CHCH News files for bankruptcy, cancels Friday and weekend newscasts

CHCH has cancelled its Friday evening and weekend newscasts, with restructuring andcuts coming to the local station that will result in fewer overall hours of local news being aired.

The changes mean an end to all-day news at the station, but newscasts will return in the new format.

• CHCH reporters, hosts say thank you and goodbye

As of 4 p.m. Friday the stationcut off its live news content and started airing pre-taped content. According to a press release,Channel 11 L.P., the entity that has created local news for CHCH since 2009 and pays the local news employees,has filed for bankruptcy.

It's a bloodletting.- Donna Skelly, former CHCH reporter

Romen Podzyhun, CEO of parent company Channel Zero, made anannouncementabout the cuts on air Friday.

"Business decisions like this are hardest because they impact the personal lives of colleagues that we care about," he said."As difficult as it is, this decision will allow us to continue to deliver the local stories that matter most to this community."

"Starting on Monday, we will once again be airing local news again on CHCH," he said. "We are unwavering in our commitment to serve this community."

Podzyhun'son air statement was the first concrete information about the cuts that many in the newsroom were given.Unifor media sector director Howard Law told The Canadian Pressthat a lawyer for Channel Zero told him in a briefing that CHCH wasplanning to reduce its local programming from 80 hours to 25 hours aweek.

Law said he was also informed that CHCH newsroom staff would behalved.

Donna Skelly, Elise Copps, Matt Hayes among those let go

Longtime reporter and on-air personalityDonna Skellytold CBC News she is among those who have lost their jobs. That list also includeswell-known names such as Matt Hayes, ScottUrquhart and EliseCopps, she said.

"They will be reduced to, I think, three hours of programming a day ...Nobody was given severance," Skelly told CBC News."There were people with 30 to 40 years of seniority. There were part timers. It's a bloodletting.

"It was devastating. There were people there that we adored. It was one of the best places to work. People whose names you will recognize Matt, Scottwere let go. And not a penny of severance."

Reporter Melissa Raftistweeted:"Came to #HamOnt for school, stayed forCHCH Newsandam I ever glad I did. Proud to call this city home. It's been great getting to know you." Photos posted online showed her leaving thestation with a banker's box of her belongings.

Reporter Cindy Csordas tweeted, "I need a job."

Michael Miles, who identified himself online as adigital news producer for CHCH.com, tweeted that "after 15 years, meand 2/3rds of my CHCH colleagues have been terminated."

The Hamilton-based network started broadcasting in 1954.According to the station's website, it produced more original news programming than any other local television station in North America.

Podzyhun said thatCHCH faces a "new reality" that hasleft it in a "untenable situation."

"While we are forced to make cuts, the core news programs and many of the faces you've come to love over the years will remain," he said.

Transitioning to a new schedule

According to a Channel Zero news release, CHCHis transitioning to a new schedule starting next weekthat includes both the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekday newscasts. Its morning showMorning Liveis slated to return on Tuesday.

This comes just months after the federal government discontinuedthe Local Program Improvement Fund, which CHCHavailed itself of.

"When CHCH was acquired in 2009 [by Channel Zero], funding support for local television was available, along with healthy national advertising revenue. That has since changed dramatically," Podzyhun said in his statement.

Many people reacted to the news on Twitter Friday:

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenbergertold CBC News that he plans to reach out to the chairman of Channel Zero to get some clarity on the situation.

"It's very, very concerning for our community," Eisenberger said."It's been one of our institutions for a very, very long time. I would hope that this isn't the sign of some impending doom that is permanent."

CH says it is available to over 92 per cent of Ontario households and is seen by millions across the country each week.

adam.carter@cbc.ca