Heard it from a friend who... Heard it from a friend who...

Anyone know more?

The CHEK control room in Vancouver must be complete already, and CHAN will take over technical production of the newscasts...

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!

Can anyone else confirm who's affected at CHEK by this blowout?

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

Hes probably some fancy CEO making 400k+ a year, he does the downsizing.

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.

Cheers,
FF

Just be happy that Victoria can even (barely) support two TV stations.

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

Tell it like it is Bruce.  But I'm sure some young punk who thinks that TV land is grand will fill the thread and slam those, like Bruce, for lamenting the way things were...saying "the good ol' days weren't THAT great."  and on and on and on...

This is absolute crap.  Their mandate is to serve the Island and if they are not willing to do it then let someone else do it.

CHEK has been a solid product since david Armstrong started it in the fifties. The A Channel raided a good anchor in Hudson Mack and reporter Meribeth Burton however the rest of the crew are rank amateurs and laughable  (Sorry weatherguy I laugh AT you-- not with you.  You're not funny )

Islanders-  Speak up!!  Tell the CRTC to pull the license if the beancounters try to get away with this.

BOOMER

Yeah, that weather guy is Ed Bain, and he's arguably the most popular broadcaster on the Island.  

Hey now!!! Its real crappy what's going on at CHEK. Its certainly not the station I grew up watching, but there's no need to bash the talent there, especially Ed Bain. He's a class act.

Be mad at Canwest for this little science experiment, thats bound to look real rocky in the fall.

However there's some great on-air talent at CHEK right now. I'm a huge fan of the early news anchor (Julie), and Jenifer and Scott are good on their own but haven't quite figured out their footing as a duo.

Quoted from boomer

The A Channel raided a good anchor in Hudson Mack

soooooorrry, he may be a nice guy. I understand he has a great sense of humour too, but hmmm, kinda dull after awhile....
I followed him over to A Channel and lasted for the better part of the honeymoon, then tried to return to CHEK, but his replacements at that time Ed Watson and Sophie Lui didn't grab me, so I went back to my good and reliable channel eight bctvglobal at 5, Global National 5:30 into Tony/Chris at Six. As a born Islander, I can't seem to focus in on either Victoria tv stations for news... I don't find the 'current' anchors on CHEK strong enough, not seasoned confidence and trustworthiness still counts and I believe its a matter of building over time. I am not condemning or trying to deny the current team all their efforts, their good, just lacking the much needed anchor to lead them into future days.
CHEK needs a good strong male news anchor.... My suggestion, Bob Kendrick of KUSA in Denver, Colorado. Yes, this guy is not only a former CHEKER, but ahome-grown Victoria boy who went by the name of Terry Roberts, (sports/news anchor and CHEK-A-Round with Gordie Tupper. he also worked at AM 900 (CJVI)

I believe this man is ready to come home...

http://www.9news.com/company/bios/article.aspx?storyid=69842

.

In related CanWest layoff news:

Quoted Text

Canwest lays off specialty TV station employees

Fifty media workers at Canwest Global Specialty Television station in Winnipeg were handed layoff notices Monday, according to one of the workers who lost his job.

Canwest Global Communications is winding down the specialty television operation that broadcasts stations like TVTropolis and MysteryTV in stages this winter. The first layoffs take effect in February.
By October, the Global Specialty Television will be history in Winnipeg, the worker said.

Operations are being moved to Toronto, now that Global has merged with Alliance Atlantis Communications, workers were told.

The station is based on the 21st floor of the Richardson Building at Portage and Main.

In November, Global TV network announced 200 layoffs and a reduction of local programming.
The layoffs were anticipated following Global's merger with Alliance, which broadcasts a stable of popular specialty TV channels.

