New Boss at Rogers Media TV&Radio Division

[AlertGuy]

John Hinnen is Appointed Vice President of News for Rogers Media Television & Radio Division.

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/cityne...-tv-radio-news

[j_levent]

"Hinnen replaces Tina Cortese at Citytv"

I wonder if she was part of the layoffs or if she's been re-assigned to another role.

[soundandvision]

"Hinnen replaces Tina Cortese at Citytv"

I wonder if she was part of the layoffs or if she's been re-assigned to another role.

She is gone and was part of that 300 plus layoff. More layoffs (up to 1000) are expected in August across the board (including Citytv & Sportsnet)

[Mayhem]

She is gone and was part of that 300 plus layoff. More layoffs (up to 1000) are expected in August across the board (including Citytv & Sportsnet)

They only reported the layoffs are part of the Rogers Wireless and Cable division; but wouldn't laying off 1000 people at Citytv and Sportsnet look bad for Rogers when they go to the CRTC in August to buy CJNT from CH0? Just saying.

[soundandvision]

Maybe you need to re-read that....I said ACROSS THE BOARD meaning all divisions including Citytv & Sportsnet. The media reported this weeks 300 was mostly in Wireless etc which is true but there were at least 5 people let go in the Citytv/Sportsnet areas this week as well.

[Mayhem]

Maybe you need to re-read that....I said ACROSS THE BOARD meaning all divisions including Citytv & Sportsnet.

I know what you said, but the reports never mention, hinted or noted layoffs anywhere else.

The media reported this weeks 300 was mostly in Wireless etc which is true but there were at least 5 people let go in the Citytv/Sportsnet areas this week as well.

So...how nervous are people in the Rogers Media/Broadcasting division about the possible 1000 layoffs that could effect them in the summer?

[j_levent]

Citytv and CNC will no doubt be affected. I noticed recently CNC is stretching out the on air time for each anchor. I remember they used to change up the anchor every 2-3 hours, now on a Saturday you see for the most part the same anchor til about 3/4, not to mention the noticeable pre-recorded newscasts when they skip over traffic updates and go straight to weather.

[soundandvision]

Most of the media divison has already had a major overhaul previously. There isn't much meat left on the bone to cut. Most of the Rogers cuts are rumoured to be call centre, home phone, cable, manager & management etc types

[pixamadura]

I know what you said, but the reports never mention, hinted or noted layoffs anywhere else.



So...how nervous are people in the Rogers Media/Broadcasting division about the possible 1000 layoffs that could effect them in the summer?

I hear Omnitv got a big hit,and rumors are of more to come in August. So how do you think they feel?

[Jackson12]

I hear Omnitv got a big hit,and rumors are of more to come in August. So how do you think they feel?

Where did you guys hear that there will be more layoffs in August? I have not hear the slightest rumblings of this. Is there any evidence to back this up?

[soundandvision]

I work at Rogers and heard it from someone who works in Account Payable for Media Division

[pixamadura]

The word is that more people will be sent home in August. The rumors are once they are done with the Olympics ,they will also be done with hundreds of employees. I'm sure it is a very inspiring situation for the Rogers guys who are carrying the Olympics.

[timecode]

I wonder if they will lay off more Omni technical staff, seeing as how they cancelled 5-6 of the weekend shows.

[Jackson12]

Do we know what divisions will be hit? Rogers TV? Conventional TV or all across the board?

[TVViewer]

Most of the media divison has already had a major overhaul previously. There isn't much meat left on the bone to cut.

Exactly. I can't imagine Citytv facing yet another round of layoffs.

They should be actually hiring at some Citytv stations. They have a unique CRTC license requirement to spend about 2% of their revenue on NEW local programming, and 80% of that must be produced at their stations outside of Toronto. So far all they have done is the 5:30AM "BT Early Start" (which has already been cancelled in Winnipeg). It's not like they have any choice, they are required to do it, and you would think that would mean more hiring, not more layoffs.

Then again, I also didn't think they would show Tina Cortese the door, so who knows. :(

[Jackson12]

Citytv and Sportsnet are the only divisions in the Rogers Broadcasting sector that are hiring right now. Makes no sense for them to layoff from those divisions. Not always, but generally layoffs are preceded by a hiring/budget freeze in the divisions to be effected. None of these indicators are present.

[Mayhem]

Exactly. I can't imagine Citytv facing yet another round of layoffs.

I think we're also jumping to the conclusion that cuts in the broadcasting division will affect Citytv. For all we know it could be Sportsnet and the radio stations. Like, KISS 92.5 commercial free Monday's can't be cheap.

