Community-engagement Local1 channel will be like a ‘homepage on TV,’ Corus says

OTTAWA—Corus Entertainment’s CRTC application to create an all-news “hyper-local” information service will encourage community leaders to contribute content and will operate like a “homepage on TV,” the company says. The commission announced Wednesday a new proceeding on Corus’ application for a Category 2 all-news service called Local1. The company is proposing a series of local services in 64 markets in Western Canada, which will take a “hyper-local” approach to broadcasting news and information about community events, activities and weather, through a mix of video, text, graphics and audio content. In documents published on the commission website Wednesday, Corus called the service a 24-7 “utility channel” providing hyper-local news and information on a “recurring wheel basis.” Corus does not say in its application that it intends to establish local news bureaus. Local cameras may be installed to provide video feeds, but it appears the local news channels will rely more on newswires, RSS feeds from Corus’ chain of radio stations, and press releases for much of their information. They will also encourage community leaders and organizations to contribute messages and video content to their local channels through a community web portal. “LOCAL1 will offer community leaders, charities and other local organizations an opportunity to gain access to the channel with just a click of the mouse,” Corus wrote in a response to several questions about the service posed by the commission. “Our Flex technology which is a web-to-TV publishing platform) gives users such as local officials the ability to post messages, upload videos and photos and publish on-air messages on their local channel (once vetted by our editorial team).” The community engagement program will allow for “a focus on hyper local content,” Corus wrote, and give “viewers the information they want, where they want and when they want it.” Jeffrey Dvorkin, a journalism professor previously at Ryerson University, said in an interview that Corus appears to be taking the hyper-local news approach—increasingly used online—and is applying it to television. “The problem with all-news in Canada is that the audiences are extremely small,” he said. “But Corus seems to be blending old media and new media and we’ll see if it works. It’s actually an interesting idea.” Dvorkin said the all-news model would be inexpensive to operate, but that there may be questions about the credibility of community-generated content. It doesn’t appear the service will hire many reporters—if any. Its editorial staff are more likely to be re-writing and packaging third-party news and information. Ian Morrison, a spokesman for the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, an independent watchdog group, said it’s not clear whether the Local1 channels would run content from citizens as well as organizations—but that citizen content should be welcomed. Other television services, such as local CTV stations, offer a “MyNews” page online where citizens can register and upload content for airing in a newscast. The model is similar to CNN’s iReport site in the United States, where users can share content and help “shape how and what CNN covers everyday,” according to the site. “What about citizens communicating to officials?” Morrison said. “It’s citizen participation, not just citizens as recipients.” Corus said the Local1 channels will broadcast a “multi-zoned information screen”—as depicted on its website—running separate news, sports and community information boxes at the same time. Corus’ licence application would permit up to 12 minutes of advertising per hour, and the services would draw hyper-local advertising targeted to each community, the company said. Morrison said the commission may express concerns about whether local advertising on the service could impact the advertising revenues of local radio stations. Corus added that the service intends to earn revenues from offering the channels on “out of home” viewing platforms—such as in-store retail TVs, outdoor screens, or on other public displays in malls, airports, and banks. “The intent is to also make LOCAL1 content available for these unregulated applications,” Corus wrote. In correspondence, the commission asked Corus to explain how the services would avoid competing with local, over-the-air newscasts, which have faced declining ad revenues. Corus said the service would provide, in addition to news, weather, traffic, road conditions, local advertising and community information. “uch of the information available on the service will be far more granular and specific than what is available on conventional television stations,” Corus wrote. The company added that the services will provide local news more quickly so that local viewers aren’t “waiting for the evening news.” Since last year, Corus had been lobbying communities for support for the channel. The Wire Report obtained a letter from Corus to Sharon Shepherd, Mayor of Kelowna, B.C., dated Feb. 22, 2010, which noted that the company had distributed an informational package, including a video, to the mayor. The letter asked the mayor to write a letter of support for the channel to the CRTC. “While some broadcasters are reducing or canceling local TV programming, we think there is a better way. We are investing in the communities we serve and need your help,” the letter said. The letter added that 64 communities will “get their own branded TV channel. A homepage on TV—where you can get the hyper-local information you need quickly.” Corus’ file with the commission includes 20 letters of support from western mayors and municipal councils. Many of the letters note that Local1’s locally tailored content would make the service “unique” among other channels available and that the news service will help local businesses advertise to local audiences at affordable rates. If the commission approves the Category 2 broadcasting application, Corus would have to seek agreements with broadcasting distributors to carry the channel. But Morrison pointed out that Shaw Communications Inc. is the majority owner of Corus, and the two probably have an understanding that Shaw will carry the service. The deadline for written comments in the proceeding is Sept. 2, with a public hearing scheduled for Oct. 6 in Saskatoon, Sask. Corus did not comment Thursday. sdoyle@thewirereport.ca

Community-engagement Local1 channel will be like a ‘homepage on TV,’ Corus says

Broadcast | August 5, 2010

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