Rumored departure of CTV/CFRN - old school Sunwapta Broadcasting...

RichardS · 06-02-2010, 03:14 PM

This one has me perplexed. For 2 weeks now, I've caught this rumor from several different sources, and overheard it twice at lunchtime conversation with industry folks.

I don't like posting things like this..especially since I am not anonymous...but this has popped up 4 times in the last week alone...from different sources...so there seems to be more fire than smoke here...

Allegedly, CTVglobemedia's fiscal concerns, especially with the recent expenditure over the Olympics, have it looking to consolidate broadcasting facilities, and also their on air teams.

They may be going to a "superstation" concept - with Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, T-Dot, MTL and possibly Halifax (aka the TransCanada centers) as the only centers of "local" programming. The rest of the stations would shut down, Edmonton, Ottawa, and all of Sask included.

Calgary would be all of AB with a gov't bureau in Edmonton. Winnipeg would get Saskatchewan, with a gov't bureau in Regina. Some cities would still have a small assignment desk for local reporters.

There is even a variation that Alberta would be serviced by CTV British Colombia, and Calgary and Edmonton would only have a desk and Edm would be like Vic...a government bureau. That seems unlikely.

For those old enough to remember CBC's Alberta experiment where the news was anchored out of Edmonton for the whole province...and the abysmal ratings it got in Calgary...it seems weird that the same mistake would happen again.

...and before this degenerates into a stupid Ed/Cal contest...remember that there are several other cities and stations in this rumored consolidation...

So, has anyone else heard this? ...would like to either kill this rumor...or sound the alarm bells on this issue...especially given this recent "Save Local Programming" drive...

Edmontonfan · 06-02-2010, 04:26 PM

All I can say is I hope not!

edmonton daily photo · 06-02-2010, 04:29 PM

Close it down in EDM... It will mean better CBC Coverage, or better coverage from another source.

The_Cat · 06-02-2010, 06:54 PM

It would be unfortunate to see CFRN/CTV close down in Edmonton and other centres. TV stations were great in promoting local news, and an Alberta station would probably mean less Edmonton/Northern Alberta coverage.

dmuzika · 06-02-2010, 08:04 PM

Would be a shame. Used to live in northern Alberta (Camrose) and now live in Calgary, I think that CTV Edmonton (CFRN) news is much better than CTV Calgary (CFCN).

Doug · 06-02-2010, 08:36 PM

Would be a terrible loss to the city. If we lose the local news to Calgary I will never tune in again to CTV.

chupa · 06-02-2010, 08:51 PM

Well that would be sad. I dont buy the ''save local programming'' gig as my wife is in the industry and has filled me in on the real facts of the whole ploy...

For more information go here;
http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/AboutShaw/CRTCTaxRegime.htm

Sonic Death Monkey · 06-02-2010, 09:19 PM

Interesting that 2 of you have brought up the "Save Local Television" thing. I wonder if these CTV consolidation rumors are being spread to force the CRTC's hand to the broadcasters favor.

I can't see CTV killing CFRN, not when they keep getting the top ratings in the supper hour newscasts. They risk losing their viewership in Northern/Central Alberta.

I think what will really happen is a major downsizing and a move to a smaller studio. Does CFRN still need to be in that big Sunwapta building in the west end any more? It may have made sense decades ago when they produced their shows and had to rely on radio transmitters to reach half the province. But as CBC and Citytv has shown, that is no longer the case - CBC moved from their big broadcast building and into City Centre Mall years ago. I can't see Citytv lasting for much longer in this town, Rogers/CHUM has given up on this city. Once Citytv shuts down, CTV can take over their space in Enterprise Square. If the BEAR and Team1260 are still at Sunwapta then they can also move into smaller street-level digs. They can sell the Sunwapta building to developers and turn it into a condo or an office building.

darrellinyvr · 06-02-2010, 09:32 PM

That would be a horrific loss to Edmonton and N Alberta. CTV Calgary would not cover anything north of Red Deer unless that absolutely had to, If you watch CTV Calgary when they do the weather nothing is shown (if rarely) of Alberta north of RD. people would switch to Global so fast it would make CTV"S collective heads spin.

