Hamilton Media - Page 12

SteelTown · #**221** Posted **Jul 16, 2009, 2:34 PM**

I get digital cable and internet cable from Mountain Cablevision. I love my digital cable, god bless HBO and on demand.

matt602 · #**222** Posted **Jul 17, 2009, 12:42 AM**

I'm really sad to hear that Mountain has been bought out. Their quality of service is superb. I can only see it go downhill from here.

drpgq · #**223** Posted **Jul 17, 2009, 6:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

I'm really sad to hear that Mountain has been bought out. Their quality of service is superb. I can only see it go downhill from here.

I'm with you on that. When I move back from Europe I stayed for a while at my parents, and Mountain internet was awesome. Frankly I'm surprised they have stayed independent as long as they have.

SteelTown · #**224** Posted **Jul 17, 2009, 10:19 PM**

So Channel Zero is going to purchase CHCH for $12. But they are going to make "major upgrades to the CHCH facility".

Please END the greenscreen and fake-ness.

matt602 · #**225** Posted **Jul 17, 2009, 10:20 PM**

US Steel said that too. We'll see what happens.

SteelTown · #**226** Posted **Jul 17, 2009, 10:26 PM**

It's part of the CRTC application. If you don't follow your application you stand a chance to lose a renewal.

SteelTown · #**227** Posted **Jul 17, 2009, 10:39 PM**

Here's the CRTC application....

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-425.htm

Comments are due by August 3 and the hearing has been scheduled for August 24, 2009.

BCTed · #**228** Posted **Jul 24, 2009, 3:04 AM**

The lead story on CHCH news tonight was something about two guys who were missing the front door to their apartment and were claiming that their landlord had removed it while they were out.

I am generally OK with the channel's news coverage, but I have to side with most of you on this one --- give me a break.

SteelTown · #**229** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 9:08 PM**

CHCH-TV union votes to support new ownership
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../31/c2093.html

HAMILTON, ON, July 31 /CNW Telbec/ - CEP Local 1100 members working at CHCH-TV in Hamilton have voted to support the conditional sales transaction between Channel Zero Inc. and Canwest-Global Communications Limited announced June 30th, but the union has grieved Canwest-Global's plans to wind up the present pension plan.

As a condition of sale present pension and health benefits will not follow employees to Channel Zero. The new owner has committed to replace employee benefits with their own plans, and all other provisions of the Collective Agreement remain unchanged. The agreement between CEP and Canwest-Global means Channel Zero will not have to renegotiate the Collective Agreement for one year.

Canwest-Global had threatened to close the television station if its deal with Channel Zero did not go through. That would have put 120 employees out of work.

"We are happy that our members will continue to work and provide a valuable service to Hamilton," said Bob Huget, Ontario Vice-President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union. Huget adds, "We think Channel Zero's commitment to local news and local programming is the right strategy and we trust this transaction will benefit; employees, the company and the community."

According to regulatory filings, the pension plan had a surplus at the end of 2006 and now has a significant shortfall. CEP says that federal regulators allowed Canwest-Global to take contribution holidays for years while employees continued to fund the plan.

"It is unfair to leave employees and retirees holding the bag," says Huget, "we believe it is Canwest-Global's obligation to fund the shortfall."

The prospective owner of CHCH-TV and Montreal's CJNT-TV, also part of the sale, still requires CRTC approval. Canada's broadcast regulator will consider Channel Zero's application on August 24th. Following CRTC approval Canwest and Channel Zero will have until November 10, 2009 to close the deal.

SteelTown · #**230** Posted **Aug 8, 2009, 3:55 PM**

Smith joins Crossroads

August 08, 2009
Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
ANCASTER
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/614738

Connie Smith is coming back to TV this fall.

The onetime CHCH News personality and anchor, who left the station last year after 32 years when she fell victim to budget cuts, will produce and host a show for Burlington-based Crossroads Television System (CTS).

Smith, known for her bubbly personality, will host the 30-minute show built around positive news developments -- people features, good Samaritan stories, high-profile interviews. It will be called It's Always Good News. The Monday-Friday show is set to premiere Sept. 14 at 5:30 p.m. and be repeated at 11:30 p.m. It will use reports from correspondents, viewers, CNN and other sources.

"I'm really excited about it," said Smith yesterday, noting it was an idea she and her husband, TV producer Dave Wilson, had talked about for the past decade.

"For so many years, good news was seen as fluff by conventional news, as you know. We thought the time is right. The economy is in the toilet. People are being laid off left, right and centre.... People always said to me, 'You know, Connie, we just need some good news.' There's something resonating here. I think it's going to work."

