Corus Entertainment, the owner of the Global Television Network and multiple radio stations, has announced that changes in programming across Canada will lead to the loss of several jobs. This decision comes as Corus faces challenges due to a continuous decline in advertising revenue and increasing debt.
According to Unifor, the union representing numerous media employees, including those at Corus, a total of 43 positions will be eliminated. Unifor’s national president Lana Payne expressed concerns about the impact on local news, especially in Western Canada, due to the anticipated consolidation.
The breakdown of job cuts by region includes 28 in Alberta, 2 in British Columbia, 5 in Winnipeg, 2 in Saskatoon, 3 in the Maritimes, and 3 in Ontario. Corus, in an internal memo obtained by CBC News, stated that the adjustments are crucial to ensure the sustainability of operations and provide increased flexibility.
While some production of Global News broadcasts for Alberta will be centralized under the plan, Corus affirmed its commitment to producing local news content in studios within the province. The company also mentioned plans to introduce additional undisclosed roles to enhance local news delivery.
One of the affected employees, Scott Roberts, co-anchor of Global Edmonton’s 6 p.m. newscast, expressed his disappointment on Instagram, acknowledging the significant cuts to local news and expressing solidarity with impacted colleagues.
The changes at Corus were initially reported by the Western Standard news website. A spokesperson for Corus, Annie Arnone, assured that the company remains dedicated to local news delivery in Calgary and Edmonton, with plans to maintain news programming in these markets despite some roles being affected by production centralization.
Corus CEO John Gossling recently highlighted the ongoing pressure on linear television advertising demand, leading to double-digit declines in radio and television revenue. The company’s shares have seen a substantial drop over the past year, primarily due to financial strains stemming from its acquisition of Shaw Media in 2016.
Corus recently obtained court approval for a debt-for-equity swap with its lenders to alleviate the debt burden. The proposed transaction aims to restructure the ownership of the company and its services, subject to regulatory approvals.
The restructuring is estimated to save up to $40 million annually in interest costs. These job cuts follow similar workforce reductions at other major players in the industry, including Bell Canada and Rogers Sports & Media.
Rogers recently announced the elimination of 230 positions and the closure of radio stations in several Canadian cities, while Bell Canada confirmed plans to cut nearly 700 jobs last month. BCE, the parent company of Bell Canada, had previously reduced its workforce by nine percent in 2024, resulting in substantial job losses and operational changes across its media divisions.