I cannot see CTVGlobeMedia axing two of the larger metropolitan markets in this country (Edmonton and Ottawa,) It's not like we are Brandon MB, and we all have seen that ad a zillion times.

The_Cat · 06-02-2010, 10:34 PM

I think, if Edmonton goes ahead with the downtown arena, that CFRN/CTV could locate their offices near the site of the new arena, with TSN having a studio at that site. If CFRN closed down their station in Edmonton, CTV would lose about 1.5 million viewers in Northern Alberta.

McBoo · 06-02-2010, 10:34 PM

CBC tried Alberta News from Calgary ... it's over a decade later and CBC has never recovered, and its pathetic editorial bent aside, never will.

If CTV tries closing Edmonton (and CFRN richly deserves to have its entire management team "closed," then goodbye CTV, period.

It won't even be a Calgary win - just an entire CTV loss.

chupa · 06-02-2010, 11:12 PM

Exactly, you want to go ahead and lose 90% of your Edmonton viewership than go ahead, there only shooting themselves in the foot.

AAAAE · 07-02-2010, 12:00 AM

If this were true, I would not be surprised to see the CFRN team somehow affiliate with an independent network.

edmontonenthusiast · 07-02-2010, 10:56 AM

I don't see them cutting Edmonton's most watched newscast. They've got to be smoking something if they are cause it is complete nonesense...

MylesC · 07-02-2010, 11:03 AM

Ok, give the "Edmonton's most watched newscast" a break. The brass looking at doing a consolidation due to cost over-runs or whatever you have aren't going to be looking at ratings in individual markets.

Edmonton, Ottawa, Regina, Calgary or whatever City that may have an office closed is going to be looked at in some myopic top down view and cut for cost-savings. Period.

Yes, it may be a loss for them but that doesn't mean they won't try it. CBC tried some stupid things, Telus is consolidating so hard in Toronto with an attitude of damn the rest of the country (and didn't look at their established assets and capabilities in Edmonton before cutting their presence back to almost nothing)...really nothing new here.

I hope this is a rumour and if it's not I hope it's about time this City answered it's fracking wake up call. We're still acting like a big Vegerville despite all the people working so hard to change this City. Expo's been turned into a pathetic excuse to build a Campus, the Airport fiasco is still left open...bah. Grumpy Sunday morning to be sure.

Barry N · 07-02-2010, 11:12 AM

I follow a radio/tv discussion forum that is usually on top of current news. If I see anything,I will post a link. And on a semi-related topic,the Ottawa CTV newsroom has sustained heavy fire damage.
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa.../12779066.html

bobinedmonton · 07-02-2010, 11:38 AM

I say kill it. They produce NOTHING except news that we get already on the other two English language stations. And since they would no longer be local, their commercial substitutions for US simulcasts would no longer be allowed! We would actually be able to watch the US signals that we already pay for!

armin · 07-02-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobinedmonton

I say kill it. They produce NOTHING except news that we get already on the other two English language stations. And since they would no longer be local, their commercial substitutions for US simulcasts would no longer be allowed! We would actually be able to watch the US signals that we already pay for!

Let them sell it then someone start up a new independent station.
I don't want to see US broadcasting. I already get it. It's garbage, plus without our own media, we're captives to the mainstream charade.

ChrisD · 07-02-2010, 01:49 PM

I say BS on this. According to my sources, CTV Edmonton apparently pulls in some of the top ratings out of the CTV station empire. My sources are associated with the local broadcasting industry.

