Corus Global TV Announces Major Layoffs and Studio Consolidation
Canada’s media sector is facing fresh layoffs as Corus Global TV, one of the country’s largest television news providers, reduces its news production footprint. While the exact number of jobs to be cut has not been disclosed, the company plans to shut its studios and control rooms in Calgary and Edmonton and relocate those operations to its Toronto headquarters.
Remote Newscast Production
Anchors and reporters will stay in their respective markets to gather and deliver local news, but the actual broadcast of the Calgary and Edmonton newscasts will be produced remotely from Global’s Toronto studios. The transition is slated for completion by the end of August.
Financial Pressures
Corus’ struggles reflect broader industry trends. For the quarter ending May 31, the company reported a 20% year‑over‑year decline in revenue, falling to $120.3 million, with total TV revenue down 16%. Radio sales also slipped by 15% during the same period.
Industry Context
The cuts follow recent moves by other Canadian media firms. Weeks earlier, Rogers Sports & Media eliminated six local radio stations in Calgary, including 660 NewsRadio and Sportsnet 960, resulting in 230 job losses. Global Television has been scaling back for nearly two decades, beginning with the closure of local master control rooms and the shift to regional distribution centres in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto under its former parent, Canwest. In 2015, under Shaw Media ownership, Global transferred the presentation of local late‑night and weekend newscasts to Toronto studios, using Toronto‑based anchors and green‑screen virtual sets.
