- CJR-B.TO
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TORONTO — Corus Entertainment Inc. is slashing dozens of Global News roles across Canada as it centralizes production of the news station’s Alberta broadcasts.
The Toronto-based company said the move is part of programming changes across the country that are meant to improve efficiency and allow it to continue producing journalism.
A total of 43 unionized TV jobs are being cut, most of which are based in Western Canada which represents some 9,000 media workers at various companies in Canada
Corus spokesperson Annie Arnone said that while some jobs are affected, the broadcaster is also adding roles to continue providing news programming in the Calgary and Edmonton markets.
“Corus is committed to local news and will maintain its local news delivery in Calgary and Edmonton,” she said in an emailed statement.
“As a result of these changes, we have had to say goodbye to some of our Global News personalities. We greatly appreciate their time with us and wish them the best in their future endeavours.”
When asked, Arnone did not confirm if production of Global News’ Calgary and Edmonton broadcasts would take place from Toronto.
She said changes will be reflected on air in the coming weeks but that Corus would not comment on any specific individuals affected.
Unifor said Corus’ layoffs will affect 28 positions in Alberta, two in B.C., five in Winnipeg, two in Saskatoon, three in the Maritimes and three in Ontario.
“This is a domino effect of policy failures and corporate decisions that have steadily weakened local journalism and now, media workers are paying for it,” said Unifor national president Lana Payne in a statement.
“We warned that consolidation would come at the expense of local news, particularly in Western Canada, and that is exactly what we’re seeing.”
The moves come amid significant financial struggles for Corus, which last month reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of $36.5 million in its third quarter, as its revenue for the period fell 16 per cent compared with a year earlier.
Corus is also awaiting approval of its proposed recapitalization plan that would see a change in ownership shifting effective control of all licensed programming services operated by the company and its subsidiaries.
Under the proposal, some of Corus’ lenders would forgive approximately $500 million in debt in exchange for 99 per cent ownership of a newly created parent corporation, called NewCo, that would wholly own Corus and its services. Existing Corus shareholders would be expected to swap their holdings for shares that together would represent the remaining one per cent of the new company.