A corporate spokesman for Global, led by the Winnipeg Asper family, could not be reached for comment. When Canwest moved its news wire service from Winnipeg to Ottawa last year, some critics questioned the Asper family's commitment to their home town.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/business/local/story/4113663p-4709381c.html

Nice. The Specialty channels was 6 1/2 years young, so most of the employees don't get much.  Many bought new homes in the last year and started families.  Very sad.

Quoted from puhlease

Hey now!!! Its real crappy what's going on at CHEK. Its certainly not the station I grew up watching, but there's no need to bash the talent there, especially Ed Bain. He's a class act.

Actually I think Boomer was slamming that clown Williams on A Channel and not Bain, if you read his thread again.

Could"A" Channel be next?  Watch out Huddy.....

Quoted from Bruce Payne

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

Bruce, I feel your Payne.     Small town radio shut down after 28 years.

Quoted from TommyD

Bruce, I feel your Payne.     Small town radio shut down after 28 years.

But Tommy, you just KNOW what those currently in the industry will say that think nothing's wrong.  Something like: "the reason small town radio can cut the mustard anymore is because there are many more media options (ie: internet, satellite radio) nowadays that small markets can't compete with."  Which begs the question, how many people do you know in Chilliwack, Hope, Boston Bar that have satellite radios???  Local newspapers found a way to survive, etc.  Nuff said.  

BTW I totally agree, it's sad to see smaller market TV stations going through the same angst we went through 10 years ago.  

Quoted from CRS

But Tommy, you just KNOW what those currently in the industry will say that think nothing's wrong.  Something like: "the reason small town radio can cut the mustard anymore is because there are many more media options (ie: internet, satellite radio) nowadays that small markets can't compete with."  Which begs the question, how many people do you know in Chilliwack, Hope, Boston Bar that have satellite radios???  Local newspapers found a way to survive, etc.  Nuff said.  

BTW I totally agree, it's sad to see smaller market TV stations going through the same angst we went through 10 years ago.  

Too true.  It's just unfortunate that programming that really matters to the community doesn't pay the bills.  (you trying selling ads on the funeral announcements  )

The technical feat Global is trying to accomplish in theory still has yet to prove itself in practice. Using broadband lines for communication and picture and robotics. I hear the new Vancouver broadcast center was still just an empty room after the holidays. The plan was to go live with Maritime stations in March! My guess is that CHEK might have a year or 2 before they get it up and running.

Technology has seen a lot of jobs go bye bye in print and broadcast. My friend's Dad used to be a linotype operator in the print business. Radio has been voice tracked for decades and traffic, payroll, and sales have all been amalgamated.  I imagine the technology will pull it off someday. Encourage your kids to be pipefitters or nurses. The TV field is narrowing.

  

CHEKing In
CHEK-TV’s newscasts will be produced in Vancouver by fall 2008


Will television news survive the digital revolution?
By Jason Youmans
MondayMag.com
January 30th, 2008

Your Island’s own CHEK News” may need a new motto come fall 2008. That’s when the real-life backdrop that sets the scene behind CHEK-TV’s ever-chipper news anchors will become a work of digital wizardry as parent company CanWest MediaWorks Inc. shifts production of local newscasts across the country to four “state-of-the-art” broadcast centres.  

Richard Konwick, president of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Local 815, the union representing approximately 85 CanWest employees on Vancouver Island, says 15 full time CHEK-TV workers could see their positions slashed as Leonard Asper’s media monster simultaneously trims expenses and enters the digital age by introducing computer-generated sets and remote-operated cameras—a move that will transfer technical production aspects of Victoria newscasts to Vancouver. Moreover, red flags are being raised by the CEP that broadcasting newscasts from outside local stations contravenes the terms of CanWest’s station licenses.  

A comprehensive November 9, 2007 complaint filed by CEP vice-president of media Peter Murdoch to the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) summarizes the situation in one fundamental criticism: “To the best of CEP’s knowledge, the current terms and conditions under which most CanWest stations operate are set out in CRTC decisions from 2000 and 2001. CEP submits that by removing production responsibility and decision-making authority about its local newscasts from its television stations, CanWest is now, and will continue to be, operating in breach of these decisions. It is essentially transforming these undertakings from originating programming stations operated for the benefit of local communities by employees located in those communities, into something entirely different.”

