Layoffs and restructuring within Global News that have been taking place across the country are now impacting the Okanagan.
Corus Entertainment, which owns Global News and dozens of Canadian radio stations, has been aggressively making cuts as revenues slide and debt mounts.
In a statement to Castanet News on Thursday, a Corus spokesperson says as a part of their “efficiency review process,” the company “have made some difficult but necessary changes to create a more sustainable future for the company.”
“As a result, certain roles have been impacted across our news and audio business.”
“In the news division, we have reimagined our broadcast schedule in Kelowna, Kingston, and Peterborough, with a focus on supper hour and late-night weekday news programming,” the spokesperson said, declining to provide a future broadcast schedule for Global Okanagan.
The spokesperson said local online news teams “will now operate under a new model to better support local breaking news.”
The statement did not disclose the number of job losses in the Okanagan.
“We will have news gathering in Kelowna,” the spokesperson said.
Cuts will also take place at radio stations in Kingston, Corus noted.
“Corus’ commitment to serving our audience across the country remains stronger than ever, and we will continue to tell important local news stories that matter to Canadians,” the statement concluded.
On Monday, Corus reported a loss attributable to shareholders of $769.9 million in its latest quarter compared with a loss of $495.1 million a year earlier.
It said it expects to have slashed 25 per cent of its full-time workforce by the end of next month since the beginning of its 2023 fiscal year.
The television and radio broadcaster has attributed an advertising slump this year in part to lingering effects from the 2023 Hollywood strikes that delayed production of key programming, along with inflationary and competitive challenges.
Last month, the company was dealt a blow with the loss of rights to key brands like HGTV, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Magnolia Network and OWN, as of the end of this year.
That came as Rogers Communications Inc. signed a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for the Canadian rights to those popular lifestyle and entertainment brands starting Jan. 1.
In a statement Thursday, the union representing Global News journalists, Unifor, expressed sorrow and frustration.
“Every time an announcement like this comes in the media sector, it’s both heartbreaking and boils my blood,” said Unifor national president Lana Payne.
The union says the cuts taking place nationally result in "a hollowing out of local news coverage."
–with files from The Canadian Press
