In today's Spec:
Quote:
CHCH News programs on holiday break
December 30, 2008
The Hamilton Spectator
CHCH News has dropped three of its programs for the holidays, but the move does not herald the beginning of the end.
"It means nothing," says Nick Garbutt, president of Local 1100 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers, about the station's move to shelve the three programs.
"It was just a way to give everyone their holidays."
CHCH News put its Morning Live show, its noon news and its popular Live at 5:30 on hiatus for seven days during the holidays. It began Christmas Day and is to end Friday. Garbutt says the shows will return Jan. 5.
The station, owned by Winnipeg-based Canwest Global, has recently seen layoffs and program cuts as its parent company deals with a sagging bottom line.
The hiatus comes after comments by Canwest head Leonard Asper that the amount of local programming hours cannot be sustained in Hamilton. CHCH News produces 37 hours a week, 30 minutes more than its CRTC licence calls for. The licence is up for renewal in the spring.
CHCH News management did not return a call seeking comment.
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In prior years, the morning show continued with substitute anchors. The 'hiatus' is more of a cost-cutting endeavor than 'a way to give everyone their holidays'.
As a side note, has anyone else noticed how often a topic of discussion one day here appears as a news article in the Spec the next day? Is the Spec's news staff trolling this SSP for news leads and ideas for content?