The CanWest plan was first unveiled to the public in an October 4 press release laden with the typical corporate euphemisms that accompany any round of job cuts: “Streamlining local production enables stronger focus on local content generation, generates substantial operational efficiencies.”  

An internal memo circulated to CanWest staff the same day—complete with a “Not to be distributed outside of CanWest” caveat—describes those operational efficiencies in detail, including the installation of high definition cameras to be controlled from the Vancouver Broadcast Centre.

Stage lighting, microphone levels and teleprompters will also be controlled from the broadcast centre, as will the generation of virtual sets and graphics, while local news anchors will deliver the day’s stories in front of a green screen taking cues from a director in Vancouver. Stories edited in Victoria will be sent via broadband connection to the broadcast centre, along with suggestions from the local producer about the best order to run the stories, where it will be assembled into a consumable package, sent to CanWest master control in Calgary before being flung back to Victoria viewers.

CHEK-TV news director Rob Germain takes exception to the bleak picture painted by the communication workers union.  

“Our news gathering is not going to be affected. We’re still going to have reporters and photographers here,” says Germain. “They’ll be assigned by somebody in Victoria, they’ll be edited by somebody in Victoria, news will be produced here in Victoria. We’re even creating a technical producer role here. The heart of the station is news, and news will continue to be produced as it is now.”

Under the terms of its license, CHEK-TV is required to provide 23 hours of locally-generated content every week. Given lax CRTC regulations, CHEK’s local contribution currently sits at 17.5 hours, as the 11 p.m. nightly news is repeated early the following morning. Because of staffing issues, the station had occasionally aired pre-recorded versions of its Sunday night news in 2007, though this situation has been rectified.

CanWest Broadcasting’s Vice-president of News and Information Steve Wyatt says the company is simply trying to stay one step ahead of the competition in an ever-shifting media climate where the internet threatens to undermine viewer numbers and advertising revenues. In the fourth quarter of 2007, CanWest’s media operations lost $57 million, but offset the loss by selling radio stations to fellow broadcast behemoth Corus Entertainment and divesting itself of its New Zealand television subsidiary for a combined $257 million.

“We have 15 television stations across the country, all of which were using technology that is virtually obsolete,” says Wyatt. “We couldn’t invest in every single one of them and still move forward and stay in business under the current model. Whenever you introduce new technologies to keep yourself in a forward momentum, there are job losses, and it’s really unfortunate. The challenge now is that we’re going to make every effort to ensure all those people who are facing a layoff because of this introduction of new technology will be given an opportunity to learn the new technology and move across the country to any of our various operations.”

CanWest says 200 employees will lose their jobs in the nationwide shake-up. An unofficial e-mail circulated to local media outlets claims that number could be closer to 300. Meanwhile, the company has promised to create 50 new positions at its broadcast centres.

Job cuts have also been an ongoing theme at CanWest’s print publications as well. Circulation of Vancouver’s two major CanWest dailies, the Sun and the Province, are at the same level they were in 1957, according to media analyst Marc Edge, whose book Asper Nation details the family’s slash-and-burn approach to mass media management. In November 2007, announcements were made that up to 15 editorial staff in each newsroom would be shown the door—this at publications where there are half the editorial positions today as there were 15 years ago.

The shift to the Vancouver broadcast centre is not the first salvo fired in CanWest’s move toward operational centralization at the Victoria station. In 2004, 12 employees were let go when the company moved all its master control capabilities to Calgary.

Since that time, content originating in Victoria, or any of CanWest’s 15 Canadian TV outlets, has been sent to Calgary and then bounced back to the local station for transmission. With the addition of the new Vancouver broadcast facilities, stories will originate in Victoria, be assembled in Vancouver, be beamed to Calgary and then back to viewers in Victoria. The Vancouver centre will also be responsible for the production and broadcast of CanWest’s Winnipeg newscasts.

