CTV to cut two TV stations

CTV announced today that it will not apply for renewal of its licenses for its A channels in Wingham and Windsor when they expire at the end of this August. Might be some hardball negotiation to convince the CRTC to allow the over-the-air channels to collect carriage fees as cable/satellite channels do;  might simply be the first ones thrown off a wallowing lifeboat. From CTV.

“The financial pressures facing our conventional television operations are further compounded by the commission’s decision to turn down requests to implement a fee-for-carriage regime for local television.”

CTV, February 25 2009

Stressed out media rely on “usual suspects” as sources

Thoughtful article by Larry Cornies of the Canadian Journalism Project on the quality of news when shrunken (and still shrinking) newsrooms rely on the same set of sources all the time. While there’s always been a tendency to use reliable sources, universities’ media contact lists make it too easy to use the same sources, and thus reduce the number and diversity of voices in the media.

The Canadian Journalism Project, Feb. 25 2009

CBC faces revenue shortfall of up to $65 million

While the cuts at CTV and Global are well-known, it looks like more may be ahead for the CBC. Today’s Globe reports they need an additional $65 million because of projected ad shortfalls.  No doubt there is a significant portion of the federal Conservative caucus who would relish seeing cutbacks at the CBC (they have widely viewed it as pro-Liberal and anti-Conservative) wouldn’t it make more sense to have a national debate on the role of CBC in the 500 channel, multi-media universe, define those roles, then fund them accordingly so they could fulfill them.

Globe and Mail, February 25 2009