Payroll to be Shed at CTV, Olympic Rights Swap and Lloyd Robertson

Published by Toronto Mike on February 18, 2010 @ 14:59 in Television

tvIt's no wonder this CTV / Rogers consortium forked over major dough in order to broadcast these Olympic games. In this age of the PVR / DVR, advertisements are virtually invisible, with one exception: live sports.

The only time I see ads on television are during live sporting events, and since Friday night, 99% of my television viewing has been these 2010 Olympics on a CTV or Rogers station. And I have to watch them live, which means catching more ads this month than I have in the previous year. The Olympics is an event worth investing in, you'd think.

CBC got outbid by CTV to broadcast these games, and for the past few weeks I've been hearing various rumours from insiders at CTV and other media companies regarding two subjects: imminent headcount reduction at CTV and possible selling of future Olympic rights by CTV to CBC.

Let's take a look at that first topic I've been hearing all over the place lately. Speculation is that immediately following these Olympics CTV will announce a substantial round of firings/layoffs. I hope I'm wrong, I don't want anyone to lose their job, but there's a lot of smoke here.

As for the Olympics, this CTV/Rogers consortium has the rights to 2012 in London. It's possible these rights could be flipped back to CBC for the right price. Personally, I hope this does happen. I preferred the CBC Olympic coverage to the coverage I've been watching this past week from Vancouver.

Oh... and look for Lloyd Robertson to assume a reduced role in the not to distant future. CTV would never can the living legend, but they're ready for him to step aside now.

If you'd like to join in on this Canadian media speculation, please feel free to do so in the comments. If you're an insider with details, contact me and we can play Woodward and Bernstein.

Permalink Entry Permalink Comments 11 comments

11 Responses to "Payroll to be Shed at CTV, Olympic Rights Swap and Lloyd Robertson"

Donna Vitan
February 18, 2010 / 15:29

I hope there won't be any firings. It would suck to find that out after a large promotion of the Olympics from the company.

Toronto Mike
February 18, 2010 / 15:41

I should point out I don't work for a media company and I'm not an "insider", I just have plenty of friends in the media and plenty of other folks who like to feed me info because I have this here blog.

I sat on these rumours for weeks because they're merely rumours, but I figured let's get it out there and discuss what's got merit and what's simply bullshit.

elvis
February 18, 2010 / 15:41

Do you think CTV will carry the Tiger Woods presser tomorrow?

Steve
February 18, 2010 / 16:12

"Do you think CTV will carry the Tiger Woods presser tomorrow?"

I hope they don't because I still don't quite understand why anybody should care about this so much, but CTV is usually all over this kind of crap. Maybe the main CTV network won't because they'll be too busy showing an Olympic re-run of something from 3 days ago for the 47th time, but I'm sure News Channel will break away from something important that actually effects the world for live team coverage.

brad
February 18, 2010 / 17:08

citytv just fired a whole bunch of people - i'm not surprised ctv is up next

and when shaw takes over canwest, look out!

Dumbass
February 18, 2010 / 18:12

Yep, Mike...and you've turned into a new media whore for everything from movies for your children to asswipe product for your shower.

So why even ask the question?

You jumped the shark, Fonzie, when you posted your first Ford test drive. Aside from your trenchant reviews of television, you're the enemy now! You love anybody who'll put you in a Raptor's seat or Leaf's seat.

Mr. Briefcase: Mike Boon.

Toronto Mike
February 18, 2010 / 18:26

Hey Dumbass, that's not fair.

Nobody worked harder to fuck up Pepsi than I did, before and after they took me courtside.

As for Ford, they're nice people, but I don't drive a Ford. I was happy to test drive their car and watch the Leafs from their seats, but I disclose everything, as I did with Dove.

Any moment now, I'll be writing my 10,000th entry. 10,000 entries and about 9,990 are simply about shit that interests me. And yes, a few are about swag I get. I'm okay with that.

If you aren't, don't read. But I'm not the enemy.

AnotherBlogger
February 18, 2010 / 18:46

Dumbass, if you're going to stop reading any blog that ever got tickets or movies or soap for free, you won't have any decent blog left to read.

Toronto Mike discloses what he gets for free - and that makes it okay in my books. All this entry does - for example - is piss off Rogers and CTVBELLGLOBEMEDIA. He's anything but a new media whore.

And if you're going to rag on a fellow blogger who's out there fighting the good fight at least have the balls to sign your real name.

anonymous
February 18, 2010 / 18:59

Dumbass - your comments are not fair at all. I've written negative in the past only on a personal comment but you have slandered Mike personally.
Not right.
All other media have downsized & time for CTV to follow. MOre let go at CITY?? Whose left?

Sara
February 18, 2010 / 21:20

I think it's funny that any of you even address the comments from "Dumbass". (But it is kind of neat that he called himself that, so that everyone could respond "HEY DUMBASS!")

Anyway...

It's clear that he commented like he did only because Mike struck a nerve. If he'd been offered a free seat here and there, from whomever, I'm sure he'd be first in line to accept too.

Mike discloses that they're rumours. Why not write about rumours in a personal blog? I would.

Dumbass pokes fun at Mike for reviewing kids movies and posting media rumours. It's a personal blog. What is personal blogging for, if not to write about whatever the hell you want to write about?

Mike has casual readers, regular readers, fans, and people that really don't like him. He's got a job, a wife, and two kinds that he adores. He's got friends in media, and other important places (I'm sure). He gets free tickets and lots of other cool free shit.

He writes what he feels and wants to write about. You know why? Because he can.

So maybe people like "Dumbass" ought to start their own blog and write about all the things they care about (layoffs at CTV seem to be a passionate topic), rather than poke around the internet commenting anonymously on the blogs of others.

Sara

McNulty
February 19, 2010 / 07:59

I wish I got free swag.

Keep up the good work, Mike.

Leave a Reply



« Marianne St-Gelais Wins Silver in Women's 500m Speed Skating WWWD Tee Shirt Arrives »