CBC explains decision to cut local broadcasts

telecom | 01/12/2021 7:16 pm EST

On the second day of the CRTC's hearings into the CBC/Radio-Canada license renewal, CBC executives detailed the lead up to the broadcaster’s much-criticized decision to cut local news broadcasts across the country in the early days of the pandemic.  "I know some Canadians were disappointed in us, and I'm very sorry about that," CBC's executive vice-president of radio and audio Susan Marjetti said about the March 19 decision, but explained that it was made with a view to preserving some level of local coverage early in the pandemic. Marjetti told CRTC vice-chair Caroline Simard that at...

CBC suspends local newscasts during COVID-19 pandemic

Media | 03/19/2020 4:28 pm EDT

CBC/Radio-Canada has temporarily suspended its English-language local TV newscasts in all locations bar the North, as it opts to consolidate programming into one national news program during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement on Wednesday, the CBC’s general manager of news Susan Marjetti said the consolidated newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. would integrate journalism and coverage from its specialty news channels, local CBC stations and its The National program.  In the statement, Marjetti said “extraordinary times require extraordinary measures.” “We are needed now more...