I don't feel sorry for any of these people, didn't they see this coming?  Simple economics-more money out than money in-means trouble.  Of coarse they have to blame Harper for this one too:  what ever happen to the Local Programming Improvement Fund?
Let's pray Alfred E. Neuman and Lez West don't reappear on television soon?  Now all we have to do is to get rid of the weather clown with the overbight on Canada AM.
 

Last edited by GOD HELP US (December 14, 2015 6:25 PM)

Nick Dixon was on CHML's The Bill Kelly Show this morning.
Mr. Dixon said, in response to a question (10:39 a.m.), he knew the station was in financial trouble and was surprised why people weren't let go sooner.
If I knew that the company I work for was in trouble, I would speak to the management and offer my help in turning the company around, not moan about the lack of government revenue tools.

Glad to see Nick Dixon back on CHCH; he hinted that a noon newscast is possible down the road. 
Unfortunately fart-face turned up again on Morning Live, WHY?  (Note to accounting department:  you don't need two people reading the news, Jennifer Mossop and Connie Smith proved that.)
Some of the people on Canadian TV are not likeable.
I never understood why Bill Hutchinson wasn't fired years ago.  Who would want to watch him mumbling the local news and get depressed at 11:30 at night rather than watching Kimmel or Letterman?
A lot of people don't like City's Kevin Freakish. 
Please someone at Bell Media stop Lance Brown from singing the sportscast as he does every year at Christmas.
Stop hiring those roving clown reporters (Lez, Lori, Jeff) who do those corny rehearsed stunts like falling off a wagon.
If Floyd Robertson was Canada's most trusted newsman, are we in trouble.
CTV's Lisa LaPhlegm who blamed American foreign policy for the 9-11 attacks has a love-on for Justin Trudeau, no liberal bias there.  Watch her interview with the Prime Minister on CTV at the end of year to see her melt in awe.
Note:  The Canadian Dollar is tanking and you can't blame the low oil prices.  It closed at 76.38 cents U.S. on election day, never traded above that point since.  https://www.google.ca/finance?q=CADUSD  now it's below 73.0 cents U.S.




 

What is it that you have against these former CHCH personalities that you have to lash out at them so badly?  Hebscher has mentioned he was surprised that Channel Zero hadn't laid off anyone up until now.  He wondered why something hadn't happened prior to last week.  Donna Skelley has cited the same.  She even thought if something had been adressed last year (even if reorganization was in the works), it could have perhaps been better handled.

There was a lot of talent that walked out the door that day, and a lot of viewers are feeling poorly about the situation.  So as much as you may be entitled to your opinion, why are you so unsympathetic towards them?  Can you not possibly understand what they're going through right now?
 

Hey I agree with some of what you said a GREAT deal.  And as for the sentiments that you "GOD HELP US" commonly share, you expressed them MUCH MORE sympathetically.  No problems at all in disagreeing, or even being exposed to the harsh truth.  But there is a tasteful or respectful way to do it.

It took me awhile to decide to go back to the radio biz.  I'm in no way kidding myself by staking my claim on a secure retirement by working in this medium.  I know it's future poses a lot of questions.  And I'm not an ego driven or narcissistic person.  But in the rare case where I get to hear myself prerecorded and played back over an AM radio, I still tingle a bit and build a stupid looking smile.  I feel like that little boy who would listen to CKOC at night thinking, "Man I wish I could do that".  I'll spare you all the rest of the past radio glory sentiment, since I wasn't building to that anyway.  Suffice it to say, it gives me a very simple sense of happiness.

In many ways, I can't see how local news survives either with all of the other media choices, but I do hold hope for it.  CHCH does seem to connect the way a family does since it always has connected to the Hamilton area in a rather personal way.   And even if the future is dim for media outlets, I still would never disparage those that lost their jobs, and disregard what they're enduring.
 

In the case of CHCH, I would say "Yes" it does connect with a lot of people.  That's not just me fantasizing.  You just have to check out Facebook and realize there are a whole host of different types of people, in different walks of live that are mourning these changes.  These are not just die hard fans or media types at all.

While I completely get what you're saying following that, I think CHCH does stand apart from your examples.  Maybe CHEK in Victoria too.  After all, isn't it community owned? (so that's even a better example, because somebody had to care about it)
 

@Jody.  

Tell me why CHCH is so treasured & such a huge part of the community?  And if it is why (outside of former employees) is there almost no rallying around it?  Canadians are passive types but they will rally around something they believe in. 

Truth is, I believe the whole "local is important" thing is just something radio & media parrots to each other.  THEY claim their importance to the local community.  Rarely does the local community ever say how important their media is to the community.  Because the truth is it's really not.  Exactly how is most media "local". Because it gives you traffic and weather (superior options exist on line and more are coming).  Because it employs local people?  Because on occasion it does some charitable act but all the while expects massive promotion of the "good it does"?  

Sorry, most media is not local.  

The radio that is local are the micro-stations that truly represent their community or a culture. Grand 92.9 is a "local" station.  G98.7 is a "local station" (local being a local community, not a town).  Whistler FM is a local radio station.  Go work in Whistler and listen to that station.  You'll feel the community before you even go out in it.  It reflects what Whistler is.  Or, out my way in Banff (and Canmore) there is the Rocky Mountain Outlook. It's a local newspaper that's still flourishing and full of ads. It's truly local but almost ALL of the content is local (www.rmoutlook.com).  Local isn't relegated to a section, it starts on page 1 and goes through to page 88. And, around Banff, it's everywhere and people still read an actual newspaper (me included).  Or there is VanCityBuzz, an online outlet in Vancouver which is truly local. 

