And so it begins: Rogers drops local newscasts and on-air hosts

[Jaimoe]

It's a sad day for local news across the country, and it's just going to get worse from here onwards. I'm not a giant fan of City news, but the economic trend to drop local programming across Canada should be seen as a threat to our culture and identity. Here's a scoop: Look for CTV to drop a similar axe in March, after the Olympics.

From MSN.ca:

It’s a sad day over at Citytv Toronto, where news is out that several people – including on-camera talent – have been laid off by parent company Rogers.

“Anne Mroczkowski, Lara Di Battista reportedly both gone from CITY TV, along with writers/ producers/editors/camera people,†tweeted Stephanie Smyth on Tuesday morning, who identified herself on her Twitter page as CP24’s Breaking News producer.

The rumours were confirmed Tuesday afternoon when Rogers sent out a press release affecting five Citytv stations across the country.

"Today's changes, although difficult, are necessary to align our operations with the economic and regulatory realities of our industry," said Leslie Sole, CEO, Rogers Media Television. "We are improving our core business by tightening our operations and concentrating on the strengths of our top performing local programs."

Citytv says they will continue to produce Breakfast Television and CityLine for all markets and CityNews at Six and CityNews Tonight in Toronto; CityNews at Six and CityNews Tonight have been pulled in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary. The noon and 5 p.m. news programs have been cancelled at all five stations.

Other on-air personalities cut in Toronto include Pam Seatle, Marian Dimain, Merella Fernandez, Farah Nasser and Michael Serapio; Michael Robins, a senior producer of Citytv Toronto news for more than 25 years who started CP24, and Bob Lawlor, who was in charge of Breakfast Television and CityLine, were also fired.

Mroczkowski has been the main anchor and reporter for Citytv’s CityNews at Six. She bowed with Citytv back in 1983, when she debuted as the anchor for the Weekend News Edition.

A year after that, Mroczkowski moved over to CityNews Tonight, where she served until 1988. She and Gord Martineau, according to CityNews.ca, are the longest-running co-anchors in the history of television news.

Di Battista is the main health specialist for Citytv; she also serves as the anchor of CityNews at Noon, as well as appearing on CitytvNews at Six.

[YearsAlongTheSea]

I thought Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone were the longest-running co-anchors in the history of television news...

[Jaimoe]

And you know it must have come down to Anne or Gord. I'm glad Gord made it through. As hosts, I like Lara Di Battista, Pam Seatle, Marian Dimain and Merella Fernandez. It's sad to see them go. I'm friends with some of the CityTv crews - lighting, camera, audio - so I hope many aren't out of work.

[Freak By Night]

Hopefully your job won't be affected Jaimoe.

[Kanada Kev]

Thinking of you and all the others at City. I know what this is like as i've experienced it myself a few times at the good ol' CBC. It sucks. Hang in there Jaimoe.

I gotta call a buddy of mine who works camera and editing for Rogers/City and see if he's been hit by this at all.

[Patchoulia]

I dunno..Anne is one of the most trusted voices/faces out there. You'd think they'd balance that with the cost.

[Velvet]

Why is it that 'progress' dictates the end of things that it seems a hell of a lot of people don't want to see go?

No more local news, no more newspapers; these are things that will be missed by lots of people, and yet we all have to stand by and watch them go.

It's wierd, it's like all of our hands are tied.

[Kanada Kev]

you don't know what you got 'til it's gone

[Northern Wish]

no more newspapers

Did you mean: Peoplegotpaidtowritethisstuffsoit MayNotBeTruepapers ?

[Jaimoe]

For the record, I work for CTV, not Rogers/City. When CTV bought Chum, the CRTC wouldn't allow it to take over CityTv due to a conflict of interest (two competing news stations). As a result, the station was divided. CTV got all the Chum radio stations, A-Channels and specialty networks including MuchMusic, Bravo, Space, Star, CP24 etc... Rogers just got the CityTv franchise, including affiliates.

What had me upset is that City and the rest of the old Chum were interchangeable, so I indeed worked many times for City - they basically were the face of Chum and created all the off-shoot networks that I mentioned above and programs such as TheNewMusic, FashionTV, Electric Circus...

The dropping of City's local newscasts is just the tip of the iceberg. Global did something similar last year and that station is in financial crisis. CBC's affiliates are all threatened as are CTVs.

I should be fine since I don't work for the news, and for some reason, my crappy video station seems to be layoff-proof... for now.

[Velvet]

Oh no, I think you misunderstand. I think the stuff people write is true, just that they leave their opinions out. I think that's what reporters are supposed to do.

Imagine reading a story about the relief effort in Haiti and the last paragraph is where the reporter tells you whether or not he or she thinks the efforts are worthwhile. Perhaps they've been there before and they found Port au Prince a bit over-rated.

When I read an article on last night's hockey game, I certainly am not interested in finding out whether or not the writer is a Sens fan.

[Jaimoe]

Hey Todd, wrong thread?

[Northern Wish]

Gotcha. Keep on writing Todd, its good stuff!

[phishtaper]

And you know it must have come down to Anne or Gord.

what events precipitated having to make such a choice? why did they have of get rid of anyone? what was wrong with the way it was?

[Davey Boy 2.0]

because only a few hundred thread-starting freaks watch these telecasts due to the Internet, the availablility of better/more channels and of course crystal meth

[Booche]

How am I supposed to play any drinking games if they get rid of the local news?

[Northern Wish]

But-um?

[SaggyBalls]

One argument I've heard AGAINST CBC is that it's more centralized and that it doesn't support local fundraising efforts for charities and have the same level of 'down home' as local commercial radio and Television...

...Could this be a new call to arms for CBC and their meager lobbyists? Could the people find a way to rally behind both CBC and the 'local TV Matters' campaign??

[AD]

I am not that familiar with CBC Ottawa's direct charitable involvement (aside from their ShareCentral day which raises quite a bit of money and other donations), but they tirelessly promote and advocate for all kinds of local people, events, causes and also provide top-notch local news coverage.

[SaggyBalls]

Keeping in mind that I'm only talking about a nagging argument...mostly from people that have a beef with CBC without watching it.

Perhaps CBC could take cable access by storm, and proliferate in other ways?

It's tough to do with funding cuts already...

...but if the commercial guys can't do it anymore then the only hope is either the home broadcasters or through socialism, is it not?

[bouche]

I don't think nearly as many people watch local news as you'd hope anymore. Personally, I haven't watched TV news in many years. I can't even imagine sitting through a commercial, or a story that I don't give a shit about to get to a story that interests me.

TV broadcasts are dying.

But-ummm!

[Velvet]

Well, I suppose that sums it up nicely.

[Jaimoe]

Mike, just because you don't watch local newscasts doesn't mean this holds true for the rest of the country. Think about the other cities in Canada that rely and need a local face to their newscasts. God forbid there'll be newscasts that suit your personal tastes and enjoyment factor. Regardless, dying local TV is a national tragedy.

[PassedOutGuy]

Im with you there Jaimoe... being up here, i never thought I would but i pretty much watch the local news to see whats going on in the community or else i would be completely lost.

[SaggyBalls]

*ugh* commercials.

How come sponsorships, product placements, liners, and special presentations can't make as much ad revenue as those goddamn commercials?

You could be right, Bouche - but there's far more than just local news on these channels, and if a company can cut production costs and not eat into their other ratings, then local news is a leverage for the 'local tv matters' TV Tax struggle.