UPDATE: The “starts right now” intro was curtailed in October. The corrected text below reflects change.

Pity Natalie Clancy.

She’s one of CBC TV News’ rising stars — formerly a reporter in the CBC Vancouver newsroom; today, after a stint co-anchoring at CBC Newsworld in Calgary (and before Calgary turned into Toronto), she’s anchoring the late-night Vancouver at 11 newscast. And she does a stellar job at it.

The CBC has been using Vancouver as a kind of testing ground for launching new ways of programming and promoting its newscasts.

Several months back, at the top of the show (after what we in radio call the “billboards” — I have no idea what you TV people call them), the camera would cut back to Natalie, zoom in dramatically in Colbert Report style, and she would deliver the line “Your five-minute B.C. news, weather, and sports starts right now!”

Dear God. (This practice was curtailed back in October.)

It’s not Natalie’s fault, of course. I’m sure she loathed saying it as much as many cringed when they heard it. It was said to be part of the Frank Magid school of programming. Magid developed the Eyewitness News format years ago in the U.S. and has been retained by CBC to consult on our newscasts.

Even David Letterman, years ago, warned Canadians about this “eyewitness news” format in an interview on CBC when Carole Neilson (who would go onto to become CBC/Radio-Canada’s chairperson).

But maybe it’s our best option. If all the other networks and stations are going with this style of “everything is breaking news” breathless urgency, perhaps we need to compete with them? That argument really is at the heart of so many CBC policies these days: Do we:

• Program more American shows and compete thematically with private stations and networks so our ratings go up… we prove we’re being watched by more Canadians…. and thus are more relevant… and thus need more funding; or
• Stick to programming in the school of sober second thought, where our modesty stands out among the clutter… meet (arguably) our responsibility to the Broadcasting Act to reflect Canada and its unique nature… and thus deserve more funding.

Say what you like about the policy choices being made at the top floors of the Death Star. You have to admit the decisions are not as cut-and-dried as some out there would have us believe.

What do you think?

	3 Comments »	See also: News & Journalism, Vancouver
	Email this	Posted at 12:36 pm (18 Jul 2008)

Happy Monday, CBC fans and fellow comrades employees alike. It was a quiet week last week in the world of CBC news, but news is a-flowin’ a bit, so enjoy the ride.

I’ll be a little slow in replying to your emails as I’m out of town on a sabattical (think monk clothing, Tibetan bells, and hours pouring over LOLcats) but I’ll still be scouring the blogs and receiving tips from you on CBC news.

In just an interesting side note, I see that last week, the CRTC granted a former Vancouver radio personality a licence to operate a local radio station for the “Tri-Cities” region of greater Vancouver (Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam). While it’s not CBC news per se, it’s interesting (and, I think, encouraging, to see the CRTC responding to regional growth). CBC Radio in Vancouver years ago led the way by launching a full news bureau in Surrey, a rapidly growing region of the area.

	Add Comment »	See also: About This Blog, Vancouver
	Email this	Posted at 2:15 pm (14 Jul 2008)

CBC Radio in Vancouver is on the hunt for a Host for its afternoon program, On The Coast. Guest hosts like CBC Television reporter Belle Puri and civic reporter Stephen Quinn have been filling the role until now. Priya Ramu, formerly a senior CBC Radio producer, has held the position after moving to Vancouver several years ago. She will stay with CBC as a local reporter in radio news.

This position hosts a daily current affairs program, including doing interviews, introducing segments, and shaping the program on air. The host is also responsible for writing scripts and continuity, booking interviews, selecting music and sound effects, and researching. This… wait for it… a contract position. (Does anyone actually get a full-time job at the CBC any more?)

Look for the position on the CBC’s job web site.

	5 Comments »	See also: Personalities, Vancouver
	Email this	Posted at 4:33 pm (02 Jul 2008)

CBC Television’s Living Vancouver has lost its host.

Speculation in the local media is the move comes as a way to help her husband, hockey manager Brian Burke, take a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Currently, both live in California; Jennifer commuted to Vancouver each week to do the hosting job.)

