I've noticed in the past couple of months that CTV's self proclaimed "#1 Newscast" isn't looking like #1 anymore. I watch it regularly and have seen so many technical issues and mistakes that I can't believe they're all human error. 

In the past few weeks, I've seen the wrong viz run on several stories, long pauses out of visuals while they try to get something straight in the studio before coming back to the anchors, and incorrect graphics - or no identifiers on people talking at all. Then there are the times you can hear the director cueing the talent on a live shot in their IFB. It's often a real mess!

On Friday's noon show, for example, they came back on anchor Nathan Downer looking at the wrong camera. He was able to correct himself, but for a few seconds, it looked horrible. 

Then they put the wrong key or Chyron on Siobhan Morris (or was It Lyndsay Morrison? I forget but it was the incorrect identifier.)

And on Friday's 6, I watched a story on Education Minister Paul Calandra about the Ontario government taking over various school boards. He was identified as such, but then came trouble. The next clip was from Liberal M.P. John Fraser, whose name was correct on screen - but they called him "Minister of Education" as well. 

That was followed by another clip from a critic of the move, who was also I.D.'d as "Minister of Education." It sure is getting crowded in that portfolio!

Are they updating the equipment or is something else going on? Either way, CFTO's various newscasts have been looking a little ragged lately. And that's not how they should want to make the news.