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SOWNY » 680 News Radio » Yesterday 1:02 pm

ED1
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MJ Vancouver wrote:

ED1 wrote:

The Rogers/Shaw money must've kicked in.

On one hand I was concerned what this might mean for Global because of a shift of government money, but Global BC announced this morning they’re expanding their late news to one hour next week. Is this being done across the Global network?

Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg have always been 1 hour long, not sure about the other markets. I know recently Global has stuck a re-run of Global National after the late local news on all its stations except Alberta. 

SOWNY » 680 News Radio » March 26, 2024 10:02 am

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Hansa wrote:

680 NewsRadio Toronto is more descriptive. Someone new to the city would know what "news radio" means where "CityNews" might not be as obvious (could be news about city government, for instance). 

Interesting as well that attempts to co-brand both Global (Global News Radio), and CityNews tv and radio have been abandoned by Corus and Rogers respectively. I guess this means Bell is unlikely to try to rebrand NT 1010 with either CTV News or CP24.

It hasn't been abandoned entirely. The other 5 Rogers all-news/news-talk radio stations are still branded as CityNews. It's only been dumped on 680. As for Corus, they only own 1 all-news station (CHQT 880 Edmonton) and it's still branded as "Global News Radio". 
 

SOWNY » 680 News Radio » March 26, 2024 9:58 am

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peter wrote:

I listen for the news and don't complain/moan/whine about all the peripheral stuff like set colours, logos, where the clock is, where they are broadcasting from....Yikes  

A discussion about elements of a television program, a visual medium, on a broadcasting discussion board? *clutches pearls*

SOWNY » 680 News Radio » March 25, 2024 3:21 pm

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CityNews 24/7 channel's new look... with a new studio 

 

The Rogers/Shaw money must've kicked in. CityNews Vancouver also has a set now AND its own 24/7 streaming channel.

https://twitter.com/AdrienneKS/status/1772290010693197880?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

SOWNY » 680 News Radio » March 25, 2024 3:04 pm

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The colour scheme for the website and the CityNews 24/7 channels have changed to red/white/back - very much resembles CP24 or Global's news channels. Guess we should expect a graphics change on the TV newscasts today.

SOWNY » Could This Global News Promo Statement Be True? » March 21, 2024 9:42 pm

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RadioActive wrote:

I've been hearing this promo repeatedly on AM640 for Global News' YouTube website, trying to entice more people to go there for their news fix. 

But one statement in the ad stands out to me. It's the claim that the channel is "the #1 source for Canadian news" in the country. 

I've checked the site and there are, indeed, a lot of videos there. But #1 in all of Canada? Ahead of the CBC, which has far more resources? More than CTV? I'm not going to say their claim is false, because I don't have access to the numbers they cite. (Actually, they don't cite any, which is part of the problem.)

But I do have trouble believing that Global's YouTube channel is the biggest source for news in the entire country. I would love to see some evidence to back up this fairly bold statement. 

In terms of the YouTube channel, Global News' account has 4.17 million subscribers as of this post. In comparison, CBC News has 3.48 million subscribers, and CTV News has 1.31 million subscribers. All of these subscriber numbers are publicly displayed on each account.

 

SOWNY » Why Global May Face A Small Simsub Dilemma On Sunday Night » March 7, 2024 1:03 am

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RadioActive wrote:

I'm not a simsub fan, but I often get some amusement at the way Canadian stations will go to almost any lengths to be eligible to ensure their network gets priority over an American competitor airing the same show. 

Which brings us to Sunday night and an episode of the Emmy-winning "Abbott Elementary." The show is airing a rare new episode late that night, starting at 10:30 PM. Sure enough, Global has scheduled that same first run showing of the hit sitcom in pattern with ABC. 
 
Except ABC is hoping it will have a huge lead-in, as it shows the Oscars live from Hollywood. The problem, of course, is that the Oscars almost never end on time (although this one is starting earlier than previous such shows, so it could potentially finish by 10:30.)

But what happens if the Academy Awards predictably runs overtime? 

Does Global wait as long as it takes in order to get simsub on one of over-the-air TV's few big hits to itself in Canada? (The Oscars are airing on rival CTV.) Or do they start it at 10:30 PM, regardless of what's happening over on ABC? 

Not a big deal in the long run, but I'm always curious just how far they'll go - and what they might use to fill the time while waiting - to keep their exclusivity in this country intact. We'll find out Sunday night

Why ‘Abbott Elementary’ Isn’t Airing a New Episode This Week

Global has waited before for an American network to start a show they are simsubbing.  One recent show that comes to mind was the premier of The Equalizer, which followed the Super Bowl. I’m guessing that Global will do the same for Abbott Elementary.

