Bell Media Helps Ensure Toronto's Bike Share Program Continues Operation

Bell Media Helps Ensure Toronto's Bike Share Program Continues Operation


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TORONTO, Dec. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - The City of Toronto today announced that
its bike share program will continue to operate after an agreement was
reached between the City and PBSC, the company that administers the
BIXI Toronto service. This agreement was made possible by the approval
of City Council to accept $5 million from Bell Media's Astral
Out-of-Home division through the City's street furniture program.



As part of its ongoing commitment to the City of Toronto and its
residents, Bell Media has agreed to convert future expenditures
designated for the Coordinated Street Furniture Program's automatic
public toiletsto support Toronto's bike share program. Bell Media's decision will
assistthe popular bike-sharing program to continue operating.



"Astral Out-of-Home has worked closely with the City of Toronto for the
past seven years, and with the support of Bell Media we are pleased to
help ensure the continued operation of the City's bike share program,"
said Ron Hutchinson, Vice-President, Real Estate for Astral
Out-of-Home. "Bell Media has made this decision because of its
commitment to support solutions that are beneficial to Toronto's
residents and city streets."



Astral Out-of-Home became a division of Bell Media in July 2013 as part
of Bell's acquisition of Astral. Astral Out-of-Home provides
Torontonians with an innovative street furniture program at absolutely
no cost to taxpayers.



The Toronto Coordinated Street Furniture program was launched in 2007
and provides essential street furniture elements including transit
shelters, litter/recycling bins, newspaper bins and corrals,
information/wayfinding pillars, public posting columns, bicycle racks
and benches. The program is fully funded by advertising and the 20-year
contract has a value of $915 million for the City of Toronto in street
furniture, repairs, maintenance and capital expenditures. For more
information visit the Astral Out-of-Home website.


Astral Out-of-Home

Astral Out-of-Home is one of Canada's leading out-of-home advertising
companies with more than 9,500 strategically-placed advertising faces
in key markets in Québec, Ontario, and British Columbia.


Bell Media

With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media
creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and
inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is
Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television,
radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30
local television stations led by CTV, Canada's #1 television network;
34 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched
specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services,
including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and is managing
shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewer's Choice Canada.
Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 107
licensed radio stations in 55 markets across Canada. Bell Media owns
Astral Out-of-Home, one of Canada's most dynamic and innovative
out-of-home advertising companies. Bell Media also operates more than
200 websites and apps, delivers TV Everywhere with its innovative GO
video streaming services, including TMN GO and Bravo GO, and owns Dome
Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is
part of BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest
communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.


SOURCE Bell Media

Bell Media

CONTACT:
Media Contacts: Amanda Santino
Account Director
Weber Shandwick
416-666-1748
asantino@webershandwick.com




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