Comments on: The new, dirt-cheap Global Quebec http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/ Can you think of a better name? Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:55:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Vancouver Employee http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-37991 Vancouver Employee Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:49:42 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-37991 I find all these blogs about Global Quebec very interesting...as someone who "replaced" Quebec production staff...I am proud to say I work on a Quebec show. Even if I work on it from Vancouver. It does suck that local news goes by the wayside a lot of the time, in favor of big Yankee tv shows, but this is the reality broadcasting lives in now. People do not go to watch tv as much as they used to for news. With the easily-accessible internet, people can get on-demand news and watch anytime, and not have to wait until 6pm to get their daily fix. They can get it at any time, from anywhere. I have been laid off before, and it was brutal, not knowing where my next paycheck or job was going to be. But I can't make you people at home watch the tv shows I work on. You have to want to watch it in the first place. Nobody watched the show, and so it got cancelled. This may sound like I am spouting off corporate BS, but honestly, tv news is a business too. It's not just a service anymore. If there's money to be made in it, companies will do it. Do you think that CTV or CBC aren't interested in their bottom lines either? But keep the blogs coming....I like hearing what viewers think of Global's stuff. I agree it is hard to make the news look appealing when the content sucks. But you have to remember, that the staff who operate these places are people too, and we try our best everyday. But we just can't pull a rabbit out of our asses everyday of the week. I find all these blogs about Global Quebec very interesting…as someone who “replaced” Quebec production staff…I am proud to say I work on a Quebec show. Even if I work on it from Vancouver.

It does suck that local news goes by the wayside a lot of the time, in favor of big Yankee tv shows, but this is the reality broadcasting lives in now. People do not go to watch tv as much as they used to for news. With the easily-accessible internet, people can get on-demand news and watch anytime, and not have to wait until 6pm to get their daily fix. They can get it at any time, from anywhere. I have been laid off before, and it was brutal, not knowing where my next paycheck or job was going to be. But I can’t make you people at home watch the tv shows I work on. You have to want to watch it in the first place. Nobody watched the show, and so it got cancelled. This may sound like I am spouting off corporate BS, but honestly, tv news is a business too. It’s not just a service anymore. If there’s money to be made in it, companies will do it. Do you think that CTV or CBC aren’t interested in their bottom lines either?

But keep the blogs coming….I like hearing what viewers think of Global’s stuff. I agree it is hard to make the news look appealing when the content sucks. But you have to remember, that the staff who operate these places are people too, and we try our best everyday. But we just can’t pull a rabbit out of our asses everyday of the week.

]]> By: Dwight http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-28743 Dwight Thu, 08 May 2008 13:09:30 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-28743 Could someone tell me what happened to Al Dubois the weatherman on Global montreal t.v.?Has he been permanently replaced by Anthony Farnell? Could someone tell me what happened to Al Dubois the weatherman on Global montreal t.v.?Has he been permanently replaced by Anthony Farnell?

]]> By: James http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-28136 James Sun, 04 May 2008 11:04:16 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-28136 Interested to read your thoughts and see more screen grabs of the new Global Québec "studio" (now that I'm out of the country). I've been watching Global's news strategy for a while now, albeit at a distance, mainly because the architecture and design of television news studios has long interested me, and could become some kind of paper or research piece in the not-too-distant future. http://jamesbrownontheroad.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/more-virtual-newsroom-architecture/ The only silver lining to the cloud over Global Québec's new studio is that it looks marginally better than the one created for Kevin Newman in Ottawa. The camera angles, proportions and virtual shapes are just better realised, and more believable. http://jamesbrownontheroad.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/virtual-architecture/ The problem with entirely virtual news studios is that they are almost always found to be too cold by the viewers. ITN/ITV News (the ITV in England, not the pre-Global Edmonton station!) received an extremely frosty reception to their new "wall of news" green screen set when it was first introduced a couple of years ago. A second generation of the set (with new software, rather than new furniture) is now in use, which creates the impression of the building's atrium in background. This is of course, entirely false, but it's amusing to note that the virtual set is being used to create a fake representation of the atrium space that was once originally right behind the actual studio :D ITN News (for ITV) from 1991, with a glass fronted newsroom immediately adjacent to the ITN building's atrium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxAu5vUwyZo ITV News (rebranded, still produced by ITN) from 2007. Now in a basement studio, but a virtual recreation of the same atrium :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYa4MzFh7yA Interested to read your thoughts and see more screen grabs of the new Global Québec “studio” (now that I’m out of the country). I’ve been watching Global’s news strategy for a while now, albeit at a distance, mainly because the architecture and design of television news studios has long interested me, and could become some kind of paper or research piece in the not-too-distant future.