CEP local 815 president and CHEK-TV five o’clock news producer Richard Konwick says at issue is the station’s ability to respond to the community’s needs in ways that befit a local television station.

“We have concerns about the ability of the newsroom to respond in a crisis situation like a fire or an earthquake,” says Konwick. “There have been several occasions in the past where we have broken into regular programming—sometimes for sustained periods—during snowstorms, fires, tsunami warnings. These are the kinds of services a local station should provide to the community, and we feel these will be greatly compromised if this goes ahead.”

News director Rob Germain doesn’t see it that way.

“I think the opposite may be true,” he says. “Currently there are long stretches of the day where we don’t have a technical crew available. We can break into programming at any time with our newsroom camera with just one person to give a bulletin, but to do a substantive news coverage of a breaking event, we need a large crew. With this new technology we can utilize technical crews across the country, not just the one in Vancouver—if there were a disruption in Vancouver because of a problem we could use a crew in one of the other broadcast centres to get on the air immediately to get the news out to our viewers.”

When CanWest acquired Victoria’s CH (now CHEK) Television from Western International Communications in 2000, it was on the condition the station create and broadcast local content separate from that of the former BCTV, which CanWest also acquired in the contentious deal, and whose signal also reaches Island viewers. While it may still be able to do the former, the latter seems to have disappeared from CanWest’s mandate.

Since filing its complaint with the CRTC in November, the CEP has continued to push the regulator for a public inquiry into CanWest’s plans.

“It is particularly telling that for the most part, [CanWest’s] reply simply asserts that [the company] is complying with its licenses. Unfortunately, since assertions do not constitute evidence, the serious questions we have raised about CanWest’s Broadcast Centres remain unanswered,” wrote Murdoch in a January 9 dispatch to the CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein.

It’s a safe bet, however, that the alleged safe-guard of the public interest will find some way to justify CanWest’s move.

“I have no faith in the CRTC,” says CHEK-TV’s Konwick. “I think the CRTC has shown it responds to the corporate agenda. Its track record has been to act as an industry rubber stamp.”  

The regulator has been wholly supportive of untrammeled media concentration in the country over the past decades and seems willing to turn a blind eye to cost-cutting steps companies take to keep their bloated empires afloat, even when those steps damage the quality of content the Canadian public receives. This approach is reflected in comments made by the commission’s former chair Madame Francoise Bertrand when it authorized CanWest’s acquisition of WIC’s television assets.

“In today’s decisions, the CRTC has recognized the importance of consolidating the Canadian radio and television industries, while at the same time promoting the diversity of voices and choices. The stronger our companies, the more they can contribute to achieving the cultural objectives set out in the Broadcasting Act”, said Bertrand.

It’s unclear where slick graphics and virtual reality sets are mentioned in the tenets of Canada’s Broadcasting Act, but CanWest’s Wyatt is excited nonetheless.

“The really interesting part about this, and the one that will have the most immediate impact on our viewers in Victoria, is that they will see us generating on air, a dramatic new look through this virtual set technology,” he says. “It’s not so much the virtual set in and of itself that matters, but what that virtual set becomes as a storytelling tool.”

After all, in an age where style trumps substance, who wouldn’t be excited about the changes in store for “your Island’s own” local newscast?

http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=117&cat=23&id=1148015&more=0

Quoted from Logintoday

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!

You can't be serious? No difference programming 'local' content from a different city?
As for the last comment, history is replete with people being told that there is no use in speaking up and 'to live with it'. I agree with Mr. Payne, who understands the importance of community and local-ness in radio and TV programming.

A Channel is sure to follow with "down sizing", although CTV has deep deep pockets how can they let the money bleed continue.