They should be actually hiring at some Citytv stations. They have a unique CRTC license requirement to spend about 2% of their revenue on NEW local programming, and 80% of that must be produced at their stations outside of Toronto. So far all they have done is the 5:30AM "BT Early Start" (which has already been cancelled in Winnipeg). It's not like they have any choice, they are required to do it, and you would think that would mean more hiring, not more layoffs.

If I had to chose what station to start hiring at, it would be Calgary. Its a growing market, the new years bash was successful and having Cityline broadcast there has also been successful. I would bet it could support its own weekday newscast to start off with and/or it's own version of Cityline. They already have the studio space and a great location, they might just need to give the newsroom a facelift, other than that it would be good to go.

Then again, I also didn't think they would show Tina Cortese the door, so who knows. :(

To look at this as a glass half-full, this could be a blessing in disguise. If John Hinnen resume is any indication he could be the guy that can improve Citynews, maybe even expand it to other Citytv stations?

[Jackson12]

In my opinion they should be safe until the CRTC releases their decision regarding the LPIF hearings. If you look at the lobsided statistics, Rogers takes out barely over 1 million while putting in 25+ million. Bell puts in something like 27 million and takes out 28 million. If I were a head a Rogers, I would think twice about that. Bell is gaining 1 million and Rogers is losing 25+ million. It makes absolute sense to open more citytv stations and push for a national network, since they can subsidize it with LPIF and still reap the advertising benefits on top of that. If LPIF is discontinued, look for some CTV TWO stations to close, since the VP at bell bluntly said 6 of their stations are losing money with LPIF subsidizing and if you take away LPIF 10 will be unprofitable and they will be forced to close stations. If LPIF is gone, I think Rogers will slow down on their citytv push a little. LPIF decision should be released later this summer.

[TVViewer]

In my opinion they should be safe until the CRTC releases their decision regarding the LPIF hearings. If you look at the lobsided statistics, Rogers takes out barely over 1 million while putting in 25+ million. Bell puts in something like 27 million and takes out 28 million. If I were a head a Rogers, I would think twice about that. Bell is gaining 1 million and Rogers is losing 25+ million. It makes absolute sense to open more citytv stations and push for a national network, since they can subsidize it with LPIF and still reap the advertising benefits on top of that. If LPIF is discontinued, look for some CTV TWO stations to close, since the VP at bell bluntly said 6 of their stations are losing money with LPIF subsidizing and if you take away LPIF 10 will be unprofitable and they will be forced to close stations. If LPIF is gone, I think Rogers will slow down on their citytv push a little. LPIF decision should be released later this summer.

The LPIF shouldn't have any affect on Rogers layoffs or Citytv expanding since Citytv Winnipeg is the only Rogers station eligible for LPIF funding. The remaining Citytv stations don't qualify because they either operate in large markets (Citytv Vancouver, Citytv Calgary, Citytv Edmonton, Citytv Toronto, Citytv Montreal) or don't produce any local programming (Citytv Saskatchewan). OMNI stations don't qualify for funding either. So the only station that could potentially be affected is Citytv Winnipeg, but that station is already producing almost the bare minimum in local programming with a skeleton staff, so there isn't much left to cut. Rogers has always been extremely against the LPIF.

Bell gets way more in LPIF funding than Rogers because they operate a bunch of stations that produce local programming, and some of those stations lose money. So even though Bell receives more LPIF funding Rogers still has an advantage since they serve those same markets with Citytv re-transmitters (ex. Bell Media serves Ontario with a bunch of CTV and CTV2 stations, Rogers serves all of Ontario with just Citytv Toronto. Bell Media and Shaw Media serve Saskatchewan producing 40+ hours each of local programming, Rogers serves Saskatchewan producing ZERO hours of local programming) It wouldn't make sense for Rogers to launch more Citytv stations in markets where Citytv already has coverage, even if that means more LPIF funding, because they would go from serving the market with just the cost of operating a re-transmitter to serving the market spending (and losing) millions of dollars on local programming. It only makes sense for Citytv to expand into markets where they don't have simulcasts, which is why they purchased SCN and CJNT, and why they are trying to get simulcasts for Citytv Toronto in Atlantic Canada. If the CRTC allows them to get simulcasts in Atlantic Canada then there will be no reason for Citytv to launch or buy anymore stations, they will have national coverage (national coverage while producing way less and spending way less on local programming and Canadian programming than their competitors)

In fact, the biggest threat to Citytv and CTV television stations isn't losing the LPIF, it’s whether or not the CRTC approves Rogers request to allow Citytv Toronto to simulcast in Atlantic Canada. If the CRTC allows distant signals to simulcast in other markets then it will eliminate the need for broadcasters to operate local stations in money losing markets. Hopefully the CRTC denys Rogers application so they don't have the option to shut down any stations and replace them with distant signals.

[Jackson12]

Are these rumours still swirling around or have they blown over?