Kevin Crull calls it a valuable lesson ”re-learned”.

The president of Bell Media says he was wrong to try to influence the editorial decisions of CTV journalists and has apologized to them directly for the mistake.

Crull’s apology followed a rebuke from the chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, who called Crull’s actions ”disturbing.”

Citing unnamed sources, the Globe and Mail reported the Bell boss demanded CTV not give the CRTC chief any coverage on last week’s regulatory decision concerning cable TV.

But the network’s national newscast did, which Crull says, ”ony heightens my appreciation of their independence, integrity and professionalism.”