http://jamesbrownontheroad.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/more-virtual-newsroom-architecture/

The only silver lining to the cloud over Global Québec’s new studio is that it looks marginally better than the one created for Kevin Newman in Ottawa. The camera angles, proportions and virtual shapes are just better realised, and more believable.

http://jamesbrownontheroad.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/virtual-architecture/

The problem with entirely virtual news studios is that they are almost always found to be too cold by the viewers. ITN/ITV News (the ITV in England, not the pre-Global Edmonton station!) received an extremely frosty reception to their new “wall of news” green screen set when it was first introduced a couple of years ago. A second generation of the set (with new software, rather than new furniture) is now in use, which creates the impression of the building’s atrium in background. This is of course, entirely false, but it’s amusing to note that the virtual set is being used to create a fake representation of the atrium space that was once originally right behind the actual studio :D

ITN News (for ITV) from 1991, with a glass fronted newsroom immediately adjacent to the ITN building’s atrium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxAu5vUwyZo

ITV News (rebranded, still produced by ITN) from 2007. Now in a basement studio, but a virtual recreation of the same atrium :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYa4MzFh7yA

]]> By: Tara http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-24763 Tara Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:57:49 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-24763 Ok I so miss this morning live!! I am one of the last few ppl who dont have cable of digital or satelite lol. I cant watch cfcf12 in the morning cause the weather if very brief anf too general and dont think iys an actually updat and only comes on every 30 minutes. But global? the weather was more preciese for the time I has 2 lkeave and more precises in the waeather department for that day :). and the 3rd english station is CBC and its the cartoons at 7 when I wake up lol. Ok I so miss this morning live!! I am one of the last few ppl who dont have cable of digital or satelite lol. I cant watch cfcf12 in the morning cause the weather if very brief anf too general and dont think iys an actually updat and only comes on every 30 minutes. But global? the weather was more preciese for the time I has 2 lkeave and more precises in the waeather department for that day :). and the 3rd english station is CBC and its the cartoons at 7 when I wake up lol.

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-24141 Anonymous Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:37:43 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-24141 Some of the biggest stations in England, France and elsewhere are now using green screen to produce their news bulletin, it's part of the evolution process. Personally, I prefer by far the new graphics and studio from what we had before. Take a look at other cheap Global stations newsdesk around the country and now look at the stylish one from Montreal's Global station...it really is an improvement. Global is a good station that gives plenty of opportunities for young journalists and tv crew to start. Quebec is a small market...yeah, they don't have a chopper...but there's not 1 million anglophones here...like in Edmonton. Some of the biggest stations in England, France and elsewhere are now using green screen to produce their news bulletin, it’s part of the evolution process. Personally, I prefer by far the new graphics and studio from what we had before. Take a look at other cheap Global stations newsdesk around the country and now look at the stylish one from Montreal’s Global station…it really is an improvement.

Global is a good station that gives plenty of opportunities for young journalists and tv crew to start. Quebec is a small market…yeah, they don’t have a chopper…but there’s not 1 million anglophones here…like in Edmonton.

]]> By: Tim http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22746 Tim Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:33:44 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22746 I've always found the look and feel of Global Quebec's news production to be below that of CFCF, perhaps on par with CBMT—CBC Montreal. And don't get me stated on Global National with Kevin Newman. But my family absolutely adored This Morning Live, since they found the people real, human, very warm and very engaging. The greenscreened set seems to be a trend. I get the feeling that European national newscasts, like those you watch on TV5 (well... those *someone* watches, I presume), have a CGI feel to them. I’ve always found the look and feel of Global Quebec’s news production to be below that of CFCF, perhaps on par with CBMT—CBC Montreal. And don’t get me stated on Global National with Kevin Newman. But my family absolutely adored This Morning Live, since they found the people real, human, very warm and very engaging.

The greenscreened set seems to be a trend. I get the feeling that European national newscasts, like those you watch on TV5 (well… those *someone* watches, I presume), have a CGI feel to them.

]]> By: GBR http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22736 GBR Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:53:28 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22736 In regards to Ty's comment... it's all economics... Global Edmonton (and the bigger stations for that matter) makes money off its news, so that's why they can afford such luxuries as a news helicopters. Plus they actually compete head to head with the local CTV outfit. In regards to Ty’s comment… it’s all economics… Global Edmonton (and the bigger stations for that matter) makes money off its news, so that’s why they can afford such luxuries as a news helicopters. Plus they actually compete head to head with the local CTV outfit.

