Vancouver: CHUM Television chopped 34 jobs at its Vancouver and Victoria stations Nov. 12 in a cost-cutting move to merge operations and rationalize news delivery and expenses.

‘Though a staff reduction is never an easy decision, streamlining costs is imperative given the realities of the B.C. marketplace,’ says Stephen Tapp, executive VP television at CHUM in Toronto. ‘Among other things, this restructuring allows us to realize natural and prudent operational efficiencies between our Vancouver and Victoria stations.’

On-air personalities at The New VI in Victoria – including anchor Tasha Larson, Tony Latimer, Alex Lee, Norm LeBus and Rick Searle – and technicians at Citytv Vancouver got layoff notices.

It is the first large-scale downsizing for either CHUM station on the West Coast since The New VI launched in October 2001 and Citytv Vancouver relaunched under CHUM ownership in July 2002.

Coinciding with the layoffs, the Victoria station refashioned its two-hour weekday news block into half-hour segments that ‘refresh’ the news in shorter hits, rather than committing viewers to longer news shows. That format change resulted in the station needing fewer anchors and editorial support people.

The on-air team at Citytv is unchanged in the downsizing, but 15 technicians in master control and supporting staff will be laid off in Vancouver by April when CHUM brings master control for both stations to the more modern New VI facility.

‘Establishing a television station in a sizable market is not something we take lightly,’ says Brad Phillips, GM at Citytv Vancouver. ‘It requires a long-term commitment. Basically, we are on track with where we thought we would be and we need to work more efficiently.’

Phillips says the launch of Channel M, Vancouver’s new multicultural station, has taken advertising revenue from the market.

CHUM will pay $1 million to make the changes and expects to see savings of $2 million per year.

The cuts come just weeks after CHUM announced profits of $25.4 million for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2003, representing an 80% jump over 2002. Gains on the TV side were, however, credited to a strong performance by Citytv Toronto.

-www.chumlimited.com