The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » All News Format Ends As CHCH Makes Cuts

Radiowiz · December 14, 2015 1:26 am

^ Funny you mention Ringside/Maple Leaf Wrestling.
How well is Fight network doing today? ( http://fightnetwork.com/ )
Maybe they should have a little chat with channel zero (assuming ratings are there)
I know nothing about which fights Fight network would be willing to toss on CH so freely, but if it gets people to subscribe...
Hey? Just brainstorming ideas... (weak or strong, just ideas...)

WarningU2 · December 14, 2015 7:43 am

Figured something was up a couple of weeks ago when =14px@Jaclyn_Colville from the Early News programming went on sabbatical. Looks like she is one that got let go from her webpage. I will miss my local news in the morning. Now I will just be left to watch the shootings and TTC woes in Toronto. Sad day for everyone. Right before Xmas too. Jeesh. Best thoughts and hopes for the personalities at CHCH. Will miss you.

Radiowiz · December 14, 2015 9:05 am

WarningU2 wrote:
Figured something was up a couple of weeks ago when =14px@Jaclyn_Colville from the Early News programming went on sabbatical. Looks like she is one that got let go from her webpage. I will miss my local news in the morning. Now I will just be left to watch the shootings and TTC woes in Toronto. Sad day for everyone. Right before Xmas too. Jeesh. Best thoughts and hopes for the personalities at CHCH. Will miss you.

Morning Live will still air from 7-9am. A rerun of last night's 11PM news at 6:30am wouldn't hurt would it?
Or is that a bad idea?

Radiowiz · December 14, 2015 9:15 am

At the end of 20/20 this morning just before 8am
a note popped up on a white screen (in black text) that read:

"Please visit CHCH.com/Schedule for new programming information"

Here's the Web page: http://www.chch.com/schedule/

Dial Twister · December 14, 2015 10:42 am

Radiowiz wrote:
Here's the Web page: http://www.chch.com/schedule/

That's too bad. 20/20 reruns and Paid Programming. There's not much "Hamilton" left in the schedule.

Move along, folks. Nothing to see here.

Radiowiz · December 14, 2015 11:01 am

Dial Twister wrote:
Radiowiz wrote:
Here's the Web page: http://www.chch.com/schedule/
That's too bad. 20/20 reruns and Paid Programming. There's not much "Hamilton" left in the schedule.

Move along, folks. Nothing to see here.

There may be an error in the guide? Does it show 17.5 hours of local news content, as promised? (by Channel zero)

Last edited by Radiowiz (December 14, 2015 11:02 am)

Glen Warren · December 14, 2015 5:34 pm

While his show is produced by/for his company, the airtime is a time buy.
Wonder why they couldn't have brokered a better or broader deal, in which D'Angleo Brands would have bought commercial spots in other blocks of the news schedule? Then cut the cost a bit for the early Saturday morning time slot for the the "Being Frank: show? Its basically lost time anyway, so use it as an enticement to get some spot sales in the other parts of the schedule.

Johnny B · December 14, 2015 6:25 pm

If you really want to see some awesome TV hopes are Frank takes over Channel Zero and programs CHCH...as Frank himself would say "You Gotta Believe to Believe" http://torontoist.com/2015/06/the-frank-dangelo-cinematic-universe/

Paul Jeffries · December 14, 2015 8:39 pm

Matt Hayes talks about the situation on Monday's K-Lite morning show. As one would expect from Matt, he handled it in a very classy way.

https://soundcloud.com/1029klite/matt-hayes-on-his-sudden-departure-from-chch

PJ

Glen Warren · December 14, 2015 10:11 pm

Some numbers from Monday's The Hamilton Spectator...

Former employees of Channel 11 LP owed $1.62M by bankrupt company

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6194056-former-employees-of-channel-11-lp-owed-1-62m-by-bankrupt-company/

Last edited by Glen Warren (December 14, 2015 10:12 pm)

December 15, 2015 8:38 am

Once again blame lies in the pens & pencils of bean counters; if not for them no one would have been aware that CHCH is bankrupt and everything would be comfort & joy

Glen Warren · December 15, 2015 5:01 pm

from The Hamilton Spectator...

perhaps there will be an opening for an Account Manager... soon...

Channel Zero denies union-busting behind CHCH bankruptcy

Hamilton Spectator
By Steve Buist

A leaked email by a CHCH TV manager suggests that a subsidiary company was taken into bankruptcy Friday to help the television station avoid its contractual obligations to unionized employees under the collective bargaining agreement.

The email, apparently sent to a prospective advertising client by account manager Kathleen Marks, stated that "we just needed to disband the previous company and form a new one where changes could be made, free from old Union employees and their demands and free from carryover debt of CanWest."

Channel Zero Inc. acquired CHCH TV from Canwest Television Limited Partnership in 2009.

Marks did not immediately respond to messages, but a spokesperson for Channel Zero confirmed that her email message was authentic.

