The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Lyndsay Morrison Is Back On CTV Toronto. Why Isn't Weekend Weather?

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** January 13, 2025 8:02 am

It was a very long year during Lyndsay Morrison's mat leave, but she returned this month and is working her old Monday-Friday shift. I fully expected Jessica Smith to do a proper weather forecast on CFTO's weekend shows, but no such luck. Instead, it was more of the same (and very sloppy) ad lib anchor weather.

It just doesn't work and it sounds like they have no idea what they're talking about, hurting their credibility.

I hope this was a one-off. Perhaps after working solo for most of the year, they've given Ms. Smith a long deserved vacation and she'll be back soon. If not, why is she still there?

We'll see what happens in the next few weekends. But I hope they'll restore this back to what it was. Because as it stands now, it's just not working.

**Posted by mace** January 13, 2025 9:33 am

With all the technical glitches, on again off again weather presenters and virtually non existant sports coverage is CTVNews at 6 still Toronto's Number One Newscast which they continue to claim. I know it beats all the other local newscasts on the Rogers Ignite Trending site. It would be nice to see some actual numbers but getting access to them seems more difficult than getting into Fort Knox.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** January 13, 2025 9:56 am

I, too, have wondered about this claim in their opening graphics about being "Toronto's #1 Newscast." I'm sure they could manipulate the numbers to justify this, but to be fair, they are a longtime leader in the 6 PM news category.

But now? Who knows?

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** January 18, 2025 10:27 pm

Still no answer to the weekend weather question. But we do know one thing - Jessica Smith is not on vacation and has been used to cover various "feature-y" type stories like the Boat Show. Why they don't have her working weekends on the weather - especially with this polar vortex coming in - is totally beyond me.

CFTO's anchor weather is terrible and the fact they're letting it go on even after being back at full strength is shameful for a major market outlet - especially THE major market in all of Canada.

**Posted by Radiowiz** January 18, 2025 11:13 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Still no answer to the weekend weather question. But we do know one thing - Jessica Smith is not on vacation and has been used to cover various "feature-y" type stories like the Boat Show. Why they don't have her working weekends on the weather - especially with this polar vortex coming in - is totally beyond me.

CFTO's anchor weather is terrible and the fact they're letting it go on even after being back at full strength is shameful for a major market outlet - especially THE major market in all of Canada.

I have said this before, and I will say it again.
If it is about doing things cheaper and cheaper, why not just shut down the weather department of CFTO TV and simply use CP24 weather?
I don't know much about the contract situation, but hey? CP24 IS in the same building as CTV Toronto news currently, so it SHOULD be a lot easier to make the switch AND have live weather reports for CTV Toronto 11:30PM news.

**Posted by mic'em** January 19, 2025 8:40 am

The 6pm weather reports on Global News are well done.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** January 19, 2025 9:11 am

At the very least, a writer at CFTO could script the weather so it wouldn't be ad libbed and turn into a mess. At least it would tell the graphics guy/gal when to advance to the next board, so the anchor wouldn't be either behind or in front of the changes. This winging it thing they do never works out, although some are better at it than others.

Pauline Chan, who is otherwise a very good reporter, booted her way through several weekend weathercasts during the holidays and it was frankly embarrassing. A script could have avoided that altogether.

**Posted by Radiowiz** January 19, 2025 11:35 pm

RadioActive wrote:
At the very least, a writer at CFTO could script the weather so it wouldn't be ad libbed and turn into a mess. At least it would tell the graphics guy/gal when to advance to the next board, so the anchor wouldn't be either behind or in front of the changes. This winging it thing they do never works out, although some are better at it than others.

Pauline Chan, who is otherwise a very good reporter, booted her way through several weekend weathercasts during the holidays and it was frankly embarrassing. A script could have avoided that altogether.

Is CP24 weather scripted? Can that be duplicated for CTV Toronto weather?

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** January 20, 2025 6:52 pm

It's still better than what's on CFTO on weekends!

Last edited by RadioActive (January 20, 2025 6:53 pm)