The only major broadcasting outlet that comes even close to being truly local is CBC Radio 1 (and only the radio).  Interestingly, the only major broadcaster who elicits a reaction when change is made is the CBC.  That's because the CBC has wisely nurtured loyal fans.  And their numbers are growing too much to the chagrin of angry old white men who had the opportunity to do something better & couldn't. One day, in the distance future, the only thing left on the radio dial will be a local booming AM news talk powerhouse, a CHYM style station and CBC.  The rest will be gone.  

A sense of community is part of the fabric of humankind. It will always exist. People like being part of a community of some sort.  But you erroneously believe that radio is the source of community. It was, but it's not anymore. Go to any urban community and ask the residents what makes their community.  Exactly ZERO will say "the radio station".  

Edit:  Roundhouse Radio in Vancouver is a good example of local radio & it's brand new. Good luck to them.  Van rocks.  

Last edited by Hathaway (December 17, 2015 4:34 PM)

Hathaway wrote:

PS. The real piss off of the whole CHCH layoff thing is that the staff don't get any severance pay. That's the real story.  Once again the lowly worker ant gets shafted by a corporation (even if it is independent).  

At the end of the day, that was the only thing I was criticizing about comments being made by GOD HELP US.  The former employees do deserve some sympathy, and what they're enduring is quite difficult I'm sure.
 

John McCallum, Liberal cabinet minister for Jody's Thornhill riding expects to house 25,000 refugees from Fort McMurray by year end.   It's a busy time

Eldon wrote:

John McCallum, Liberal cabinet minister for Jody's Thornhill riding expects to house 25,000 refugees from Fort McMurray by year end.   It's a busy time

I don't know what the Syrian refugee situation has to do with CHCH, but didn't Thornhill elect a conservative?  I voted NDP for what it's worth.

Edit:  There does seem to be an inconsistency here.  Peter Kent was elected Conservative (one of the only ones voted in the GTA) in Thornhill, but John McCallum seems to be respresenting Markham-Thornhill (???)
 

Last edited by Jody Thornton (December 18, 2015 2:01 PM)

Eldon wrote:

Nothing to do with Syrian refugees; these are all Albertan refugees

Your statement is incorrect.  They are not Alberta refugees.  They are refugees from Ontario and the East Coast who are technically returning to their homeland.  Accuracy is important. 
 

Are we at the end of the world or is this a once in a lifetime buying opportunity?
 

@CDP.  Are you referring to oil & gas

@GodHelpUs

The declining Canadian dollar has nothing to do with Trudeau & everything to do with declining oil prices. It's a petro-currency. A small decline is likely due to the US Fed raising interest rates a tiny bit.  The dollar has been in decline long before Trudeau was even on people's radar.  

As for Alberta's credit rating being downgraded, it wouldn't matter who was at the helm of the province. When Prentice was in power, he made it clear they'd have a 5 billion dollar deficit. I'm not supporter or fan of the whole banking cartel but it's not hard to rationalize the cut.  Alberta is & always has been an economy built around fossil fuels. At this moment and for the near & even mid term future oil & natural gas prices (especially natural gas prices) will remain very low.  World production is at an all time high and it's either Iran or Iraq about to come online with up to 3 million barrels a day.  You'll likely see 30 dollar oil before you see even 60 dollar oil.  And FYI, that "35 dollar" barrel is WTI, not Western Canadian Select.  It's even lower. 

And why so miserable and glum, chum?  Is the low dollar affecting your snowbird trip or is CFRB off the air.  

@CDP

You've never been to Fort Mac, have you?  Much of the entire population of Fort Mac was folks from the Maritimes. None of them wear 10 gallon hats or boots (just like they don't in Calgary or Edmonton).  You know, Muslim Mayor, NDP government, carbon tax.  This ain't your Dad's (Or Geo's or Ms C's) Alberta.  Vancouver changed too.  They even have FM radio now.  

Jody:

I went online and I went looking for a CHCH "petition".  I couldn't find one. I searched for Mark Hebscher. Nothing. Again, more evidence that outside of a few old timers it's insignificant. 

Local radio and media has a future Jody, but it's in the "micro" capacity. The future of local radio is the small, independent & non profit local station. The major players simply aren't interested in producing anything but the cheapest, most generic product that costs the least to run. Local radio requires people who live in the area & aren't there as a stop over to their next big gig.  

But you see, there is the kicker.  Local radio is of no interest to the majors NOR is of interest to the broadcasters who need a job. What's a morning gig pay at Grand 101.1, Whistler FM, G98.7, etc.  I'm guessing it's not anywhere what even a medium market pays.  Let me ask you something Jody.  Let's say Whistler FM offered you a job on their station.  It paid 50K a year for mornings and you'll probably be required to be "always on" for the station at all times.  You'll move to Whistler, be lucky to get a small apartment & you'll walk everywhere. You'll get a pittance salary compared to the majors BUT you'll be an integral part of a community where you'll actually know the people who serve you.  

Would you do it?  How many people would do that?  The answer is not that many because not that many people are.  Yet they are all shouting about how important local radio is.  

 

CHCH built a huge audience with "Local News" for Niagara, Hamilton, Halton and if they're failing now it's only because they don't know how to sell it properly!
CHUM took over CITY TV when Moses was failing miserably at generating income.  This isn't the 70's or 80's anymore and there are other choices.  Still CHCH has an audience.  Maybe the employees should give Channel Zero their $12 back, bankrupt the old debt and take over the channel.  It still has life left in it!
I know, because I can't go anywhere in Hamilton/Niagara that people don't recognize me from "Square Off".