Groupe TVA ‘s plans to make its Rimouski, Sherbrooke, and Trois-Rivières news broadcasts available in HD — moving some of the operations to Montréal in the process — was denounced by the staff’s union as “Montrealization”, being used as a cover to cut jobs in the region. But the company has responded that “only certain activities” will be based in Montréal or Québec.
“Editorial choices, information gathering, montage, and the announcing of news,” will continue to take place locally, says TVA in a media release.
Earlier, the Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique, the union representing workers at the company, had issued a media release (via CNW) foreseeing pre-recorded news broadcasts produced in Montréal, with live local news dwindling to only an occasional event. “This loss of control of local content in the region constitutes another example of the Montrealization of the media,” said Alain Caron, president of the SCFP’s communications section. The union also said this meant job loss in the region.
However, TVA says it is acting to bring a long-awaited technological advance and an improved viewing experience to the region. It also points out that it employs 225 people there.
