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The bad news: It's being cut to 30 minutes from a full hour. And yes, yet another round of layoffs is in the offing for the public broadcaster.
After months of speculation that local newscasts would be eliminated, CBC president Robert Rabinovitch announced a compromise restructuring plan yesterday that will split local supper-hour news shows in 14 cities this October to add a 30-minute national newscast. Late-night local newscasts, most of which are pre-taped, will be eliminated by fall 2001.
'EXCITING POSSIBILITIES'
Manitoba-Saskatchewan regional director of television Jane Chalmers says short-term pain can lead to long-term gain since the new plan promises to position CBC as a distinct public TV service and open up opportunities for regional input in news, current affairs and arts programming.
"I think there's some exciting possibilities overall ... There are truly a lot of really wonderful aspects to this new vision," Chalmers says.
"Even though I know there's going to be some layoffs and I know it's going to be tough, I think there's life after this."
The plan, approved by the CBC board of directors on Sunday, calls for fewer commercials during news and current-events shows and increased production of children's shows, documentaries, sports and specials such as the day-long millennium coverage that aired New Year's Eve.
Long suffering from what Rabinovitch calls an "identity crisis," CBC intends to fully inhabit its niche as a public TV service by focusing on Canadian culture and distinct arts programming that isn't viable from private broadcasters, who rely on ratings to set advertising rates.
Since 1995, the CBC has trimmed a $1.4-billion budget by more than $400 million and cut more than 3,000 jobs. Rabinovitch says "significant" layoffs are again in works, but no details have been finalized.
ESSENTIALLY SAME SERVICE
Local Canadian Media Guild president Leo Dufault says he's relieved 24Hours will stay on the air and concedes a 30-minute show without a national component and with fewer commercials could provide essentially the same service as the current local news show. But Dufault and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union local 82 president Jim Cormack are both awaiting details of layoffs.
The unions, politicians and other supporters lobbied hard to save local newscasts in recent weeks, winning support from federal politicians who, Rabinovitch admits, will be asked to put more money into the CBC in the next few years to support the revised plan.
THIRD BEHIND CKY
CBC 24Hours ranks third behind CKY and Global in the latest supper-hour ratings, but Rabinovitch says audience size wasn't a major factor in the decision.
"There was a small but loyal audience who made it clear to us they thought they would be losing something if the supper hour disappeared," he says.
The restructuring plan does not affect CBC's radio or or French services
CHANGES AHEAD AT CBC ENGLISH TELEVISION:
* Regional supper-hour newscasts to be cut in half, to 30 minutes. They'll air in conjunction with a 30-minute national newscast starting in October.
* Reduce commercial time, especially during newscasts and current-affairs shows.
* Late-night local newscast to be replaced by experimental or innovative programming from new filmmakers by the fall of 2001.
* Expand children's and youth programming by 30%.
* Devote commercial-free two hour block to the arts on Thursday nights.
* Develop theme nights, with hosts, to highlight prime-time programming.