Higher media revenues due to the FIFA World Cup and an increase in Crave subscribers boosted BCE Inc. 's third-quarter results.
Bell Canada on Thursday released its earnings results, reporting $6.18 billion in revenues, up from $6.05 billion the prior year — a 2.2 per cent increase.
Subscriptions to Bell Media's streaming service Crave grew 21 per cent to more than 5.1 million, including 41 per cent growth in direct-to-consumer streaming subscribers.
Higher Bell Media revenues were also led by the success of the broadcast of the
2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.
It recorded Canada's biggest FIFA World Cup viewerships ever, reaching more than 30 million Canadians in its services throughout the 2026 tournament, Bell said.
The final game was the most watched World Cup match ever in Canada with an average audience of 6.4 million viewers.
Consolidated revenue growth was also driven by 1.6 per cent higher service revenues and a 6.9 per cent increase in product revenues.
The company said service revenue growth was driven by inclusion of full quarter results of its Bell U.S. segment, as a result of its acquisition of Ziply Fiber in August last year.
Meanwhile, Bell said "continued erosion" of legacy voice, data and TV services, as well as ongoing lower demand for traditional advertising, moderated this increase in service revenues.
Wireless service revenues declined year over year, but pricing on base rate plans in the market was "much more disciplined," it said.
Product revenues were up due to greater wireline equipment sales to large business customers, but was partly offset by reduced wireless product revenues mainly from lower device sales to consumers.
Bell's AI business, on the other hand, remained strong with revenue up 9.2 per cent. This includes a 41 per cent increase in AI-powered solutions revenue.
BCE's adjusted EBITDA went up by 0.9 per cent to $2.79 billion in the quarter. This reflected the contribution from Bell U.S. and an eight per cent increase in Bell Media, but was partially offset by a 0.8 per cent decline in its telco business in Canada.
Net earnings for the quarter were down 84.6 per cent to $701 million due the prior year's inclusion of the sale of its minority stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. to Rogers Communications Inc., in 2025.
On an adjusted basis, net earnings were down 5.2 per cent to $695 million, resulting in a 6.3 per cent drop in adjusted earnings per share to $0.74.
More to come.
