The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / When Is A Traffic Report Not A Traffic Report?

**Posted by RadioActive** August 5, 2025 6:34 am

When it’s on CityNews, apparently.

I rarely watch City’s output these days, but on Monday I happened to tune in to a few portions of their 6 PM show. Out of their weather, they wiped to a graphic that read “Traffic,” which was followed by a generic shot of the city from their helicopter.

But instead of a single bit of information about any road delays, accidents or even construction, viewers were treated to a long bit of commercial copy, which then threw to more spots.

And that wasn’t the only time they did this. A few minutes later, the same traffic graphic came up, with a new shot and more words from a sponsor. But nary a word about the roads.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this, although I don’t recall it happening twice in a row.

I’m not entirely sure what the point of doing a traffic report on a TV newscast is, unless there’s a big accident somewhere. But if you’re going to say you’re doing such a report, then at least do one. Otherwise, somewhat ironically, it’s false advertising.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** August 5, 2025 6:56 am

RadioActive wrote:
When it’s on CityNews, apparently.

I rarely watch City’s output these days, but on Monday I happened to tune in to a few portions of their 6 PM show. Out of their weather, they wiped to a graphic that read “Traffic,” which was followed by a generic shot of the city from their helicopter.

I’m not entirely sure what the point of doing a traffic report on a TV newscast is, unless there’s a big accident somewhere. But if you’re going to say you’re doing such a report, then at least do one. Otherwise, somewhat ironically, it’s false advertising.

I never understood doing a traffic report on a TV newscast either. Never saw this until I moved to Toronto and worked at Citytv, Glen Cole was one of the traffic reporters I believe, they had a map of the city with major routes highlighted, and it lit up I think! Still, back in the 80s it made no sense to me and still doesn’t, whereas on the radio makes perfect sense as easier to access for drivers.

**Posted by RadioActive** August 5, 2025 7:02 am

I think the logic is that if you're at home waiting for your significant other to come back from work for dinner, it explains why they may be delayed. Bit of a stretch, but that was always the way they explained it.

Of course, with a cell phone, it obviates any need for it, because they can just call you from the car and tell you they're going to be late.

But hey, at least the sky pics are pretty, so there's that.

**Posted by 67GreenRambler** August 5, 2025 9:20 am

That's one reason why I watch CityNews at Six. The strong telephoto lens from the helicopter is impressive. And the airborne field of vision is a perspective I like to see now and then. Nothing to do with traffic just curiosity.

**Posted by Binson Echorec** August 5, 2025 9:36 am

Generally speaking this happens the days the chopper can't fly, for mechanical or weather reasons.

Traffic reports are an easy sell so they still have to do the report to get the sponsor mention in because it's easier than piling up the make-goods.

**Posted by RadioAaron** August 5, 2025 9:45 am

Yeah, same reason you'll hear traffic on music stations at 6:30am on a holiday Monday when there's no traffic to report.

**Posted by Forward Power** August 5, 2025 11:08 am

Binson Echorec wrote:
Generally speaking this happens the days the chopper can't fly, for mechanical or weather reasons.

This is also the case on Global in the afternoon, usually when rain etc. grounds the chopper... the reporter will literally phone in the report, with live video from one of the MTO's "COMPASS" traffic cameras or the City of Toronto "RESCU" cams.

**Posted by newsguy1** August 5, 2025 3:56 pm

There was an all traffic radio station for a while for greater Vancouver and it was quite popular.
It was owned by Corus, which, of course killed it since so many people liked it.
I guess Corus could not play traffic reruns or "the best of" traffic programs.
But it went beyond car traffic and expanded to marine conditions and shipping traffic.
It also covered BC ferry conditions, wait times etc.

**Posted by Binson Echorec** August 5, 2025 5:22 pm

newsguy1 wrote:
It was owned by Corus, which, of course killed it since so many people liked it.

Lol, what a hot take.

AM730 was a surprisingly popular station, just not ratings wise, but you can't really expect any true TSL when the audience is just dipping in and out for their updates. It's an expensive venture, and we all know just how skint Corus is currently. 640 was always rumoured to go "all traffic" but never happened.

Last edited by Binson Echorec (August 5, 2025 5:26 pm)

**Posted by ED1** August 5, 2025 9:10 pm

RadioActive wrote:
When it’s on CityNews, apparently.

I rarely watch City’s output these days, but on Monday I happened to tune in to a few portions of their 6 PM show. Out of their weather, they wiped to a graphic that read “Traffic,” which was followed by a generic shot of the city from their helicopter.

But instead of a single bit of information about any road delays, accidents or even construction, viewers were treated to a long bit of commercial copy, which then threw to more spots.

And that wasn’t the only time they did this. A few minutes later, the same traffic graphic came up, with a new shot and more words from a sponsor. But nary a word about the roads.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this, although I don’t recall it happening twice in a row.

I’m not entirely sure what the point of doing a traffic report on a TV newscast is, unless there’s a big accident somewhere. But if you’re going to say you’re doing such a report, then at least do one. Otherwise, somewhat ironically, it’s false advertising.

Both CityNews in Toronto and Global News in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver have a helicopter agreement with the Canadian Traffic Network. CTN supplies the traffic reports, and Global/Citytv gets use of the camera on the helicopter for ENG/breaking news coverage in addition to their traffic reports. Putting traffic reports in the evening news keeps the helicopter in the sky for both networks, and would be available to shoot breaking news happening while they are on the air.

Part of that agreement is that those 10-second reads and the sponsor logo has to run whether or not the chopper is flying that day (chopper could be grounded due to weather conditions, helicopter maintenance, or if they are covering a fatality and feel the sponsor at the end of the traffic report would be tacky).

As a work around when the CTN chopper is grounded, some Global stations will do ground-based traffic showing various government-owned traffic cameras, while some Global stations and Citytv Toronto just run a "billboard" featuring the CTN copy and the sponsor logo.

Last edited by ED1 (August 5, 2025 9:12 pm)