MylesC · 07-02-2010, 03:55 PM

Let's hope so

Glenco · 07-02-2010, 07:03 PM

Here is a bit of media spin that illustrates why Calgary is such a bad place to have news generated.
They claim that Calgary is the best place to have a heart attack. All the examples and statistics that I can see are Alberta based but their conclusion is that Calgary, not Edmonton or anywhere else in Alberta, is the best place to have a heart attack.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/10020...ck_angioplasty
I have absolutely no idea if this rumour is true, it does seem foolhardy but if CTV and CBC continue to consolidate their news gathering for our region in Calgary we can expect to see more and more of this tripe. I don't know how this trend can be reversed but it does not bowed well for us.
Every time any company. oil and gas related or media related, decides to consolidate we always get the short end of the stick. Sorry Richard this is an us or them. Their gains always seem to come at our expense.

Edmcowboy11 · 07-02-2010, 08:35 PM

You know it's too bad there wasn't someone around there that could start up a new all local station, with local news and local programming. Also, and the most key part of it, that the owner would not cave in to the networks to sell to them when they would come to try and buy them out.

highlander · 07-02-2010, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenco

Here is a bit of media spin that illustrates why Calgary is such a bad place to have news generated.
They claim that Calgary is the best place to have a heart attack. All the examples and statistics that I can see are Alberta based but their conclusion is that Calgary, not Edmonton or anywhere else in Alberta, is the best place to have a heart attack.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/10020...ck_angioplasty
I have absolutely no idea if this rumour is true, it does seem foolhardy but if CTV and CBC continue to consolidate their news gathering for our region in Calgary we can expect to see more and more of this tripe. I don't know how this trend can be reversed but it does not bowed well for us.
Every time any company. oil and gas related or media related, decides to consolidate we always get the short end of the stick. Sorry Richard this is an us or them. Their gains always seem to come at our expense.

That particular example was reported out of Saskatchewan, based on a press release or something from UofC researchers. It looks to me like it was the scientests doing the presentation that substituted Calgary for Alberta. This wasn't the media's fault, other than generally poor editing.

MylesC · 07-02-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edmcowboy11

You know it's too bad there wasn't someone around there that could start up a new all local station, with local news and local programming. Also, and the most key part of it, that the owner would not cave in to the networks to sell to them when they would come to try and buy them out.

Yeah, that would work great. Maybe we could get another empty production facility down the road.

RichardS · 08-02-2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisD

I say BS on this. According to my sources, CTV Edmonton apparently pulls in some of the top ratings out of the CTV station empire. My sources are associated with the local broadcasting industry.

While I hope you're right...

Ratings seem to not matter in the larger scope. If you look at the programming line up, and the amount local news plays in this...one could see a run at a superstation business case...BBM's aside.

...and sometimes decisions are made regardless of ratings...

This rumor is all about staff rationalization, cutting costs, and consolidation of resources.

Other stations do this already. Some have the eastern weather reports done out of western stations, others have master control in another city, some even have removed supper hour newscasts...

What also has me a bit interested in this one rather than the gaggle of other tidbits sent my way is that this is not...repeat NOT...some Edmonton v Calgary thing. It is a network wide consolidation.

Step back. This is not a CFRN thing. It is a medium wide change that is happening. They all are looking at changing the model.

What is actually "local" on any station anymore? If you want truly local, things like Shaw TV and talk radio are about it...

If you look south, with some medium markets not even having local news...where it comes out of the state's main city...this is not a far fetched industry change...and unfortunately...some cities get hit...

McBoo · 08-02-2010, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardS

... If you look south, with some medium markets not even having local news...where it comes out of the state's main city...this is not a far fetched industry change...and unfortunately...some cities get hit...

If CTV wants to close some stations to have an American business model, I'm all for it - - - PROVIDED - - - CTV is also if favour of an American regulatory model that would allow 100% unfettered competition.

But I seriously doubt the tall foreheads at CTV (and CFRN) would welcome that.

snap01 · 08-02-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardS

... If you look south, with some medium markets not even having local news...where it comes out of the state's main city...this is not a far fetched industry change...and unfortunately...some cities get hit...