]]> By: silhouette http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22729 silhouette Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:46:39 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22729 Maybe Jamie and the rest will have no choice but to go to CFCF soon. ;D Maybe Jamie and the rest will have no choice but to go to CFCF soon. ;D

]]> By: Ty http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22699 Ty Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:35:36 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22699 I find it interesting to watch these changes occur. Having lived in Alberta for all of my life until recently, I can't help but contrast and compare between different television regions and how they handle local news and programming within the same network. I wondered why Global Quebec had to cut back so heavily. How can it be that my hometown station Global Edmonton gets a news helicopter in a city of just under 1 million people, and Global Quebec gets a desk in front of a chroma screen? The more I think about it, the more complicated it appears. I'm not a journalist or an expert in television media, which makes it all the more difficult to figure out. Global Edmonton can somehow support 39 hours of local news programming each week. Yes, the Edmonton and Quebec markets are very different. Yet the wide disparity might not be explained by that alone. Do Albertans like myself have nothing better to do than watch news all day, or is there something more? As I looked at Global Edmonton's official Facebook page (!), a thought crossed my mind. The people who deliver the news, weather and sports there are just as much local celebrities as they are newscasters, yet they also seem like average folks with whom people relate. People watch the news there because they enjoy the people who deliver the news in addition to the usual reasons. It's as if they actually want these people in their homes every day; and when they participate in local events and fund raisers, people go and participate with them. Perhaps it's a holdover form the old ITV days, where the station's charm and appeal hasn't gotten lost in all the centralization. These sorts of dynamics seem to make or break television and radio stations. CIRK radio had the city's most popular FM morning team until the team got split up, leaving it at the bottom of the ratings. Even Global Lethbridge (in a city of just 80,000 people) has more news time and local events programming than Global Quebec provides. Very interesting, even if it's dictated by license. Again, the markets are different, but so is the population size. Am I making any sense? I certainly hope for the best throughout all of this as I continue to observe. In my opinion, the network's struggling stations would benefit more from finding ways to connect with audiences than they ever would from endless belt-tightening. I'm sure if Global Quebec had the choice, they'd opt for something better. This is all just my opinion though in an apparently somewhat heated discussion. In a lot of ways it's like comparing apples and oranges, yet that doesn't make them mutually exclusive all the time, does it? -Ty I find it interesting to watch these changes occur. Having lived in Alberta for all of my life until recently, I can’t help but contrast and compare between different television regions and how they handle local news and programming within the same network.
I wondered why Global Quebec had to cut back so heavily. How can it be that my hometown station Global Edmonton gets a news helicopter in a city of just under 1 million people, and Global Quebec gets a desk in front of a chroma screen?
The more I think about it, the more complicated it appears. I’m not a journalist or an expert in television media, which makes it all the more difficult to figure out. Global Edmonton can somehow support 39 hours of local news programming each week. Yes, the Edmonton and Quebec markets are very different. Yet the wide disparity might not be explained by that alone. Do Albertans like myself have nothing better to do than watch news all day, or is there something more?
As I looked at Global Edmonton’s official Facebook page (!), a thought crossed my mind. The people who deliver the news, weather and sports there are just as much local celebrities as they are newscasters, yet they also seem like average folks with whom people relate. People watch the news there because they enjoy the people who deliver the news in addition to the usual reasons. It’s as if they actually want these people in their homes every day; and when they participate in local events and fund raisers, people go and participate with them. Perhaps it’s a holdover form the old ITV days, where the station’s charm and appeal hasn’t gotten lost in all the centralization.
These sorts of dynamics seem to make or break television and radio stations. CIRK radio had the city’s most popular FM morning team until the team got split up, leaving it at the bottom of the ratings. Even Global Lethbridge (in a city of just 80,000 people) has more news time and local events programming than Global Quebec provides. Very interesting, even if it’s dictated by license. Again, the markets are different, but so is the population size. Am I making any sense?
I certainly hope for the best throughout all of this as I continue to observe. In my opinion, the network’s struggling stations would benefit more from finding ways to connect with audiences than they ever would from endless belt-tightening. I’m sure if Global Quebec had the choice, they’d opt for something better.
This is all just my opinion though in an apparently somewhat heated discussion. In a lot of ways it’s like comparing apples and oranges, yet that doesn’t make them mutually exclusive all the time, does it?
-Ty