SOWNY » Bell Media Cuts 4,800 Jobs, Selling 45 Stations » February 9, 2024 4:05 pm

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RadioActive wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

Among those getting cut are a few well known names. From The Daily Hive:

"CTV National’s Alberta bureau chief Bill Fortier, Montreal reporter Vanessa Lee, and Winnipeg bureau chief Jill Macyshon have all been axed, per the sources."

How ironic then, that Fortier plays a part in this weekend's soon-to-be-defunct W5 report about companies that provide rip-off service. 

He and his family also just had a new baby. He may have been on parental leave this week. Terrible timing. 

https://twitter.com/BillFortierTV/status/1748483853096734940

SOWNY » Bell Media Cuts 4,800 Jobs, Selling 45 Stations » February 9, 2024 12:59 pm

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paterson1 wrote:

I think June 14th 2023 was much more of a big deal in broadcasting than what happened yesterday.  Bell closed 6 big heritage 50,000 watt radio stations, and layed off about 950 people. It took quite some time to sell 3 other stations that were for sale.   Yesterday was nothing like that. 

What has many people worked up is the incorrect reporting from far too many media outlets that gave the impression that BELL MEDIA was laying off 4,800 people.  Totally incorrect.   In fact it could be less than 400 including unionized employees. 

Other divisions of BCE are really doing the major cutting of staff, but getting no news coverage  .That is not very good news reporting, and this should be the real story from yesterday.  Bell is also pulling big money from their expansion of the fibre network, because of CRTC regs. and having to share their technology with start ups.     

Yesterday's story for broadcasting had some good in it beyond the loss of employment which is always bad.  The fact that ALL of the 45 stations that Bell wants to sell have buyers.  That actually is fantastic since some if not many of the employees that Bell is planning to let go could be rehired by the new owners.  This happens all the time.  It happend to me twice in my career where the new owners rehired everyone. This won't happen today but some will be rehired.  

I love the way one of the suits at Bell said that radio is no longer viable but somehow the company sold 45 stations to various smaller broadcasters.  No longer viable because Bell doesn't understand how to run smaller radio outlets, or just can't be bothered.  Remember this is the company that was still buying up smaller stations not many years ago. 

The bad news yesterday was the cancelling of weekend news (which is messed up part of the year by NFL football) and noon hour news.  Look for CBC at some point to add more local/regional TV news, even on CBC radio.

If enough people complain about

SOWNY » Bell Media Cuts 4,800 Jobs, Selling 45 Stations » February 8, 2024 5:58 pm

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RadioAaron wrote:

Hansa wrote:

Well it's interesting that none of the stations were bought by Rogers or Corus - I would say that's a good thing. 

Corus is next.

It already happened yesterday...

https://twitter.com/cmcdonaldglobal/status/1755659205292310608

SOWNY » Bell Media Cuts 4,800 Jobs, Selling 45 Stations » February 8, 2024 11:07 am

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Just a Radio Fan wrote:

So I am confused, although that is not difficult.   Sold 45 stations, let go 4800 people.  That is over 100 per station.  There is no way any of these stations had 100 people working at them, even with support (sales, accounting ect.).   Where are the rest of the people impacted from ?

Maybe the other divisions of BCE (telecom, The Source, etc) are also being impacted. The 4800 INCLUDES those at Bell Media.

SOWNY » Another Frustratingly Cloudy Forecast From CTV News » January 25, 2024 2:36 pm

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paterson1 wrote:

Everything you say is correct ED1.  It is odd why the #1 newscast in the largest market doesn't always have a weather forecaster to do the weather.  And some of the anchors put no effort whatsoever doing the casts. It looks amateurish and reflects badly on the station and some of the anchors who obviously think doing the weather or sports is beneath them. 

But that decision was made by CTV Toronto/Bell Media.  Maybe this will bite them in the ass eventually in the ratings, assuming they actually care.  Rightly or wrongly they likely view that CP24 is the source for local news and sports and the OTA channels are more and more reserved for entertainment programming.  CP24 has been and maybe still is the most popular news channel in Southern Ontario. Even here in K/W you see CP24 in bars, restaurants, doctor's offices all over the place.   

Bell Media has lots of money but have cut way back on broadcast TV and radio local news/weather/sports coverage.  They seem to have shifted the big spends in TV/streaming on produced drama, comedy and reality programming.  Programming that has the possibility of being sold elsewhere. 