If CTV wants to close some stations to have an American business model, I'm all for it - - - PROVIDED - - - CTV is also if favour of an American regulatory model that would allow 100% unfettered competition.

But I seriously doubt the tall foreheads at CTV (and CFRN) would welcome that.

US stations enjoy having market exclusivity, something that Canadian stations do not have.

US stations do not compete with either a) foreign conventional television stations on cable, and b) conventional television stations from other cities. Whereas stations like CTV Edm and Global TV have to compete not only with US stations from Spokane, but other CTV and Global (and CBC et al) from out of town on cable and satellite.

Plus, some TV stations already get compensation from cable companies in the US to carry their signals (through negotiations between the two parties).

Finally, some US markets where Canadian TV stations are present on cable lineups... guess what happens when a US station and a Canadian station show the same program at the same time? The Canadian station gets blocked out by the local station.

Sonic Death Monkey · 08-02-2010, 11:32 AM

Even if there's a consolidation plan, there's many more stations on the chopping block before CFRN.
http://www.ctv.ca/local/

RichardS · 08-02-2010, 11:36 AM

That may be the case...but remember the alleged point would be to go to a Superstation concept - aka 1 station for a large geographic and population area.

Anyway, given that there is more speculation than not...and I'm looking at this from a "transition in the medium" point versus who's getting axed...I'll take this as a rumor that is just that...rumor..

...but an interesting commentary on the state of media...

McBoo · 08-02-2010, 12:21 PM

Just doing some searching. Mostly for mid-sized, tough in the first instance, small U.S. cities:

Local Spokane TV stations = 8 (http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Spokane)

Kansas City local television = 10 (http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Kansas+City)

Seattle, admittedly = only 6 (http://www.seattle.com/media/television.html) for a large metro area too. Mind you, KING has a public affairs program that puts W5 to shame.

Cincinnati = 11 local TV stations (http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Cincinnati)

Anyway, my point was and is that CFRN was in the pack opposing CHUM's application for a real CITY-TV license on the premise that it would impact advertising revenue. Who knows, probably CFCN did the same in Calgary.

Fact is, CTV has whined to the CRTC to try and stop true marketplace competition way back to the Charles Allard ITV application. Say what you will about the good doctor, ITV's local programming was way, way ahead of the CFRN Popcorn Playhouse nonsense in content, in technical expertise and in marketability to other markets.

RichardS · 08-02-2010, 12:41 PM

Belo (owners of KING/KONG) seem to have more of a superstation concept...so shows like Evening Magazine detail out stories from all over the Northwest...of course with a focus on the Puget Sound area...

...but when I first heard of this "superstation", NWCN for news (Northwest Cable News) was the first thought on how an Alberta news show would work...

McBoo · 08-02-2010, 01:04 PM

He$%, KREM Spokane has vastly superior local programming to CTV.

Oh well, your point made, my point made - let's see where all the "chips fall."

Sonic Death Monkey · 08-02-2010, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardS

Anyway, given that there is more speculation than not...and I'm looking at this from a "transition in the medium" point versus who's getting axed...I'll take this as a rumor that is just that...rumor..

Or as I said earlier, maybe a planted rumor to get the CRTC on the broadcasters side of the "Save Local Television" thing.

yikes · 10-02-2010, 04:54 AM

If anything they might go the Global route. Edmonton does the technical production for Halifax and Montreal. They still have their local anchors and reporters in place.