"We have confirmed that this is her opinion and she added the commentary," said Sarah Gardiner, acting as spokesperson on behalf of Channel Zero. "Kathleen is not a spokesperson for the company and she doesn't have any insight into leadership decisions.

"It is also false," Gardiner added. "Many unionized employees were hired."

Nearly 130 full-time and almost 40 part-time employees of CHCH were left jobless Friday in the wake of Channel 11 Limited Partnership's stunning bankruptcy announcement.

Channel 11 LP, a subsidiary of Channel Zero, provided the news content to CHCH TV for the parent company and employed the on-air news personalities, producers and camera operators.

The bankrupt company listed nearly $4.5 million in liabilities versus just $60,000 in assets.

The largest liability, which was not secured, was about $1.6 million owed to the employees, which likely represents unpaid severance.

Shortly after the bankruptcy announcement, a privately-held numbered company separate from Channel Zero offered 58 full-time jobs and 23 part-time jobs to some of the former CHCH news employees.

The new company will now take over responsibility for providing content for the drastically-reduced lineup of news programming on CHCH TV.

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6195097-channel-zero-denies-it-wanted-to-get-rid-of-chch-union/

Glen Warren · December 15, 2015 5:27 pm

ONEIL wrote:
Mark Hebscher is on with Humble and Fred tomorrow morning. The rant is "about the labour"
Should be a good listen.

Mark was also a guest on the today's "Toronto Mike'd" podcast, ep. 150.

(Mark joins in around the 40 minute mark)

http://www.torontomike.com/2015/12/toronto_miked_podcast_episode_150.html

Dial Twister · December 15, 2015 7:51 pm

Global Toronto's Sean O'Shea did a segment on the story this evening and highlighted the "leaked" email. Sure looks like management pulled a stunt.

Dial Twister · December 15, 2015 8:56 pm

http://globalnews.ca/video/2403522/employees-looking-for-answers-after-mass-layoffs-at-chch

Glen Warren · December 16, 2015 8:19 am

below is a transcript of the e-mail (as taken from Sean's story)

---

Hi Lisa!!

I have noticed some misinformation in the media regarding our restructuring so I wanted to address it quickly.

We are still CHCH News and we are still the most watched news station in Hamilton, Halton and Niagara (we just needed to disband the previous company and form a new one where changes could be made, free from old union employees and there demands, and free from carryover debt of Canwest).

All of our highest rated local shows will continue to air (Morning Live- for 2 hours Live in the am and a one hour repeat from 9am-10am), the 6pm News (still one hour), and the 11pm News (which will now be a half hour instead of an hour).

Our Prime Time Programming also remains unchanged (20/20, 48 hours, 60 Minutes, Supernatural, Nashville, etc. etc.)

The only change is that this "new" CHCH will allow for Management and our Producers to hire new talent and bring on more daytime programming that will appeal to a wider demographic.

Personally, I am very excited about the new face of CHCH ;)!

PS - Let me know if you want for me to give you a call and explain any of this in more depth.

Kathleen Marks
Channel Zero Inc.
kathleen.marks@chch.com 163 Jackson St. W. Hamilton, ON L8P 0A8

December 16, 2015 9:13 am

Any card-carrying union members or retirees holding Canwest paper in a self administered RRSP out there?

Glen Warren wrote:
below is a transcript of the e-mail . . .

we just needed to disband the previous company and form a new one where changes could be made, free from old union employees and there demands, and free from carryover debt of Canwest

Kathleen Marks
Channel Zero Inc.
kathleen.marks@chch.com 163 Jackson St. W. Hamilton, ON L8P 0A8

December 16, 2015 11:52 am

Wow...that is bad. And not just the grammar and lack of discretion.

Glen Warren wrote:
below is a transcript of the e-mail (as taken from Sean's story)

---

Hi Lisa!!

I have noticed some misinformation in the media regarding our restructuring so I wanted to address it quickly.

We are still CHCH News and we are still the most watched news station in Hamilton, Halton and Niagara (we just needed to disband the previous company and form a new one where changes could be made, free from old union employees and there demands, and free from carryover debt of Canwest).

All of our highest rated local shows will continue to air (Morning Live- for 2 hours Live in the am and a one hour repeat from 9am-10am), the 6pm News (still one hour), and the 11pm News (which will now be a half hour instead of an hour).

Our Prime Time Programming also remains unchanged (20/20, 48 hours, 60 Minutes, Supernatural, Nashville, etc. etc.)

The only change is that this "new" CHCH will allow for Management and our Producers to hire new talent and bring on more daytime programming that will appeal to a wider demographic.

Personally, I am very excited about the new face of CHCH ;)!

PS - Let me know if you want for me to give you a call and explain any of this in more depth.