]]> By: Amy http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22640 Amy Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:22:20 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22640 OOOOH I've been "(sic)"ed. Hmmm...I guess that's either a sign of professional journalism or just dickish (sic) defensiveness. No worries my "friend." You are more than welcome to live in your bubble of delirium. While the hosts of CFCF news are just brimming with talent, the news reports are also overflowing with something else...pure cheese. I mean really. How big is your zucchini? Oh and by the by, Bill's lasts words on television, "Is this mic still on?" And the kicker is CFCF is chalked full of experienced professionals. OOOOH I’ve been “(sic)”ed. Hmmm…I guess that’s either a sign of professional journalism or just dickish (sic) defensiveness. No worries my “friend.” You are more than welcome to live in your bubble of delirium. While the hosts of CFCF news are just brimming with talent, the news reports are also overflowing with something else…pure cheese. I mean really. How big is your zucchini?

Oh and by the by, Bill’s lasts words on television, “Is this mic still on?” And the kicker is CFCF is chalked full of experienced professionals.

]]> By: Eric http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22604 Eric Thu, 06 Mar 2008 04:19:02 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22604 I guess what it boils down to is that they have to do it. They don't want to do the news... no one watches their news when they can watch news from the sources they have been their whole lives. They do the news because the CRTC says they have to, so, why not do it the absolute cheapest way possible. I guess what it boils down to is that they have to do it. They don’t want to do the news… no one watches their news when they can watch news from the sources they have been their whole lives. They do the news because the CRTC says they have to, so, why not do it the absolute cheapest way possible.

]]> By: Tony the Tiger http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22595 Tony the Tiger Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:11:42 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22595 What a pile of crap! First of all my little Global friend, you will never be " a whole lot better 'that' (sic) CFCF". The problem is you don't have anyone that has worked in news before. You all got your first jobs at Global. CFCF has names well known in Montreal journalism. How 'bout Herb Luft, Mitsumi and Bill and Brian!!! or Randy! or Anne Lewis or Carolyn Van-Vlar-d--you-know who! Your anchor came from CFCF, but she did the fluff out of Hollywood and really was never a journalist. Fact is you are a collection of faceless people drinking the Kool-Aid of "no matter how shoddy it looks". Good luck with that as you talk to yourselves! What a pile of crap!
First of all my little Global friend, you will never be ” a whole lot better ‘that’ (sic) CFCF”. The problem is you don’t have anyone that has worked in news before. You all got your first jobs at Global. CFCF has names well known in Montreal journalism. How ’bout Herb Luft, Mitsumi and Bill and Brian!!! or Randy! or Anne Lewis or Carolyn Van-Vlar-d–you-know who!
Your anchor came from CFCF, but she did the fluff out of Hollywood and really was never a journalist.
Fact is you are a collection of faceless people drinking the Kool-Aid of “no matter how shoddy it looks”.
Good luck with that as you talk to yourselves!

]]> By: Amy http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22580 Amy Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:18:38 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22580 As an employee of Global...which I am sort of assuming this blogger is or at least knows someone who works there, I have to say the post is pretty accurate. After the first show, we were all congratulated with a plastic glass of sparkling white (not Champagne) from Germany as well as some free pizza. Huzzah! It's pretty weird right now as we are being patted on the back for basically making our colleagues redundant and taking the local out of local news. It's very unfortunate as the team here at Global was pretty tight and people worked well together (apart from little tiffs here and there) and now we are a skeleton crew. Well no matter what happens, how it looks or how the shoddy content that will be wrapped with a virtual bow, we still are a whole lot better that CFCF...which always manages to look like American local cheese news from down-home Idaho. Anywho, it's well known that there is only a Global Quebec so Global National can be, well, national. As an employee of Global…which I am sort of assuming this blogger is or at least knows someone who works there, I have to say the post is pretty accurate. After the first show, we were all congratulated with a plastic glass of sparkling white (not Champagne) from Germany as well as some free pizza. Huzzah! It’s pretty weird right now as we are being patted on the back for basically making our colleagues redundant and taking the local out of local news. It’s very unfortunate as the team here at Global was pretty tight and people worked well together (apart from little tiffs here and there) and now we are a skeleton crew. Well no matter what happens, how it looks or how the shoddy content that will be wrapped with a virtual bow, we still are a whole lot better that CFCF…which always manages to look like American local cheese news from down-home Idaho.

Anywho, it’s well known that there is only a Global Quebec so Global National can be, well, national.

]]> By: Eric http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22543 Eric Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:36:56 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2008/03/04/the-new-dirt-cheap-global-quebec/#comment-22543 That is too funny, lol. Who watches Global News anyways? That is too funny, lol. Who watches Global News anyways?

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