  8. ^ a b 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.

External links[]


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