CanWest To Launch State-of-the-Art Broadcast Centres; Cuts Jobs Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 04:53 PM
CanWest MediaWorks Inc today announced it is developing state-of-the-art Broadcast Centres at its stations in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto to support the production needs of its local television stations across Canada. This progressive approach to local news production will enable CanWest’s news programs to immediately begin their transition to high definition and will improve the operational efficiencies of its Global and E! stations across the country. This also mean that about 200 jobs will be cut in various cities over the next 18 months.
CanWest will be using the latest in broadcast technology, including digital newsroom systems and virtual sets, to create a state-of-the-art look and feel to its newscasts across all stations, large and small. Through the development of a sophisticated broadband network CanWest’s local television stations will now be able to share content of interest to Canadians, by Canadians, faster than ever, across its entire operations.
News staff in each market will continue to generate local content. All content will be delivered to a Broadcast Centre and packaged into a program format for air. Local anchors will continue to deliver the news from their local stations.
“We are working towards becoming a leading edge, HD-ready operation by upgrading our equipment to meet the demands of the changing broadcast environment,” said Christine McGinley, Senior Vice President of Station Operations, CanWest MediaWorks. “This innovative redesign of our local conventional television stations will result in significantly improved efficiencies across our broadcast operations.”
“With this dramatic new technology, we will ensure our long term success as a home-grown news gathering operation,” commented Steve Wyatt, Senior Vice President, News and Information Programming, CanWest MediaWorks.
Approximately fifty new staff roles will be created in total in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto to enable these Broadcast Centres to manage the additional workload, while staffing levels in other markets will be reduced. Once the new system is fully implemented, overall staffing levels will be reduced by approximately 200 positions across the country.
The first Broadcast Centre is planned to be opened in Vancouver in Spring 2008, with the other three expected to be operational over the next 18 months.
Hello My name is Bruce Payne I worked at CHEK television for 13 years and I am sickened by CanWest Global and their money grab. Laying off 20 people at CHEK so they can run our island news from Vancouver. These people many of whom i worked with have 30 years in the business they are competent people and Can West does not care about its employees CHEK will still keep its island reporters but for how long. this is sickening and the crtc should be informed and anyone else who cares. Please write to politicians broadcasters and the CRTC and complain about this shabby treatment. We just celebrated 50 years broadcasting on the island and this is a shabby treatment to say the least. island news from Vancouver what a joke. Please take up this case and write to everyone and complain. thanks Bruce Payne former CHEK host and staff announcer.
Hello its me , Bruce Payne again. I am really steamed about what Can West is doing to our Island news at CHEK. If anyone of you spent 30 years in the business or less, lets all write to the CRTC and complain. I know it probably won't change things but it might make the big corporate giants in broadcasting know they should not screw with us old broadcasters. Advertisers will take notice and CHEK will feel the pinch and maybe that can get their attention. Lets do it now and not let this go unchallenged. Thanks a lot for any help you can give us. Bruce Payne
Bruce is right. What's happening at CHEK is an affront to Victoria and the Island. Is CHEK a television station, or just a glorified Global bureau? What happened to producing local programming? Even a teen dance show again, or talk show that's local is better than all the crap about celebrities that's become a steady unhealthy diet for us. They certainly are letting go some highly qualified television production employees.
What I wonder about is why haven't the local mayors and MLAs been tearing their hair out over Global's plans? Aren't they supposed to be looking out for the community's interests?
Hey, on these threads we talk about radio, and programming from other parts of the country, to listeners in Vancouver etc. So what's the difference for these Biggies programming "local news" from a different city? None. It's whats happening today ... live with it!
Someone wants confirmation that CHEK is having layoffs. I just told you it was the case in two emails and that is confirmed by people who are going to be laid off. The notices have not been given out yet but it is a fact it is going to happen. Also you might check with the other Can West Global outlet in Victoria the Times Colonist newspaper who are coincidentally having layoffs too in the master plan of Can West to get rid of over 200 employees across the country. Now there is a caring corporate citizen.
Hey Logintoday says we should live with downsizing and layoffs and live with it. Well I hope you don't get downsized buddy. and I don't choose to live with it if I can apply some heat to the corporate twits who come up with this stuff to save a buck and screw the employees. have a nice day.Bruce Payne
Bruce, while I understand some of your anger over the layoffs, I think if you are looking for any politicians to intervene you might be waiting for a spell. Just how big of a news story is the loss of 20, now obsolete, positions at CHEK outside of the station itself? This will hardly be a blip on any politicians radar, or should it be IMO, especially when there are 1000's in the forest industry in BC laid off with little prospects of going back to work anytime soon, these are good paying jobs that are rapidly disappearing. It happened back in the 80's as well, when a "restructuring" of the forest industry cost 1000's of jobs...poof...gone forever, mill jobs in Prince George, truck driving jobs in Port McNeil, 300 plus jobs when the Chemainus sawmill shut its doors forever, etc, etc. As long as the content is still Vancouver Island relevant, then I don't see a problem with some of the production taking place in Vancouver, not a big deal really and like the forest industry of the 80's & now again in the 00's, TV and radio is going through some technology and structural changes, with jobs lost forever. And don't expect too much support from advertisers, as they too are most likely guilty of some of the same practices.
Sorry, but, that's the biz. I sympathize with anyone who loses their job...but having been in that building, there was a LOT of apathy towards work. Perhaps because of the union, or because people there felt they would never have to worry. Having known the inside of that building, it always amazed me how much people bitched about their jobs. I always thought... "Why are you here then?"
(I'm going to sound like Jimmy Pattison here but) For those people who are affected, it's an opportunity to start fresh, and do something that they really love, and get out of a company that they probably don't want to be a part of anyway.
I worked at CHEK and sure there was some bitching about the company. show me any company which does not have that. The people who are getting the axe are 25 to 30 year people not one and two year people. That is a lot of talent to waste. I am glad you people are not looking for work after spending 30 years with a company. That aside there will be a loss of news coverage for island councils and communities and that too concerns me. When the word filters out and it will there will be some people complaining about including politicians. I already have heard from two MLA's will be complaining about it. I know it is the nature of the beast these days but you don't have to lay down and let them walk on you if you can stand up and speak about it. If nothing else it shows you are not happy with going along with the crows. Thanks Bruce Payne
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