Rogers Television cancels First Local as new community policy shifts programming focus

TORONTO – This week, Rogers Television (the community channel arm of Rogers Cable) announced the cancellation of its local news and information show, First Local, effective immediately.Local versions of the show had been produced in York Region, Durham Region, Mississauga, Barrie, Brantford, Stratford, Guelph and a provincial edition in New Brunswick. The program never existed in Ottawa or Toronto and had already been axed in Collingwood, London and Kitchener.“The decision was made as a result of the CRTC's new community television policy issued in August,” said Colette Watson, vice-president of Rogers TV. The policy imposed increased requirements for access programming...