To underline its controversial proposal for a major restructuring of many of its regional supper-hour newscasts, senior management at cbc released selective ratings information.

Compiled by the BBM Bureau of Broadcast Measurement, the ratings were gathered over three weeks in February and March, during this winter/spring’s sweeps period.

According to data for the extended anglo markets (2+) in Montreal and Toronto, which bbm would not confirm, cbc affiliate cbmt’s supper-hour newscast in Montreal averaged 19,200 viewers per quarter hour, anglo and franco viewers combined, while ctv affiliate cfcf’s newscast in the same period averaged 195,900 viewers. Global Quebec’s ckmi saw its evening newscast audience edge up to 20,000.

In the Toronto market, the country’s most populous, the local cbc evening newscast on cblt averaged 59,000 viewers per quarter hour. ctv affiliate cfto leads in the market with an average of 382,000 viewers followed by Global at 196,000 and Citytv, which drew an audience of 77,000 per quarter hour.

In many instances, cbc’s regional supper-hour newscasts are drawing a five share, or less, of the available viewing audience. There are exceptions, including certain stations in Atlantic Canada and Windsor, Ont.