I feel like we are witnessing the (slow) hollowing out of CFTO News, and in a few years we'll reach its logical conclusion where responsibility of producing the newscasts on channel 9 will be handed over to CP24 (but still branded as CTV News Toronto). 

SOWNY » Another Frustratingly Cloudy Forecast From CTV News » January 25, 2024 12:24 pm

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paterson1 wrote:

Why are we making such a big issue about this?  Weather forecasts, the vast majority of the time, are correct. This past month I have found the Weather Network and my local CTV station were both exactly right forecasting the temperature, when it was going to rain, snow or pelt down freezing rain.  Local radio has been bang on as well.  So why all this handwringing?

I really can't get excited about whether CTV Toronto has a weather person for the 11:30 news or not.  Lots of other places to get weather forecasts 24/7.   

The accuracy of the forecasts isn't the issue here.

The issue is that the supposed #1 broadcast TV station in the biggest market in the country can't seem to find someone to present their weather, and the anchors that do end up presenting the weather don't really seem to do a great job of it - it's not good television.  Whereas other stations in the market (including their own sister stations), and stations in smaller markets seem to be able to find fill-in weather anchors despite whatever financial constraints their parent company is facing.

CFTO seems to have given up local weather not only to the competition, but to the weather apps on your phone. 

SOWNY » Another Frustratingly Cloudy Forecast From CTV News » January 23, 2024 2:17 pm

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Binson Echorec wrote:

The only question I have is why you continue to watch CTV News if their weather situation aggravates you this much.

Conversely, over the weekend, Global News had their weekend weather person anchoring the cast. When it came time for the forecast, they didn't bungle it the way you describe how it happens on CTV.

Global normally has a fill-in weather person (they usually get whoever does weather on CHEX or another weather presenter elsewhere), so having the anchor read the weather is sort of rare - unless Corus is trying to save money, and they looked at what CFTO is doing and figure that it's OK.

SOWNY » And The New Host Of The Show That Will Follow Stephen Colbert Is... » January 18, 2024 2:18 am

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RadioActive wrote:

This debuted on Tuesday night (really, Wednesday morning)  and frankly, I forgot all about it. The numbers explain how many people stayed up "After Midnight" to watch it. 

‘After Midnight’: CBS Reveals Premiere Ratings

 

If her social media clips have more traction/viewers than the actual broadcast, that might be more of an indication of success than just ratings. 

SOWNY » Global Goes Silent » January 14, 2024 9:11 pm

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The issue is also affecting CHAN Vancouver, CICT Calgary, and CITV Edmonton on cable systems. CIHF Halifax seems to be working.

Global TV stations on the Global TV app, as well as the streaming news channels seem to have audio working fine. 

SOWNY » Whoops, They Did It Again! CTV Fails Ahead Of Big Storm » January 9, 2024 11:59 am

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Forward Power wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

They could even have him tape the weather and then play it back. No real overtime if he does it during his regular shift.

In Ottawa, CJOH's J.J. Clarke would usually record the 11:30 weather segment, likely just after the 6pm newscast ended.

Speaking of CJOH, IIRC they don’t have a weather anchor at all! All their news anchors just read the weather forecast.

SOWNY » Whoops, They Did It Again! CTV Fails Ahead Of Big Storm » January 8, 2024 11:51 pm

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And yet, over on CP24, Meteorologist Chris Potter is on duty tonight. 

I don't want to dredge up the same discussion about CFTO not bringing in weather anchors to fill in, but I would LOVE to know their rationale for it (other than the $$$ factor). 

SOWNY » On this date fifty years ago... » January 8, 2024 12:18 pm

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paterson1 wrote:

I have always found Global News Toronto to be slightly missing the mark for some reason.  They are not really doing anything wrong apart from having a few weak on air people but something is off.  

I have seen Global Calgary and Vancouver local news productions and they were superior to what was out of Toronto.  On air people were better, more natural and had more personality.  Also as I recall the actual production seemed slicker than Global Toronto even though quite similar.  I have always heard that Global News locally rates higher than CTV News in many markets in Western Canada. 

Global News Toronto I would guess is number two or three in Toronto television news and should be doing better.   CTV Toronto seems a bit lost with the local production in decline for the past few years.  

Global BC and Edmonton are #1 in their markets by a country mile, and Global Calgary is very competitive against CTV where they win some (but not all) timeslots. At one point in the 2000s IIRC Global Saskatoon was also #1. 

SOWNY » A Nice Annual Network Gesture From NBC News » December 26, 2023 1:10 am

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RadioActive wrote:

Speaking of holiday news shows, it's interesting to me the decision each local TV station here made.

