The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / CBC Logic: A News Rerun Is Better Than A New Update

**Posted by RadioActive** January 27, 2025 6:59 am

Is a rerun of a local newscast better than a brand new update? According to the CBC, if you're in Windsor, it is.

The Corp. is trying to sell viewers that rerunning its 6 PM local news will bring them more information than showing the 11 o'clock update it used to pump out from CBC Toronto. Granted, Toronto's news isn't exactly relevant to audiences in the city, but neither are 5-hour old headlines.

Here's how they're selling it to viewers:

"This is a win for the television audience based in Windsor-Essex and surrounding communities," said Erin Noel, CBC Windsor's managing editor. "This additional broadcast ensures viewers have more local content available to them."

Which leads me to wonder: why can't they just stage an 11 PM newscast like everyone else? I'm guessing it's a budget issue, but to claim rerunning news, which by its very definition is about what's currently happening, is a better alternative than showing something new - even from elsewhere - doesn't make any sense.

The change starts Monday night.

Windsor News airs repeat broadcast at 11 p.m. replacing Toronto newscast

**Posted by Shorty Wave** January 27, 2025 8:48 am

What a crock! The Windsor area viewers are getting short changed and the Corpse thinks they can put a positive spin on it, I think viewers are smarter than that. What bothers me here is that they’re funded by taxpayers but tend to serve them poorly. Same odd, same old.

**Posted by paterson1** January 27, 2025 9:32 am

Interesting how CHCH in Hamilton manages to have a news anchor, weather forecaster and sports anchor for their 11pm news on Saturday. And not a repeat of 6pm. The sports anchor seems to be new and has personality with a bit of humour. Similar to Ken Welch who was sports director for years at the station.

**Posted by ED1** January 27, 2025 11:09 am

This is happening on all CBC stations now, even on CBC Toronto (except in Montreal when I checked last week).

I asked someone I knew at the CBC why they are doing this. They said it’s because they are taking the resources and effort that would be used to put together the 11 PM and redirecting that to their new 24/7 regional streaming channels and online platforms.

Last edited by ED1 (January 27, 2025 11:10 am)

**Posted by RadioActive** January 27, 2025 11:27 am

Then why not just run half an hour of the streamer? It would not only help promote the service, but it would serve to get the latest headlines out there. They're doing it anyway, so at least use it for the main TV service rather show the 6 o'clock report again.

There are lots of things that lend themselves to reruns (just ask CHCH) but news is definitely not one of them.

**Posted by Aytononline** January 27, 2025 7:29 pm

I really don't agree with this direction CBC is going with local tv news. I do like the idea of Simulcasting the streaming platform or follow what Global is doing by pre-taping local news from Toronto, but making it look like it's still coming from Windsor.
I also don't understand why CBC has not followed Corus or Bell and
Simulcast tv news on Radio. I know this does not work well but if you are looking at ways to reduce your budget. You could air the whole morning radio show on tv instead of just one hour. Maybe even air some of the local afternoon radio show on tv ( maybe the 5pm hour). Also air The National on radio followed by the local tv news.

That uses up a lot of programing hours on both tv and radio.
Again I know this is not the best option for tv or radio, but might save enough money to keep local news live.