Kathleen Marks
Channel Zero Inc.
kathleen.marks@chch.com 163 Jackson St. W. Hamilton, ON L8P 0A8

Leslieville Bill · December 16, 2015 12:20 pm

I was thinking of the grammar too.

ig · December 16, 2015 12:58 pm

My 2c.. 2 parts to this story,

Part one.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if this was indeed a move by Channel Zero to drastically cut the union and previous debt, and also the realization they had a chance to showcase their new Bloomberg business TV talent on a mainstream channel rather than on a digital channel lost somewhere in the hundreds. (No idea where it is.)

So now they can fill with tv programs they already paid for, with staff working for a lot less. If it was a union busting exercise, and the chance to write off Canwest debt, I can understand the thinking. The channel zero money maker was porn channels, with the write off being CH. We all know how well porn on TV sells these days, so old business models come nowhere close to working any more.

Part Two

Sales people tend to say (embellish?) what they need to, to reassure clients and ensure a sale. Who's going to invest their advertising dollars in a long term contract if they believe it's a shaky proposition. So I also believe the sales person may have said / written what she had to to assure a prospective client.

And somewhere between both of these is the truth, and I've no clue what that is.

Last edited by ig (December 16, 2015 12:59 pm)

December 16, 2015 2:04 pm

Certainly she had to be positive and more than push the company line, but there is no advantage to essentially admitting to busting the union. She'd have to know the danger of that statement getting out.

December 16, 2015 3:17 pm

Don wrote:
there is no advantage to essentially admitting to busting the union. She'd have to know the danger of that statement getting out.

How would she know that? Is common sense now on the Seneca or Ryerson curriculum?

December 16, 2015 3:44 pm

Guess not. And anyone who's spent any time in sales has had enough of their competitors' memos and exchanges forwarded on to them to know better.

Leslieville Bill · December 16, 2015 5:39 pm

She should have said something like, "the changes will make us more competitive. Ultimately, we'll be in a better financial position" -- and leave it at that. Always, image the CBC/Toronto Sun is listening in.

Last edited by Leslieville Bill (December 16, 2015 5:42 pm)

December 16, 2015 9:02 pm

can CHCH downfall be traced to when Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! saw writing on the wall and dropped 'em?

Radiowiz · December 17, 2015 12:46 am

The CURRENT CHCH Week day 6pm newscast is clearly being done by people who treat every newscast like it's their last now.
At the end of the newscast there is no reference to what's coming up at 11PM, and no encouraging to tune in at 11PM

The last words are "That's it for us! Good night and have a good one!" (as if there's no 11PM newscast!)

Not reminding people there's news at 11PM is bad, is it not? I think so...

Mark Elliot · December 17, 2015 4:08 am

If Channel Zero couldn't sell it's CHCH TV news channel, then they know nothing about sales. The station was an obvious hit, but likewise CITY TV was a shambles sales wise before CHUM took it over and showed them how to sell local retail.
I find it hard to believe that today's broadcasters know only how to sell ROS (run of schedule) and have no idea how to sell specialty or "other than ROS" like my own People Helping People.
When I was cancelled by CKLW AM in 1998 I was told that it was not marketable. (They also added that I talk to "a bunch of losers" and "Who would buy a show with an audience of drug addicts?")
The cancellation led to a public outcry beyond belief with local coverage on Detroit TV and newspapers which led to an offer to allow me to take over the property, which I did.
The "professional sales guys" guessed I'd be out of business or begging for donations within a month.
Instead I had it sold out, grossing $100k+ per year for an hour long specialty show Midnight to 1 am seven nights a week on a single station. It seems the "losers" I spoke to at midnight were passionate after all.
Today radio is not interested in selling specialty shows. Everything is ROS.
Either CHCH doesn't know how to sell it, or they're goofing up what should be a goldmine.
Downsizing to success doesn't work. They developed a unique product tailored to their local market and made it work.
Shakespeare said it best: "The plays the thing, not the theater."
CH had a great show! If they couldn't sell it then something is seriously wrong with their sales department.
I only appeared on CH as a guest but I get constantly recognized on the street in Hamilton.
Lots of people were watching, so what went wrong?

December 17, 2015 10:37 pm

I've been in radio 30 years and I see lots of day part specific sales just as I always have. I see some more bonusing of non-drive dayparts.

Radiowiz · December 17, 2015 10:44 pm

Radiowiz wrote:
The CURRENT CHCH Week day 6pm newscast is clearly being done by people who treat every newscast like it's their last now.
At the end of the newscast there is no reference to what's coming up at 11PM, and no encouraging to tune in at 11PM

The last words are "That's it for us! Good night and have a good one!" (as if there's no 11PM newscast!)

Not reminding people there's news at 11PM is bad, is it not? I think so...

Okay, for today's CHCH @ 6 newscast "we're back at 11" was raced in, rather quickly at the very end,
but better than nothing, I suppose.

Mark Elliot · December 17, 2015 10:52 pm

Prod Guy wrote:
I've been in radio 30 years and I see lots of day part specific sales just as I always have. I see some more bonusing of non-drive dayparts.

I've been told point blank that they don't care about anything after 6 pm by more than a few programmers.