None of the big four (CTV, City TV, Global, CBC) did a noon newscast. (City TV never does, the rest do.)

CTV did only a half hour news at 6, and only on CP24, because CFTO was carrying non-stop football all day. They only had in one anchor (Rahim Ladhani) and one reporter (Beth McDonnell) and the rest were pre-taped stories from other CTV stations around the country. There was also no weather person, which is sadly becoming all too common at the station. The 6 was then immediately repeated on CP24, which needed to fill the time. They also announced at the end of the newscast that there would be no 11:30 update.

City TV did its usual 6 o'clock hour long show, but nothing at 5 PM. It also skipped the 11, showing a Christmas choir instead, an annual City TV tradition stretching back to the Colin Vaughan era. 

CBC did no news shows, 6 or 11.

And while I believe Global did a National show at 6:30, there was no 5:30 update and nothing at all at 6 or 11. Instead they aired "A Conversation with the Prime Minister" where their 6 PM news would have been. 

All totaled, excluding cable, there were only two actual local newscasts on the air in Toronto on Christmas Day. Neither were especially well staffed. 

I believe CTV News Toronto at 6 also aired on CKVR/CTV2 Barrie this evening, which warrants a discussion for another day...

The only local station in the entire country that had anything close to a full news schedule (outside of CP24, LCN in Quebec, and BC1) was Global BC. They had a morning newscast (1 hour only), noon news, 6 PM, and will have an 11 PM tonight. 
 

SOWNY » A Nice Annual Network Gesture From NBC News » December 26, 2023 12:07 am

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CFTO also did this on Friday night's 6 PM news.

SOWNY » Rick Campanelli Hosting CHCH Live New Year's Eve Special » December 15, 2023 1:56 pm

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mace wrote:

Much easier and cheaper for CITY to simsub Rockin' New Year's Eve from 8-11 and 11:30 -2ish.

In Alberta, Citytv simulcasts the Pacific Time Zone feed of New Year's Rockin' Eve, which means midnight on the show actually airs at 1 AM. Rogers has been doing this for YEARS, and it's ridiculous how no one has bothered to change it.
 

SOWNY » A Sad Sign Of The Times For CFRB » December 15, 2023 1:54 pm

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CFRB doesn't have a text line that they can go to for listener messages?

SOWNY » CORUS QUAY » December 13, 2023 3:22 pm

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Isn't this what CBC/Radio-Canada has been doing for years. They sold off the land/buildings it used to own, and is either leasing back the space or have found new facilities to work out of. 

SOWNY » CBC/Radio-Canada Lays Off At Least 600 Employees » December 9, 2023 3:36 am

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MJ Vancouver wrote:

ED1 wrote:

Some changes on the regional TV side have taken place since this was announced.

The CBC Saskatchewan 11 PM bulletin, which was only about 10 minutes long, was replaced with a rebroadcast of the 6 PM bulletin. 

Saskatchewan has really taken a hit on local news this year. I’ve heard CTV has switched to regional newscasts anchored from Regina for all but their 6:00 newscasts.

Yeah, not to side track the thread, but CFQC Saskatoon did lose all of their newscasts except the weekday noon and 6 PM.

SOWNY » CBC/Radio-Canada Lays Off At Least 600 Employees » December 8, 2023 5:28 pm

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Some changes on the regional TV side have taken place since this was announced.

The CBC Saskatchewan 11 PM bulletin, which was only about 10 minutes long, was replaced with a rebroadcast of the 6 PM bulletin. 

SOWNY » What Is Going On At Global News? » December 6, 2023 3:31 pm

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Global Toronto really should look to its sister stations in BC, Edmonton, and Calgary on how to put together a decent local newscast. Though CFTO is also guilty of making some really odd choices when it comes to their story lineup (yesterday, CFTO led with the Kangaroo capture video, everyone else led with the Peel Region stuff). 

As for the jarring presentation, all of their newscasts (except the weekday 5:30 and 6:00) are now under the MMC/OTT format where every segment/anchor read/VO/PKG is played out of a playlist. So it's gonna be like this for all of their output except during the supper hour. 

SOWNY » Your Super Bowl Hosts: SpongeBob SquarePants & Patrick Star » December 5, 2023 2:59 pm

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This is already been a regular thing, where Nickelodeon broadcasts and NFL game with their own scorebug and AR graphics.

This was from last year...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFnxfHQ5HGs

This was from 2 years ago...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGIbzxFLpqg

I think it's great, and it caters to the demographic watching the channel. 

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