The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » Why Are There So Many Technical Snafus On CTV's Toronto Newscast?

RadioActive · June 27, 2025 8:21 pm

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.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.

Ale Ont · June 27, 2025 9:26 pm

When you cut staff, this is going to happen.

mace · June 28, 2025 8:04 am

It still drives me nuts that there is no longer a dedicated sportscast and a weather presenter for every newscast. Tegna, Scripps and Nexstar, owners of the three Buffalo network affilliates have no problem filling these positions for their nightly 6pm and 11pm newscasts. Bell certainly can afford to do the same, but saving $$$ is more of a priority for them. It is an absolute disgrace and embarrassment for what passes for a "Number One" newscast in Canada's top market. Do any members have access to 6pm news numbers for Toronto. I know the Rogers viewer trending site is not very scientific but the CFTO newscast always ranks higher than CITY, Global, CHCH, CKVR, CKCO and CBLT. It is interesting to note that the CBLT newscast always finishes dead last [but still in the top 20] CNN and the Weather Network are always in the top 10 during the local 6pm newscast along with at least one Sportsnet and TSN channel.

Capricasix · June 28, 2025 12:42 pm

I’d add “and lining executive pockets” to your “saving $$$”, mace.

paterson1 · June 28, 2025 9:13 pm

It's kind of strange but Canada's top market has neither the best TV newscasts or local radio. A few other markets particularly in Western Canada blow Toronto out of the market for local news. CTV, Global and CBC TV newscasts in Calgary are superior than Toronto IMO. Radio some would argue in Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver overall are superior and again seem more competitive and not as hesitant to make changes.

Chrisphen · June 28, 2025 10:43 pm

The MBA kid at Bell responsible for the conditions that led to this got a 'exceeds expectations' on this year's performance review.

RadioActive · June 29, 2025 10:03 am

mace wrote:
It still drives me nuts that there is no longer a dedicated sportscast and a weather presenter for every newscast.

I'm not sure if anyone has a regular sportscaster these days, at least not in Toronto. But I can't think of another station - even in a smaller market - that doesn't have a weekend weather person. I believe Kitchener, for example, has a regular weather forecaster, although someone can certainly correct me if I'm wrong.

Given how important the weather forecast is, especially on weekends, it makes no sense to let unprepared anchors who don't even know which graphic is coming next, let alone reading satellite maps, tell people what to expect. Yet, CTV Toronto has not had a weekend weather person in months.

Nobody else is doing this. Shame on Bell for its cheapness on this front - a front they wouldn't be able to predict, because they don't have anyone who understands incoming weather disturbances.

arc23 · June 29, 2025 7:48 pm

I think they want the ratings to go down so then they can cut back on their newscast at least on weekends or maybe they just know that there are enough of us sheep That will watch it even when they phone it in

I think they're not even bothering to make it better

RadioActive · June 29, 2025 8:09 pm

Anchor weather is bad but it's worse when they let CFTO's Rahim Ladhani do it on the weekend. On Sunday's 6, he began the recap of the current temperature by telling viewers what the conditions were in Waterloo.

Um, sorry, but they have their own TV station, a CTV affiliate at that, and I'm sure almost everyone there was watching CKCO if they were interested in their local news.

I also don't really care what the temperature is in Kingston. You are a Toronto TV station and those places generally have their own outlets. At the very least, start with Toronto! You'd think this is a no-brainer, but apparently not.

zed · June 30, 2025 8:04 am

RadioActive wrote:
Um, sorry, but they have their own TV station, a CTV affiliate at that, and I'm sure almost everyone there was watching CKCO if they were interested in their local news.

Actually there is no weekend local news on CKCO and most other CTV stations outside the big markets. Bell killed that off a couple of years ago.

RadioActive · June 30, 2025 8:10 am

Good to know. What about London?

I don't get CKCO so I wasn't aware. But what a disservice to viewers in that area. Last I heard, news still happens in Kitchener-Waterloo on the weekends. Is there anything Bell Media touches that it doesn't ultimately make worse?

mace · June 30, 2025 8:42 am

RadioActive wrote:
Good to know. What about London?

I don't get CKCO so I wasn't aware. But what a disservice to viewers in that area. Last I heard, news still happens in Kitchener-Waterloo on the weekends. Is there anything Bell Media touches that it doesn't ultimately make worse?

