CTV and Global not concerned about new CBC newscast

By Mike Cohen

As CBC Television gets set to launch a new 90 minute newscast next Monday, the question is will it work? Officials from CTV and Global do not appear to be too threatened.
“One of our key strengths is consistency,” maintains CTV Montreal news director Jed Kahane. “For decades we’ve offered top notch newscasts at the same time of day, seven days a week, all year round, and Montrealers appreciate that stability and have come to rely on it. “

The local Global team has actually handled itself quite well given the fact its newsroom was slimmed down by head office two years ago. Jamie Orchard remains a solid senior anchor and host of the weekend current affairs program Focus Montreal. Last week station manager/news director Karen MacDonald gave me a tour of Global’s spanking new offices on the eighth floor of the downtown Gazette building, obviously a significant vote of confidence from head office.

While the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) continues to close its eyes regarding a scandalous satellite blackout of Global in Montreal by Bell TV (formerly Bell Expressvu), the ruling body did deliver some good news to the station. Originally licensed as a Quebec City station and therefore dubbed Global Quebec, permission has now been granted to formally become Global Montreal. This will allow for a new globalmontreal.com website identity. Global added a late night newscast last year, as well as  Focus Montreal. “I really believe in our newscast,” MacDonald says. “We have to stay the course. The biggest disadvantage is our absence on satellite. But I think we offer stability. Viewers count on that. This fall we will be polling Montrealers on what they think about their city.”

As for the latest CBC experiment, MacDonald is not sure it will work. “I don’t think there is that much of an audience at that time of day,” she says.

CBC has gone through many changes over the years. When Dennis Trudeau retired four years ago as anchor, reporter Michel Godbout stepped in and did a stellar job. But with the switch to 90 minutes he has been replaced by new co-anchors Andrew Chang and Jennifer Hall, who actually debut together Sept. 8. Will the 5 p.m. format be a winner? 
“The new 90-minute format, divided in three 30-minute blocks, will allow us to bring Montrealers more local news, ongoing updates, and options for viewers regarding when they tune in to get the top news stories of the day,” said Mary-Jo Barr, CBC news director, Montreal.

As weather forecaster Frank Cavallaro told me, “it will be a choice between the news and Dr. Phil. I think Montrealers will choose the news.”

RADIO WAVES: The dismissal of Paul “Tasso Patsikakis” Zakaib and Suzanne Desautels from the new Q92.5 FM leaves veteran morning man Aaron Rand flying solo. “It’s a very sad day,” Rand communicated to me last week. “I’m still trying to deal with both Paul and Suzanne not being there sitting across that desk from me in the morning and I don’t know how long it’ll take for me to get comfortable enough in there to just relax and be me again.” Will there be a new co-host? Station GM Mark Dickie and Program Director Brian DePoe told me there are no plans to team Rand up with anyone. DePoe says he received more than 1,000 protest e-mails after the move was announced, but the mantra will be music and more music with Rand providing his humour between songs. “All shows have to end some time,” DePoe said. “Who really says a morning show needs co-hosts? What if we are right on this? Will other stations follow our lead?” Check my blog at www.mikecohen.ca for my take on the insecurity of broadcast journalism.

Item of interest? E-mail mcohen@thesuburban.com, call 514-484-9203 or fax 514-483-7213.