But hers isn’t the only job up for grabs. Most of the show’s production staff roles are currently available. Most likely because — even though the show has been successful for a couple of seasons now, the jobs below are not permanent CBC jobs; they’re contract-only.

	2 Comments »	See also: Living In, Personalities, Vancouver
	Email this	Posted at 11:50 am (02 Jun 2008)

The CRTC has approved CBC’s application to operate a new FM station in Vancouver at 88.1 FM. This will improve the quality of signal in Vancouver’s urban core.

Unfortunately, the Commission turned down our request to add an FM transmitter on Gabriola Island at 98.7 MHZ. This transmitter was intended to fill in coverage gaps along the Sunshine Coast that would result from lost signal following the proposed conversion of CBU to the FM band.

In the same decision, the CRTC turned down a separate application to add a transmitter of CBCV-FM Victoria in Nanaimo, British Columbia at 104.1 MHZ. The transmitter was intended to fill in coverage gaps in Nanaimo with the surrounding area that would result from loss of signal following the proposed conversion of CBU to the FM band and provide a Victoria based regional service to the Nanaimo area, which is currently served by CBU Vancouver.

Ultimately, the Commission decided that the public would be better served by using 104.1, the last available FM frequency in the Vancouver market, to provide a new radio service in Vancouver. The frequency was awarded to a numbered company to operate a new commercial FM station with an Adult Alternative Album (Triple A) music format.

Given the scarcity of frequencies in the relevant areas and the applications before it, the Commission decided that most appropriate and efficient way for the CBC to make its programming available to listeners in Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast would be to make use of 88.1 MHZ to serve Vancouver and maintain operation at its current AM frequency in Vancouver, to ensure good coverage in outlying areas.

The CBC will continue to operate AM 690.

	4 Comments »	See also: The CRTC, Transmission, Vancouver, Vancouver Island
	Email this	Posted at 1:47 am (01 Jun 2008)

Ken Gibson and Peggy Oldfield have put together a comprehensive online newsletter under the Employee Assistance Program for CBC staffers and retirees living in Vancouver and B.C.

The site offers memories from CBC archives, provides a home to the CBC 20 Year association, and helpful information on the EAP. The newsletters are composed quarterly, corresponding with each season, and are packed with CBC news and interesting tidbits.

It also provides the service “Where Are They Now?“, on which the authors post the current careers and whereabouts of past CBC B.C. colleagues. This is definitely a site worth subscribing to for any employee or alumni in the B.C. area.

	Add Comment »	See also: B.C. Interior, Other Internet, Retro, Vancouver, Vancouver Island
	Email this	Posted at 10:28 am (21 May 2008)

Yes, the rumours are true. Ian Hanomansing is an android with super-human anti-aging properties. How else do you explain this clip of him anchoring the Sunday Report nearly 20 years ago, in which he looks and sound nearly identical to today?!

	4 Comments »	See also: Fun Stuff, Personalities, Vancouver
	Email this	Posted at 11:52 am (15 May 2008)

Long-time CBC Television reporter David Roegele died late last week.

Born in 1923 in Saskatoon, he served in the Navy aboard a minesweeper before beginning his varied careers in truck driving, sales and his favorite, broadcasting for both radio and television.

His media career began in 1948 when he joined CKOK Radio and CHBC-TV, Penticton. In 1950, while continuing his work with CKOK and CHBC, Dave took on additional responsibilities as a Stringer for the Vancouver Sun and at the same time was Sports Editor and Columnist for the Penticton Herald newspaper.

He held several jobs with TV stations throughout B.C. and Washington state until he joined CBC Vancouver staff as a teporter in the TV Newsroom in 1966. He became a Journalistic Editor there in 1975 and continued in that role until his retirement in January, 1984.

From the NW Broadcasters’ obit article:

Dave was a member in good standing of the TV Newsroom Old Guard and like all of them, delighted in telling stories of the good old days in their cramped but happy quarters at 1200 West Georgia…. His family remembers that Dave was never at a loss for words, or without a joke to share.