Would you receive CKCO if you turned your antenna west?

RadioActive · June 30, 2025 8:50 am

I've received it a few times, but its signal to my location is pretty iffy, even with the antenna turned in its direction. Could be where I live or just it's not strong enough to get here.

ToRon · June 30, 2025 9:05 am

Chrisphen wrote:
The MBA kid at Bell responsible for the conditions that led to this got a 'exceeds expectations' on this year's performance review.

^^^^^ this

ToRon · June 30, 2025 9:14 am

Chrisphen wrote:
The MBA kid at Bell responsible for the conditions that led to this got a 'exceeds expectations' on this year's performance review.

^^^^^ this

paterson1 · June 30, 2025 9:47 am

I don't watch CTV Toronto news since CFTO isn't on my Bell Fibe lineup. I can see the evening news package on CP24.

One thing that strikes me about CTV Toronto news is the studio. Much too large and not needed any longer. Twenty five years ago maybe it was in style when huge sets were common and CFTO had a full staff on air that often would do live stand ups in studio.

But now the huge set is dated looking, and a reminder of CFTO's glory days that are now gone. Sort of like six months ago when you would visit The Bay. Huge store with no staff or customers inside.

CBC's The National has good looking contemporary sets in Toronto and Vancouver, and much more compact than what we see on CTV Toronto.

Easily Amused · June 30, 2025 9:52 am

Chrisphen wrote:
The MBA kid at Bell responsible for the conditions that led to this got a 'exceeds expectations' on this year's performance review.

>>> "So, we give Smithers a bonus?"

<<< "No, can't afford a bonus. Put a couple of Bell fridge magnets in an interoffice envelope."

haydenmatthews14 · June 30, 2025 3:10 pm

paterson1 wrote:
I don't watch CTV Toronto news since CFTO isn't on my Bell Fibe lineup. I can see the evening news package on CP24.

One thing that strikes me about CTV Toronto news is the studio. Much too large and not needed any longer. Twenty five years ago maybe it was in style when huge sets were common and CFTO had a full staff on air that often would do live stand ups in studio.

But now the huge set is dated looking, and a reminder of CFTO's glory days that are now gone. Sort of like six months ago when you would visit The Bay. Huge store with no staff or customers inside.

CBC's The National has good looking contemporary sets in Toronto and Vancouver, and much more compact than what we see on CTV Toronto.

I agree CFTO’s set is dated. I don’t mind CKCO’s set ether. But I wish CFPL-TV’s set could use a bit of an upgrade. Back in 2019 they added a LED wall behind the anchor and a video screen too. They also could have added another wall to block the control room behind the news anchor as well. I find it a bit distracting during their newscasts. CHWI’s set is not that bad. But I do find it smaller because they are located in the Bell buliding beside the Windsor Regional Hospital. I don’t get CBC Windsor but who do think of CBC Windsor’s news set?

zed · June 30, 2025 3:37 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Good to know. What about London?

London has no news on weekends either and you're right it is a tremendous disservice by Bell.

mace · July 1, 2025 7:42 am

RadioActive wrote:
I've received it a few times, but its signal to my location is pretty iffy, even with the antenna turned in its direction. Could be where I live or just it's not strong enough to get here.

In Oakville, my parents could get a slightly fuzzy but still very watchable signal from CKCO in the analog days. No idea if that would still be the case today in the digital era. My parents are gone as is their house and tower.

arc23 · July 1, 2025 5:15 pm

Which CTV stations Still have weekend even 6:00 p.m. evening news ? I know Toronto does but I forget the other two that were mentioned to still have it ?

Ale Ont · July 1, 2025 8:58 pm

Ottawa has early shows Saturday and Sunday, until the NFL season.

haydenmatthews14 · July 1, 2025 10:40 pm

Ale Ont wrote:
Ottawa has early shows Saturday and Sunday, until the NFL season.

Montreal

arc23 · Yesterday 4:09 pm

Do some of the channels carry a simulcast of CTV News Channel during weekday noon or weekends at 6:00 p.m. when there isn't live sports, or do they not provide them with any news at all and just let them tune to another channel or hope they tune into one of Ctv news channel Or CP24 either on the app or smart speaker I don't know if there still Aloud to catch a cable subscriber fee now that you can watch CP24 on the mobile app and you can also stream the audio of the channel on your smart speakers Which is how I listen to their morning show every morning