Wilder Weir among cuts at Rogers Media

Wilder Weir

Wilder Weir

The 200 cuts announced in January at Rogers Media finally trickled down to the local level yesterday, and the company confirmed to me that Wilder Weir is one of them.

Weir, who pulled double duty as the “Live Eye” host on Breakfast Television and the host of weekly sports show Sportsnet Central Montreal, is “no longer with the company,” as corporate PR puts it.

Elias Makos, who does social media for Breakfast Television, will continue as host of Sportsnet Central Montreal, in addition to co-hosting Breakfast Television with Derick Fage while Joanne Vrakas is on maternity leave.

“Yesterday, some changes were made at Rogers Media that will help position the business for continued success and growth” is how Rogers PR’s Andrea Goldstein explained the decision.

Weir hasn’t posted anything on social media about his departure. He declined to comment when asked about it.

Weir was one of the first faces of City Montreal, hired in 2013 along with Alyson Lozoff to host the weekly sports show. (Lozoff lasted less than a year.) Among the seven day-one personalities at City Montreal’s two in-house local shows, three have since left and two more are on maternity leave.

Cuts also happened elsewhere at Rogers Media, particularly Sportsnet. Among the cuts are James Cybulski, Jamie Thomas and Hugh Burrill. They each commented on social media:

#TBT to my work family for the last 2 years. This pic summed up our motley crew perfectly. As some of you may be aware, I was caught up in the latest round of media layoffs at Rogers yesterday ending a fun ride working on Sportsnet Central AM in Vancouver. I will most definitely miss working alongside our 'number cruncher' Dan Chomiak, our Walking Dead survivalist, Craig Cheeseman and my partner in crime and #belieber @carolineacameron who is emerging as one of the best talents in the business. Thank you everyone who tuned in and thanks to all of you in this business who have taken the time to reach out. I look forward to the next adventure and challenge, but also looking forward to playing dad for the time being. Ok, longest insta-post ever…so if you've read this far, you might as well like it right? :) Thanks everyone. Peace ??

A photo posted by James Cybulski (@itscybulski) on

15 thoughts on “Wilder Weir among cuts at Rogers Media

  1. Patrick

    I’m also a former Rogers employee who was laid off due to “restructuring”. They basically can fire anyone they want at any time and call it “restructuring”. The Canadian government needs to crack down on this. Job security is nothing but an illusion when there are so many loopholes that a company can use to do whatever they like.

    Reply
      1. Media Man

        Why should it scare you…Media giants want mergers, then they should an employment freeze, except for retirements, people leaving,etc but mass layoffs should be looked on and imposed on by CRTC…it is not the employees’ faults if a certain company overpaid for an asset and are now looking to save a few bucks and in the end, affecting their product..

        but bean counters don’t realize that..

        Reply
  2. Media Man

    In other words, like the Bell Astral merger, Rogers having gotten bigger, the Shaw conglomerate, bigger is not necessarily better especially when run by suits and bean counters and not by real broadcasters like the Waters, Pouliots, Standard broadcast types.

    Reply
    1. mark trafford

      media man..thanks for that! lol…lol..lol..having worked for 2 of the 3 mentioned dynasties..its no different to when a memo got put up on the wall at fort st telling you who was no longer allowed in the building..dude,it is business,accountants have no value for talent,and i watched many great talents with decades of experience leave the building when accountants deemed them too expensive! i wish Mr Weir well, but as long as accountants and managers think anyone can sit in the chair and get ratings..it will just continue..

      Reply
        1. Dolores Kathleen

          Frank I must tell you that I still resent your departure from CTV and I change the channel whenever “whatshername” comes on! lol! Love seeing you on CBC!

          Reply
  3. Rob

    This show is on a downward spiral. Please post television ratings for English Montreal. Curious to know who even watches these morning shows. Good Morning America and Today have far more content.

    Reply
    1. Dolores Kathleen

      I’m a Montrealer thru and thru and have always tuned into our local stations. Global had a great morning show once with Tracy McKee, Andrew Poplawski et al and we lost IT. One of the French channels had a great morning show Cafe – ine and we lost that as well. I was consoled when BT came on the air in Montreal with the likes of our very own Alexandre Despatie and Wilder Weir and now they’re both gone. I guess like others I’ll have to go back to Canada AM (nothing wrong with them except they’re not LOCAL!) or GMA and sometimes Salut Bonjour.

      Reply
        1. Dolores Kathleen

          I know I heard. This is when I’m thankful that I live in both English and French but I feel bad for the uni-lingual Anglos who don’t have any choice.

          Reply
        2. Media Man

          Speaking of Canada AM Steve, will you be doing a blog or story on AM tragedy.
          I hope the Gazette is not putting the kabosh on that.

          My only take, besides their corporate BS contained in their press release, is it’s another cost cutting measure and probably bring in virtual unknown TV sophomores and lower on the bottom line.

          Reply
  4. Rita

    Really unforunate about Wilder. I thought Joanne and Wilder had great chemistry, and I was actually surprised they let him go. Thought he was on holiday … Wilder looked like he enjoyed what he was doing. I’m not feeling the same vibe with the hosts you have now.

    Rita

    Reply
    1. Dolores Kathleen

      I absolutely agree with you one hundred percent Rita! Wilder was great at what he did and his engaging personality seemed to come naturally to him (not forced as with others!). Are “the powers that be” trying to cancel this once good morning show with the excuse oh well no one was watching? If so they’re doing a good job of it!

      Reply

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