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Shaw and Rogers to close some community TV stations

6K views 18 replies 9 participants last post by  Dr.Dave 
#1 · (Edited)
Excerpts from press release:
CORUS ENTERTAINMENT AND SHAW COMMUNICATIONS REINFORCE COMMITMENT TO LOCAL NEWS WITH NEW FUNDING MODEL - Corus Entertainment
Shaw is redirecting funding to Global News to support the evolving news consumption habits of viewers in these major metropolitan areas. As a result, Shaw announced it will be closing Shaw TV stations in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, effective Tuesday, August 15, 2017. The changes, which affect approximately 70 positions, will reduce duplication of coverage while better enabling Global News to report on grassroots community-focused stories.
Beginning September 1, 2017, Global News will receive approximately $10 million annually in funds redirected from local Shaw TV operations in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Global News will use these resources to protect and support the organization’s capacity for relevant and locally-focused community newsgathering.

Changes made by the CRTC last year recognized that many Canadians have access and choice to more news sources in major urban centres. To keep pace with these changing realities, the CRTC has given television providers like Shaw the flexibility to transfer funds to over-the-air television stations to support production of local news.

Global News will use the new funds to support its commitment to the community with programming initiatives to be implemented in the coming year.

Shaw TV will continue to develop and air local content in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and in over 180 small and medium-sized markets across Western Canada. These stations will also continue to support the development of access content through volunteer programs in all remaining community stations, and will continue to develop new and relevant online platforms to better deliver the content it produces.
 
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#3 ·
Yes, those are the channels. The previous press release contains details on how Global TV will spend the allocated funds. The CRTC held consultations after the "Let's Talk TV" process and announced the new policy June 15, 2106, going into effect Sept. 1, 2017.

Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-224 | CRTC
Policy framework for local and community television
As part of the flexible approach to local expression described above, licensed terrestrial BDUs serving metropolitan markets (Montréal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver) will be permitted to direct their local expression contribution to community programming in other markets and/or to designated local television stations for the production of local news. Licensed terrestrial BDUs serving non-metropolitan markets will be required to devote at least 50% of their local expression contribution to community programming in their own markets and may allocate the other half to community programming in other markets and/or to designated local television stations for the production of local news.
 
#7 ·
I found this in paragraph 90 of the CRTC policy:
However, ownership groups operating both BDUs and local television stations will be required to maintain the operation of all of their local stations over the new licence period to benefit from this flexibility. This requirement will be addressed as part of the stations' licence renewals. Additionally, licensees will be required to report annually on their use of funding flexibilities, including providing details regarding local presence.
This explains why Shaw suddenly withdraw the renewal of CJBN-TV Kenora - otherwise they would have to keep it open forever. See:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/12-...268282-shaw-shutting-down-cjbn-tv-kenora.html

This also means Global won't be able to close any local stations.
 
#11 ·
I'm going to assume that this CRTC policy is only going to affect Rogers and Shaw for English markets. Cogeco, Bell, Telus and Eastlink don't operate broadcast networks and cable access channels in the same communities. I believe Bell Fibe does have TV1 but from what I understand, TV1 is nowhere near on the scale of what Rogers TV or Shaw TV's operation was/is.

I'm guessing Videotron may pull the plug on VOX in their larger markets such as Montreal, Sherbrooke and Quebec City.
 
#18 ·
Bell's TV1 is funded by 1.5% of Fibe TV revenues, not by internet.


The BDUs can't close the community channels in smaller markets, but they can redirect up to 50% of funds to other markets or to local news.
Rogers spokesperson Stephanie Leslie said via email that eight full-time jobs in Durham have been impacted by a 25 per cent funding cut to all local community news channels...Rogers TV channels in Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Toronto and Brampton have ceased operations effective immediately...
Source:https://www.durhamregion.com/news-s...f-cut-as-rogers-reduces-community-tv-support/
 
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