Press Release
CHUM Television announces new approach to local information programming
TORONTO, July 12 /CNW/ - CHUM Television today announced plans for a new
approach to local information programming at its conventional television
stations across the country. Individual stations will concentrate resources
where they can be most effective within a challenging conventional television
environment. The new approach will see the stations significantly increase
focus on service to local viewers, with in-depth coverage of local community
stories, events and information. In a number of markets, this will mean a move
away from traditional newscasts resulting in a significant reduction in
staffing and operating costs.
Citytv stations in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg will move from
traditional one-hour evening newscasts to a new daily half-hour local news
magazine show "In Your City", with in-depth coverage of community stories
coupled with a new daily half-hour national and international news package
currently being planned. In addition, the popular local morning show
"Breakfast Television", will be enhanced in each market, and in Calgary and
Edmonton, expanded to four hours each morning. At A-Channel Victoria, serving
Vancouver Island, the morning show will be discontinued in order to
concentrate on the growing strength of the two-hour block of "A-Channel News"
and "Vancouver Island Report", which includes the recent expansion of the
Nanaimo bureau, providing enhanced coverage of local events and information
from up-island. Citytv Vancouver will be discontinuing its traditional
newscasts and adding resources to its "Breakfast Television" morning show,
including expanded coverage of local traffic conditions and more live coverage
from across the city every morning. Live updates and general information will
continue throughout the day at regular intervals.
The emphasis on local community information, stories and updates will be
supported by robust local station-branded websites featuring additional
content, viewer response and editorial contributions, details of upcoming
community events, as well as continuous updates on the important information
that keeps communities running - from local events, traffic and weather to
school bus schedules.
"This is an evolution of CHUM's commitment to satisfying the local needs
of today's viewers in current and consistently relevant ways," said Peter
Palframan, Senior Vice President Operations, CHUM Television. "Any decision
that results in a reduction of staff is always difficult. However, our local
experience, together with the extensive research and analysis we have
conducted on our operational review over the last nine months, has shown we
can be a more meaningful community partner and increase our competitive
position by building on our strengths in each market."
Citytv Toronto continues its successful 6pm and 11pm "CityNews"
broadcasts, while A-Channel News Barrie at 6pm and 11pm will return to a
strong focus on Barrie, Simcoe County, Muskoka and Haliburton news and
information. Programming remains unchanged at A-Channels in London and Ottawa,
except that the daily noon news show in Ottawa will be discontinued.
With these changes, all CHUM's conventional stations will remain fully
compliant with their CRTC Conditions of Licence.
Where applicable, the newscasts will discontinue on July 12th, with the
new programming initiatives commencing early September and, in the case of
Citytv Winnipeg, with a weekly edition of "In Your City" commencing
January, 2007.
This change in approach to news and local programming in Victoria,
Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Barrie will result in a reduction
of
133 full time and 62 part-time positions, primarily in the News and
Operations departments.
Concurrently, the company also announced technology changes for the
production of local programming in its Citytv stations in Calgary, Edmonton
and Winnipeg together with A-Channel stations in Ottawa and London, and the
consolidation of master control and traffic operations for CKX Brandon and
Citytv Winnipeg in Calgary. These technology changes will result in a
reduction of
58 full time and 28 part-time positions in the News, Operations
and Traffic departments.
The one-time severance costs associated with these changes will be
approximately $6.8 million and the capital costs will be approximately
$2.5 million. The net annualized operating cost savings are projected at
approximately $14.7 million. The initial changes will be implemented
immediately, with all the changes expected to be fully implemented by
January, 2007.