The show will compete against CHCH News' Live@5:30 show, featuring hosts Mark Hebscher and Donna Skelly. Smith, 55, called the competition interesting and described her show as an alternative. "I think it's a nice fit," she said. "We're family-friendly programming."

While the Ancaster resident said the show will not ignore the news of the day, she conceded there will be stories her show will not broadcast.

Smith, whose husband produces The Michael Coren Show on CTS, approached CTS program manager Rob Sheppard in March with her idea. She said he jumped at the idea and they have been working on the concept since.

"I thought it would be a good fit for us," said Sheppard.

Smith's first day at CTS was Tuesday and the show already has what Smith describes as "an awesome set."

She also has plans for the first show -- a dedication to CHCH News reporter Randy Steele, who died in May of cancer. He had a segment called "Steele's town" in which he did people stories.

"We will do something special," added Smith. "It's important to start off this new venture with Randy's spirit."

realcity · #**231** Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 6:14 PM**

I noticed Powergroup Communications on James South is closed. The sign says "we've moved" but no new address. I think that means it moved into Babcock's house. That space was nice, girly, but nice.

SteelTown · #**232** Posted **Aug 27, 2009, 5:11 PM**

CRTC set to okay Canwest sales

by Etan Vlessing
http://www.mediaincanada.com/article...0827/crtc.html

Canwest Global and Channel Zero are approaching the last hurdles to the license transfers of CHCH-TV Hamilton and CJNT-TV Montreal.

The CRTC is expected to signal today to both broadcasters whether it will okay the transfer of ownership for the two local TV stations, also known as E! Quebec and E! Ontario, from Canwest Global to Channel Zero.

That decision follows a public hearing on Aug. 24, where neither broadcaster was asked to appear and no third parties intervened.

Channel Zero has worked closely with the CRTC to ensure it meets all the conditions for the license handovers, including striking a recent agreement with around 120 unionized employees at CHCH on key pension and benefits plans to replace those contained in the current deal with Canwest Global.

Debt-laden Canwest Global put its five E!-branded TV stations on the auction block earlier this year to unload costs during a steep TV ad downturn. A Canwest Global spokesman said a greenlight from the CRTC will be followed by completion over the weekend of the acquisition, which is valued at $12.

The two broadcasters have had operational teams working closely to ensure a seamless transition of the E!-branded local TV stations to new formats at some point after midnight on Aug. 31, when the current licenses for CHCH-TV and CJNT-TV expire.

Both stations are expected to jettison expensive US network series in favour of an all-news format in Hamilton during daytime, and movies and music videos at night, while the Montreal station is to air both original foreign movies and multicultural music videos introduced by multicultural hosts.

SteelTown · #**233** Posted **Aug 27, 2009, 5:15 PM**

Hey I don't mind music videos!

I used to watch Much Music a lot until they changed the format to these stupid shows and no music.

astroblaster · #**234** Posted **Aug 27, 2009, 7:41 PM**

local music videos please! (long shot)

matt602 · #**235** Posted **Aug 27, 2009, 10:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroblaster

local music videos please! (long shot)

verrrrrry long shot

FairHamilton · #**236** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 1:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroblaster

local music videos please! (long shot)

I know you like this one; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEUqvfn3IF4

realcity · #**237** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 3:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Hey I don't mind music videos!

I used to watch Much Music a lot until they changed the format to these stupid shows and no music.

That's why you have to watch the "old guys Much Music" called Much More

SteelTown · #**238** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 11:24 AM**

They still play stupid shows, especially on Sundays.

SteelTown · #**239** Posted **Aug 29, 2009, 1:16 AM**

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the transfer of licences for Hamilton’s CHCH-TV and CJNT in Montreal from Canwest to buyer Channel Zero Inc.

SteelTown · #**240** Posted **Aug 29, 2009, 1:19 AM**

Statement from Channel Zero

TORONTO, Aug. 28 /CNW/ -
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../28/c8622.html

Channel Zero is very pleased that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has approved the transfer of control of licences relating to CHCH-TV in Hamilton and CJNT-TV in Montreal to an affiliated company of television broadcaster Channel Zero Inc. from Canwest Global Communications Corp.

Channel Zero looks forward to working closely with the two stations and building on their strengths to create a strong local news presence for CHCH-TV and a strong local multicultural presence for CJNT-TV. We look forward to rolling out the programming for both stations starting Monday August 31, 2009.