OTTAWA and TORONTO – CHUM Television’s A-Channel Ottawa announced today that it is cutting 19 full time and four part time positions as part of a company-wide purge of 281 staff positions.
While cutting staff in Ottawa, the CHUM announcement said the station will make "significant investments in automated production equipment," and "is part of CHUM Television’s company-wide plans to restore financial stability into its conventional television stations, while at the same time preserving strong local service," says the press release, which did not mention who or what positions have been eliminated.
"The elimination of 19 full time and 4 part time positions will result from the implementation of ‘Overdrive Automation’," as well as the immediate cancellation of two half-hour afternoon programs, adds the release.
Gone are A-Channel at Noon and A-Channel News at 12:30. “Our flagship programs have and will continue to be A-Channel News at 6 and A-Channel Morning,” said station manager, Don Mumford.
“Redeploying resources to those broadcasts will ensure continued audience growth, while providing a sound fiscal footing on which to build.”
The 23 full and part time reductions at A-Channel form part of 281 positions eliminated at CHUM stations across the country "and are a reflection of the continued economic pressures faced by the conventional television industry."
Staff reductions will result from a combination of voluntary buyouts and layoffs. Two vacant positions at the station are included in the total and will not be filled.
“We remain committed to produce the best local programming,” asserted Peter Angione, news director at A-Channel. “A recent survey we commissioned and our BBM ratings continue to show the momentum A-Channel News at 6 and A-Channel Morning has in this market. I believe focusing resources on these two properties, as well as directing greater energies towards our website will better serve our viewers.”
As for all the hub-bub surrounding the potential for a sale of CHUM to Bell Globemedia, as mentioned here, it will all be explained at 4 p.m., as CHUM management has re-scheduled its quarterly conference call from tomorrow to this afternoon.