Dave is survived by his wife of 64 years, Beverly, and several children. Memorial Services will be held Friday, May 16, 2008, 10:00 a.m. at Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, 14831 28th Ave. Surrey, BC. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions in Dave’s name may be made to your favorite charity.

	Add Comment »	See also: Obits, Vancouver
	Email this	Posted at 5:35 am (12 May 2008)

CBC Radio Two listeners opposed to the changes to the network, specifically the reduction of classical music, are planning to march on the CBC Vancouver building Tuesday morning.

On Friday morning, a similar group is planning to protest at Maison Radio-Canada, the CBC Montreal building.

“The CBC has been taken over by a group of people dedicated to removing nearly all Classical Music,” the Vancouver group’s description reads. “They feel it is old fashioned and irrelevant to the ‘new demographic’ that they wish to attract. We feel this is misguided at best, suicidal at worst.”

Another group has been started to launch an email campaign campaign.

UPDATE: It is reported that the Music School at UBC is asking faculty to cancel classes and go with their students to the demonstration.

	4 Comments »	See also: CBC Radio 2, Changes to CBC Radio Two, Montreal, Vancouver
	Email this	Posted at 11:11 pm (30 Mar 2008)

If you work in the Vancouver plant, please trash or Archive (burn to CD, save elsewhere) DaletPlus items that are not absolutely necessary for production. In the past week or so Dalet’s storage has increase from 70% full to over 90% full. Contact the Dalet Lama, Doug Lane, for help.

	Comments Off	See also: Asides, Vancouver, Workstations and Desktops
	Email this	Posted at 11:31 am (17 Mar 2008)

Following host Shelagh Rogers’ decision to leave the show on May 30th, the CBC has decided to pull Sounds Like Canada from the schedule at the end of the summer.

The move seems to further reduce the amount of network radio programming which originates in Vancouver.

• Last year, CBC Radio cancelled Vancouver-produced Freestyle — the program which replaced Richardson’s Roundup. That time slot is now occupied by Q, a program produced in Toronto with more than twice the number of staff that Freestyle had.
• Just weeks ago, CBC Radio announced that Jurgen Gothe’s CBC Radio Two show will be pulled from the schedule in September.
• Randy Bachman is in negotiations to relocate his show’s production to Victoria.
• (On the television side, last year CBC replaced Vancouver-based Canada Now, its supper-hour national newscast, with regional programming.)

But it’s hardly an exodus, says Chris Boyce, CBC Radio’s interim program director. “We’ve actually moved a tonne of programming to Vancouver in the last year or two: Vinyl Tap, The Debaters, and we’ve moved Saturday Afternoon at the Opera from Toronto to Vancouver, as well as Bill Richardson’s Sunday Afternoon In Concert show. Both of those occupy huge chunks on the schedule.”

“We’re also in the process of developing a  lot of new programming. On Radio Two we’re looking for a new morning show, mid-day show, afternoon show, and weekend morning show. Any of those could come from Vancouver.”

In the case of a replacement for Sounds Like Canada, CBC Radio is using a slightly different internal process to develop the show. Most new programs are selected from an open-proposal system, where CBC staffers pitch show concepts that are usually complete with a description of the show’s features, how it would sound, often who the host will be, and so on.

In this case, radio management is inviting suggestions about the program’s basic concepts first. Within a few weeks, small groups of programmers will be brought together to brainstorm ideas and possibilities. (If you have suggestions and program concepts, they can be forwarded to your local regional director or network department head by April 9.)

Rogers is still in discussions with CBC Radio about a new weekly show on Radio One.

Sounds Like Canada was one of CBC Radio One’s flagship programs with This Morning and the legendary Morningside programs as part of its bloodline.

	11 Comments »	See also: Sounds Like Canada, Vancouver
	Email this	Posted at 12:47 pm (13 Mar 2008)