Like others have said, does anyone (especially those of us that have been brought up with 24-hr news channels) actually fall for the phoniness that goes on on TV news shows? Whether it's:
1) phony relationships between local and national newscasts
2) ridiculous banter between the news/weather/sports folks
3) the useless live 30-second intro by the reporter before airing the taped report
4) the need to fill an hour forecast with multiple weather segments. (When I want to know the about weather, I can turn to Météomedia/The Weather Network wehenerv I want.)
5) the need for male/female co-anchors when only one person could do the job

I would wish all 3 English newscasts would learn a lesson or two from Radio-Canada's 6PM Téléjournal. Patrice Roy has settled quite nicely into the role left by long-time anchor Bernard Derome. The show's not perfect, but it delivers a good chunk of local news, in-depth interviews, and doesn't go the weather well multiple times nor engages in useless chit chat.

Note that the 3 Montréal presenters (including the weatherman) are all in suits.

As for the contrived throwing from one show to another TV is full of it.

The consultants rule!

Next year look for anchors to be juggling or spinning plates.

They've killed CBC Overnight!

Now it is a patchcord plug of PRI from the States, RCI domestic service, and drivel from the BBC.

It used to be Weekdays:
1:05 Radio Netherlands
2:05 Radio Sweden and Radio Australia
3:05 Channel Africa and BBC World Service
4:05 Deutsche Welle and Radio Polonia
5:05 Radio Australia, Radio Prague, Deutsche Welle and Voice of Russia
Weekends
1:05 Radio Netherlands
2:05 Radio Prague and Voice of Russia
3:05 Radio Sweden and BBC World Service
4:05 Deutsche Welle
5:05 Radio Australia

What is wrong with CBC radio Toronto management

1 - I do like having the CBMT news at 5pm. I'm usually at work at that time. And I'm on the road at 6pm. So, a 6pm newscast doesn't work for me. At 5pm I turn on the TV, and have it in the background as I continue working. One thing that really bugs me is the banter. As well as the worhless entertainment stuff they throw in to cover time. I would prefer that they stick to news. Also, I don't like being teased about a story that they'll present at 6pm. Like I said, I'm on the road at that time. Please don't tease news stories. I have the internet, and I'll go away. So, give me the news at 5pm.

2 - Since CBMT has 90 minutes to fill from 5pm - 6;30pm. Why not do feature interviews in the studio the way PBS does in the Newshour. Not the whole show. But something that can run at either 5:40pm or 6:10pm. A 10-15 minute discussion with each subject would be great. Just this week, they could have spent each evening interviewing Tremblay, Harel, Bergeron, and O'Sullavin. The interview attempts on CFCF news is just awful. I caught one in which Takahashi interviewed O'Sullavin about her run for Mayor. It was just plain awful. 2 questions, and one was asked by "The Spoonman". Wow! I learnt nothing about her policies if she was elected Mayor nor about the Ville-Marie Party. Congratulations again CFCF.

3 - Now about the news on CKMI. They run a National and Local news hour starting at 5:30pm. I would think somebody over at CKMI would have enough brains to have their news run from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. As I mentioned, I'm on the road at 6pm. I can't watch the news. And there are plenty of other people in the same situation. If CBMT runs a early news at 5pm, they grab and hold onto the news junkies probably until 6pm. Some will switch over to CFCF at 6pm. If CKMI ran their news from 6:30pm, they can begin to pick up viewers from the CBMT news. Then by 7pm viewers will leave CFCF, and go to CKMI by 7pm. Plus, they can pick up viewers like myself that will get home between 6:30pm and 7pm. This would be a lot better than both CFCF & CKMI jamming Hollywood Gossip shows down our throats. Both of them run this crap from 7pm-8pm. Just awfull programming. I know some people like this sort of stuff. But both channels running it at the same time? CKMI can place of of those ET shows at 6pm or earlier.

You are doing a wonderful job covering TV and the media in Quebec. It's also good to find out that I'm not the only one getting excited when a newscast changes its graphics and on-screen appearance :) I must also say you are doing what I feel is the strongest analysis of the current "Save Local TV" debate, without "parti pris".