06-02-2010, 03:14 PM	#1
RichardS Addicted to C2E Site Admin Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	Rumored departure of CTV/CFRN - old school Sunwapta Broadcasting... This one has me perplexed. For 2 weeks now, I've caught this rumor from several different sources, and overheard it twice at lunchtime conversation with industry folks. I don't like posting things like this..especially since I am not anonymous...but this has popped up 4 times in the last week alone...from different sources...so there seems to be more fire than smoke here... Allegedly, CTVglobemedia's fiscal concerns, especially with the recent expenditure over the Olympics, have it looking to consolidate broadcasting facilities, and also their on air teams. They may be going to a "superstation" concept - with Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, T-Dot, MTL and possibly Halifax (aka the TransCanada centers) as the only centers of "local" programming. The rest of the stations would shut down, Edmonton, Ottawa, and all of Sask included. Calgary would be all of AB with a gov't bureau in Edmonton. Winnipeg would get Saskatchewan, with a gov't bureau in Regina. Some cities would still have a small assignment desk for local reporters. There is even a variation that Alberta would be serviced by CTV British Colombia, and Calgary and Edmonton would only have a desk and Edm would be like Vic...a government bureau. That seems unlikely. For those old enough to remember CBC's Alberta experiment where the news was anchored out of Edmonton for the whole province...and the abysmal ratings it got in Calgary...it seems weird that the same mistake would happen again. ...and before this degenerates into a stupid Ed/Cal contest...remember that there are several other cities and stations in this rumored consolidation... So, has anyone else heard this? ...would like to either kill this rumor...or sound the alarm bells on this issue...especially given this recent "Save Local Programming" drive... __________________ sigh

06-02-2010, 04:26 PM	#2
Edmontonfan Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Edmonton	All I can say is I hope not! __________________ Edmontonian and proud of it!

06-02-2010, 06:54 PM	#4
The_Cat Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherwood Park, AB	It would be unfortunate to see CFRN/CTV close down in Edmonton and other centres. TV stations were great in promoting local news, and an Alberta station would probably mean less Edmonton/Northern Alberta coverage. __________________ "Ideas are bulletproof." - V for Vendetta

06-02-2010, 09:19 PM	#8
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	Interesting that 2 of you have brought up the "Save Local Television" thing. I wonder if these CTV consolidation rumors are being spread to force the CRTC's hand to the broadcasters favor. I can't see CTV killing CFRN, not when they keep getting the top ratings in the supper hour newscasts. They risk losing their viewership in Northern/Central Alberta. I think what will really happen is a major downsizing and a move to a smaller studio. Does CFRN still need to be in that big Sunwapta building in the west end any more? It may have made sense decades ago when they produced their shows and had to rely on radio transmitters to reach half the province. But as CBC and Citytv has shown, that is no longer the case - CBC moved from their big broadcast building and into City Centre Mall years ago. I can't see Citytv lasting for much longer in this town, Rogers/CHUM has given up on this city. Once Citytv shuts down, CTV can take over their space in Enterprise Square. If the BEAR and Team1260 are still at Sunwapta then they can also move into smaller street-level digs. They can sell the Sunwapta building to developers and turn it into a condo or an office building. __________________ I've lived in the downtown area for nearly 20 years. Never been assaulted. Never been mugged. Never been raped. Never been murdered.

06-02-2010, 10:34 PM	#10
The_Cat Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherwood Park, AB	I think, if Edmonton goes ahead with the downtown arena, that CFRN/CTV could locate their offices near the site of the new arena, with TSN having a studio at that site. If CFRN closed down their station in Edmonton, CTV would lose about 1.5 million viewers in Northern Alberta. __________________ "Ideas are bulletproof." - V for Vendetta

06-02-2010, 04:29 PM	#3
edmonton daily photo Addicted to C2E Join Date: May 2008	Close it down in EDM... It will mean better CBC Coverage, or better coverage from another source.

06-02-2010, 08:04 PM	#5
dmuzika First One is Always Free Join Date: Mar 2006	Would be a shame. Used to live in northern Alberta (Camrose) and now live in Calgary, I think that CTV Edmonton (CFRN) news is much better than CTV Calgary (CFCN).