Rob Germain:    if there were a disruption in VANCOUVER because of a problem we could use a crew in one of the other broadcast centres to get on the air immediately to get the news out to our viewers.”

So 'splain to me again how this can be useful if something happens in VICTORIA? e.g. " ...we need a shooter right now to go to the big fire at Ron Eberle's house....!!!!!

Quoted from MAILMAN

Rob Germain:    if there were a disruption in VANCOUVER because of a problem we could use a crew in one of the other broadcast centres to get on the air immediately to get the news out to our viewers.”

So 'splain to me again how this can be useful if something happens in VICTORIA? e.g. " ...we need a shooter right now to go to the big fire at Ron Eberle's house....!!!!!

The shooter is still in Victoria. That doesn't change.

If the fire tears down half of Victoria, then that's a different story. There's parts of the day where CHEK doesn't have staff manning the control room to do the newscast.

I grew up watching CHEK, dating back to when it was still a dual CBC-CTV affiliate in the 1970s, and I continued watching after the CBC affiliation was dropped in '81. As I see it, CHEK was a better station before CanWest took it over and turned it into CH in 2001...in fact, CHEK's program lineup in 1978 was light years better than the crapfest of celebrity gossip now being imported from the American E! channel, which now takes up a huge chunk of CHEK's sched.

I'd much rather see a locally-produced talk or entertainment show on CHEK, than watch the latest chapter of the downward spiral that has become Britney Spears' life or what kind of antics Paris Hilton is getting into lately.

I suspect that Global could morph this plan eventually to have the anchors in Vancouver do the Victoria broadcast in situations where they have down-sized to the point where they don't have enough people to present news on the weekends or at other times of the day or week.  After all, it's a virtual set.  With knowledgable anchors you have "video-voice-tracking".  

And don't think that CTV isn't watching how Global does on this.  They have shown in the past that local news in small markets can be fed a regional product from a centralized studio.  It would not surprise me if CTV adapted this idea and put a similar virtual reality studios and produced A-Channel News from another city.  If viewers will tolerate it and support it and it makes money, that's all shareholders care about.

Well if anyone is paying attention to Global National lately, the broadcasts from Ottawa (with Vancouver controlling the newscasts) have begun.

EDIT: There were two editions of Global National that aired on Sunday night... the first was the regular 5:30 edition with Tara Nelson from Vancouver... the second was with Newman from the new Ottawa studio, which aired as a filler while Global waited for the FOX simulcast of House to begin.

Quoted Text

I grew up watching CHEK, dating back to when it was still a dual CBC-CTV affiliate in the 1970s,

GoLocal, if you were watching CHEK in the 70's, then you are not the young hip female demo the current CHEK wants. You've already locked in your purchasing habits. Audience numbers show a growing audience in a more advertiser friendly demo on E! Only the  news numbers are showing decline.      

Quoted from MAILMAN

Rob Germain:    if there were a disruption in VANCOUVER because of a problem we could use a crew in one of the other broadcast centres to get on the air immediately to get the news out to our viewers.”

So 'splain to me again how this can be useful if something happens in VICTORIA? e.g. " ...we need a shooter right now to go to the big fire at Ron Eberle's house....!!!!!

It's not like these local guys chose to get rid of staff.  They were given a mandate that the company was changing and centralizing some jobs, so they have to deal with it.  I think you're calling out the wrong people here.

Severance issue mars streamlining at CHEK

By Don Descoteau - Victoria News - February 13, 2008

Technical staff treated unfairly, says union

It’s a waiting game for 15 or so veteran CHEK-TV production staffers as CanWest Mediaworks prepares for technical upgrades to the way the station presents its local programming.

Formal six-month layoff notices are expected later this month for a group of directors, audio and graphics experts and other technical staff members, some of whom have upwards of 30 years time in at the station.

The move follows the company’s announcement last fall that the technical production of Victoria-generated programming will move to a revamped studio in Vancouver, one of four designated regional broadcast centres.

While Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 815M president Richard Konwick sounded resigned to the fact change is coming, he is upset at what he calls the company’s refusal to offer longtime employees an appropriate severance package.

“The expectation is, you sign the contract, you honour the contract. It’s very, very frustrating and disappointing,” he said.

When the station saw its master control function – staffed by people who insert commercials and play back non-local programming – transferred to Calgary a few years ago, 15 affected staff members were offered severance based on a “transfer of work” provision in the contract, Konwick said.

He said that the scenario today is similar, since any technical staff who wind up accepting a position in Vancouver or one of the other regional centres will essentially be doing the same job somewhere else.

“It’s clear, if a director is directing a show in Victoria, then he is directing a show in Vancouver, it’s transferring the work,” Konwick said. “It’s just a slap in the face.”

While exact numbers were unavailable, the potential severance being talked about is less than under the transfer of work provision, he added. If no change to the severance proposal is made before staff are given their notice, Konwick said, then significant action may have to be taken.

“Whatever it takes to ensure that these people get what they are entitled to, we’ll make it happen. You’ve got a whole group of people who are too young to retire and perhaps too old to step into a similar level of job. That’s why this severance thing is so important.”

Brett Manlove, CanWest’s vice-president for broadcast operations in B.C., said the company plans to follow the collective agreement in place. He declined to comment about negotiations about severance due to privacy issues.

When the changes happen –  cameras taping news anchors in Victoria will be operated remotely from Vancouver and graphics will be generated and aired on screen from there as well – the viewer will notice little difference other than a higher quality, more refined on-air product, CHEK news director Rob Germain said.

“News gathering is not going to change significantly,” he said. “Our reporters, photographers, editors will all be based here and will all be assigned from here.”

The technical changes, which include switching from an analog system to a digital one, are necessary to help keep the station competitive in a market where viewers are increasingly using online sources for news information, Germain added.

While CanWest has said 50 positions would be created at the regional centres, Konwick said it’s unrealistic that someone in their 50s with a family and home in Victoria would think of moving to Vancouver. A different union local is in place there, meaning their seniority would be lost, he said, and their rate of pay would likely be lower.

ddescoteau@vicnews.com

If there is a contract in place can't Canwest be made to follow the rules? Sheesh. Maybe those laid off can work for the government and get paid to volunteer at the Olympics. That'll tide'em over for 2 weeks.

It's the beginning of the long often predicted long awaited Canwest station in a box. Enough people to produce 15 minutes of local content then an hour and a half re-hash of NBC and CNN feeds that'll run on all the stations. That's the future of local TV.

So let me get this straight.

If the purists and the CEP lackies had their way, the way television is broadcast would never change.  There'd be no innovation.

Man... good thing these guys weren't around representing typewriter repairmen back in the day, otherwise none of us would be allowed to have a personal computer in our homes or (gasp!) this board!

The fact is technology is rendering studio camera ops, directors, switchers, sound engineers, and lighting engineers obsolete for simple local programming like newscasts.  And the audience continues to prove that's pretty much all they'll watch produced by a Canadian broadcaster -- is their local newscast.  So why continue to keep oodles of the broadcast equivalent of typewriter repairmen kicking around if there's a way it can be done better, more economically, and using new technology?

Nope... guys like Bruce and the CEP folks would have you believe that it's simply unacceptable.  Innovate never!  Stay the same!

Give. Me. A. Break.

I don't think CEP is quite the group of Luddites you make them out to be.  

No-one is trying to hold back change or stifle innovation, what the union is attempting to do is to find an equitable settlement for people who in some cases have been with the station for upwards of 30 years.  

The union, as I understand it, is simply trying to hold the company to the contract as it regards the payment of severance.  

People want to keep their jobs.  Nothing wrong with that.
If they can't keep their jobs, then they would like to be fairly compensated.
Nothing wrong with that either.