06-02-2010, 08:36 PM	#6
Doug Addicted to C2E Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: edmonton, alberta	Would be a terrible loss to the city. If we lose the local news to Calgary I will never tune in again to CTV.

06-02-2010, 08:51 PM	#7
chupa Addicted to C2E Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Century Park.	Well that would be sad. I dont buy the ''save local programming'' gig as my wife is in the industry and has filled me in on the real facts of the whole ploy... For more information go here; http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/AboutShaw/CRTCTaxRegime.htm

06-02-2010, 09:32 PM	#9
darrellinyvr Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Patricia Hieghts	That would be a horrific loss to Edmonton and N Alberta. CTV Calgary would not cover anything north of Red Deer unless that absolutely had to, If you watch CTV Calgary when they do the weather nothing is shown (if rarely) of Alberta north of RD. people would switch to Global so fast it would make CTV"S collective heads spin. I cannot see CTVGlobeMedia axing two of the larger metropolitan markets in this country (Edmonton and Ottawa,) It's not like we are Brandon MB, and we all have seen that ad a zillion times.

06-02-2010, 10:34 PM	#11
McBoo Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edmonton, Canada	CBC tried Alberta News from Calgary ... it's over a decade later and CBC has never recovered, and its pathetic editorial bent aside, never will. If CTV tries closing Edmonton (and CFRN richly deserves to have its entire management team "closed," then goodbye CTV, period. It won't even be a Calgary win - just an entire CTV loss.

06-02-2010, 11:12 PM	#12
chupa Addicted to C2E Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Century Park.	Exactly, you want to go ahead and lose 90% of your Edmonton viewership than go ahead, there only shooting themselves in the foot.

07-02-2010, 12:00 AM	#13
AAAAE Partially Addicted to C2E Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Edmonton, AB	If this were true, I would not be surprised to see the CFRN team somehow affiliate with an independent network.

07-02-2010, 10:56 AM	#14
edmontonenthusiast Addicted to C2E Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: ECRAB	I don't see them cutting Edmonton's most watched newscast. They've got to be smoking something if they are cause it is complete nonesense... __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/_edmontonenthusiast/

07-02-2010, 11:03 AM	#15
MylesC Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton, AB	Ok, give the "Edmonton's most watched newscast" a break. The brass looking at doing a consolidation due to cost over-runs or whatever you have aren't going to be looking at ratings in individual markets. Edmonton, Ottawa, Regina, Calgary or whatever City that may have an office closed is going to be looked at in some myopic top down view and cut for cost-savings. Period. Yes, it may be a loss for them but that doesn't mean they won't try it. CBC tried some stupid things, Telus is consolidating so hard in Toronto with an attitude of damn the rest of the country (and didn't look at their established assets and capabilities in Edmonton before cutting their presence back to almost nothing)...really nothing new here. I hope this is a rumour and if it's not I hope it's about time this City answered it's fracking wake up call. We're still acting like a big Vegerville despite all the people working so hard to change this City. Expo's been turned into a pathetic excuse to build a Campus, the Airport fiasco is still left open...bah. Grumpy Sunday morning to be sure. __________________ Man of Downtown Last edited by MylesC; 07-02-2010 at 11:05 AM..

07-02-2010, 11:12 AM	#16
Barry N Addicted to C2E Join Date: May 2006	I follow a radio/tv discussion forum that is usually on top of current news. If I see anything,I will post a link. And on a semi-related topic,the Ottawa CTV newsroom has sustained heavy fire damage. http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa.../12779066.html __________________ I tweet in moderation. My family has a history of problem tweeters.

07-02-2010, 11:38 AM	#17
bobinedmonton Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta	I say kill it. They produce NOTHING except news that we get already on the other two English language stations. And since they would no longer be local, their commercial substitutions for US simulcasts would no longer be allowed! We would actually be able to watch the US signals that we already pay for! __________________ BobinEdmonton

07-02-2010, 01:49 PM	#19
ChrisD Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton, AB	I say BS on this. According to my sources, CTV Edmonton apparently pulls in some of the top ratings out of the CTV station empire. My sources are associated with the local broadcasting industry.

07-02-2010, 03:55 PM	#20
MylesC Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton, AB	Let's hope so __________________ Man of Downtown

07-02-2010, 07:03 PM	#21
Glenco Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta	Here is a bit of media spin that illustrates why Calgary is such a bad place to have news generated. They claim that Calgary is the best place to have a heart attack. All the examples and statistics that I can see are Alberta based but their conclusion is that Calgary, not Edmonton or anywhere else in Alberta, is the best place to have a heart attack. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/10020...ck_angioplasty I have absolutely no idea if this rumour is true, it does seem foolhardy but if CTV and CBC continue to consolidate their news gathering for our region in Calgary we can expect to see more and more of this tripe. I don't know how this trend can be reversed but it does not bowed well for us. Every time any company. oil and gas related or media related, decides to consolidate we always get the short end of the stick. Sorry Richard this is an us or them. Their gains always seem to come at our expense.

07-02-2010, 08:35 PM	#22
Edmcowboy11 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta	You know it's too bad there wasn't someone around there that could start up a new all local station, with local news and local programming. Also, and the most key part of it, that the owner would not cave in to the networks to sell to them when they would come to try and buy them out. __________________ This town is my town

08-02-2010, 11:32 AM	#28
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	Even if there's a consolidation plan, there's many more stations on the chopping block before CFRN. http://www.ctv.ca/local/ __________________ I've lived in the downtown area for nearly 20 years. Never been assaulted. Never been mugged. Never been raped. Never been murdered.

08-02-2010, 11:36 AM	#29
RichardS Addicted to C2E Site Admin Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	That may be the case...but remember the alleged point would be to go to a Superstation concept - aka 1 station for a large geographic and population area. Anyway, given that there is more speculation than not...and I'm looking at this from a "transition in the medium" point versus who's getting axed...I'll take this as a rumor that is just that...rumor.. ...but an interesting commentary on the state of media... __________________ sigh

08-02-2010, 12:21 PM	#30
McBoo Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edmonton, Canada	Just doing some searching. Mostly for mid-sized, tough in the first instance, small U.S. cities: Local Spokane TV stations = 8 (http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Spokane) Kansas City local television = 10 (http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Kansas+City) Seattle, admittedly = only 6 (http://www.seattle.com/media/television.html) for a large metro area too. Mind you, KING has a public affairs program that puts W5 to shame. Cincinnati = 11 local TV stations (http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Cincinnati) Anyway, my point was and is that CFRN was in the pack opposing CHUM's application for a real CITY-TV license on the premise that it would impact advertising revenue. Who knows, probably CFCN did the same in Calgary. Fact is, CTV has whined to the CRTC to try and stop true marketplace competition way back to the Charles Allard ITV application. Say what you will about the good doctor, ITV's local programming was way, way ahead of the CFRN Popcorn Playhouse nonsense in content, in technical expertise and in marketability to other markets.

08-02-2010, 12:41 PM	#31
RichardS Addicted to C2E Site Admin Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	Belo (owners of KING/KONG) seem to have more of a superstation concept...so shows like Evening Magazine detail out stories from all over the Northwest...of course with a focus on the Puget Sound area... ...but when I first heard of this "superstation", NWCN for news (Northwest Cable News) was the first thought on how an Alberta news show would work... __________________ sigh

08-02-2010, 01:04 PM	#32
McBoo Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edmonton, Canada	He$%, KREM Spokane has vastly superior local programming to CTV. Oh well, your point made, my point made - let's see where all the "chips fall."

10-02-2010, 04:54 AM	#34
yikes First One is Always Free Join Date: Feb 2010	If anything they might go the Global route. Edmonton does the technical production for Halifax and Montreal. They still have their local anchors and reporters in place.