Raise the Hammer

Extra info from the spec (Part of the article)

Budget could put CBC Hamilton in jeopardy

Mark McNeil The Hamilton Spectator February 7, 2012

A public broadcasting advocacy group says if expected funding cuts are made to the CBC in the upcoming federal budget, the corporation may have to kill its planned online service in Hamilton.

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting spokesperson Ian Morrison said the cuts would “have devastating consequences for listeners and viewers and could well scuttle new services the CBC has promised to Hamiltonians and residents of several other communities.”

A spokesperson for the CBC stopped short of saying the Hamilton service could be dropped, but acknowledged a heavy budget hit could send planners back to the drawing board.

“We’re facing a budget cut, questions about the future of the Local Programming Improvement Fund and a softening ad market. Dealing with the financial pressures will be a challenge,” CBC spokesperson Chris Ball said.

“If the budget reduction remains within the range originally envisaged and other funding sources remain stable, progress toward our five-year strategy may slow, but the ultimate goal remains achievable — including our expansion of local services across the country, including Hamilton.”

The federal budget is expected this month, and many believe it will contain at least a 10 per cent chop to the CBC.

http://www.thespec.com/print/article/667...

great news ...

maybe SunTV will move as well when they find out how much rent CBC is paying. Then we could run a pool on how long Ezra Levant will last on James North.

Good to see that building filling up with high profile tenants and more jobs coming to the area. Looking at that aerial photo, there is way too much grey space. I hope with the increased profile of James Street, developers see potential in the lots surrounding it.

Idunno, I've often heard horror stories of Hamilton's commercial landlords running half-assed buildings at Toronto prices.

I sat on the floor and watched TV

Thanking Christ for the CBC!

An 'expletive deleted' place to be

On James Street

But of course, we totally had to get Russel Crowe for the season premiere of Republic of Doyle. I mean, it's Russel Crowe! He's Canadian, right? ..... isn't he!?

Hopefully James North doesn't lose its soul when its economy shifts from part-time to full-time.

I've been working on James North full-time for a year and a half. I like to think that I'm destroying the soul of the street a little more with every hour I work. I worked some overtime last week - take that soul of James North...one day you will be mine!

May I be frank?

I am just plain giddy excited about this.

I know that I'm probably too excited. But there it is.

I have my problems with the CBC. Metro Morning - Matt "Perhaps" Galloway, in particular - just gives me the hives sometimes. Nevertheless ...

Yay.

And will we get to see what's behind that dreadfullest of all the dreadful aluminum facades?

Comment edited by moylek on 2012-02-08 19:56:13

A thriving neighbourhood is in a constant state of metamorphosis; it's nothing to be feared. A few years back, Hess used to be nothing but restaurants, James South had all the galleries, Locke was a dump, John st was Chinatown and people flocked to Barton to go shopping. Who knows what the future holds for James North.

Ummmmm the siding's long gone and the reno is done. Check out Thier Curran's website for some pics: www.tcarch.ca

Ummmmm the siding's long gone and the reno is done

Wait - this is the building with the curving border of glass panes?

I completely forgot that this was the forgettable siding-clad building where I used to buy Sailor Moon crap in the early 90s.

"Crowe’s got “a really big part, a big, meaty part,” says series star Allan Hawco, who isn’t giving anything else away – although he does say that Crowe worked on the script with him before shooting.

It’s the third season for Hawco’s – and co-creator Perry Chafe’s – show about a slightly disreputable father-son pair of private detectives in St. John’s....

...Getting him (Russell Crowe) to appear in the series was a bit of a package deal: Crowe was joined on set by three other actors who were with him in the movie Robin Hood – Alan Doyle from the Newfoundland band Great Big Sea, Scott Grimes and Kevin Durand.

Hawco met Crowe on the Toronto set of Cinderella Man. “I remember thinking, wow, I’ll probably never get to see this guy again … and I decided to just truly be myself, and we had a great night, he was a great host, a super gentleman, and over the years, we’ve stayed in contact,” he says. “It’s such a great sign of support that he’s on the show.”

For his part, Crowe said during shooting, “It’s been a lot of fun. It doesn’t take any kind of encouragement for us to get together and socialize. But because of the type of personalities we are, if we get together and have a creative catalyst for that get-together, that’s a perfect world.” "

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts...

http://www.cbc.ca/live/the-russell-crowe...

Comment edited by George on 2012-02-09 00:16:03

Looking forward to this. I was disappointed a while back when it was revealed that this wouldn't be a radio station I could listen to in the car, but will definitely be listening to it regularly online.

I hope they have a street-level studio too. Also, it would be great if they had opening windows there so if they had concerts in the summer it would allow people to gather on the sidewalk and hear the music... maybe during art crawls or open streets Hamilton...

I don't think the economics of a 'radio station' would have made sense. It would have required an application to CRTC an then a transmitter. As it stands they've applied the CBC3 model, which bypasses the CRTC. Im assuming that the hamilton 'station' will be available on their mobile apps. So with the right phone it will be possible.

Based on what I saw back when the building was still for sale, the original facade was gone - there was nothing left to restore.

They recently put new leaded glass in above the main floor and it looks awesome

At one point the city was not going to let them put the original window configurations back - they were going to force them to reduce the area of glass by about half due to some stupid bylaw. Thank god they got past that...

Comment edited by seancb on 2012-02-09 09:36:06

It's funny that they chose that building. As a bit of a skunk work project, I designed an interactive installation demo that I thought would be cool for CBC's Digital-only broadcast - more as a way to engage people walking by. Initially, I was going to use the Lister Block as the background, but I decided to use a photo I took of 118 James N and used it as the background for the demo: http://orbital.ca/nova/cbc_hamilton_demo...

Talk about serendipity.

That's been gone for a long, long time.

A more direct link to this specific project. I was wondering what this would be used for. Looks much better then the last before pic!

http://www.tcarch.ca/projects.php?projec...

Awesome! I would have loved to have seen them in the Lister.

They're almost here!

I believe that the CBC already attempted this but it was denied by the CRTC.

It won't be too soon when they finally open up! After spending the last month trying to attract media coverage for an issue that should be of interest beyond Hamilton, I am realizing what a media vacuum we live in, and just how difficult it is to attract Toronto-based media to anything that happens here. CBC only mentions Hamilton when it comes to news and weather.

I know these views have often been expressed in other RTH posts, but just want to echo the excitement I have about finally getting a larger voice.

Looking at their blog Im now questioning what their format will actually be. I had been assuming that it would be an audio station format with streaming. I'm now questioning that when i see 'digital service'. Is this simply going to be a section of the web site dedicated to hamilton?

Yes. Sadly they won't be broadcasting. But there will be reporting, breaking news, video and podcasts. This is a new beast for them entirely and they are still figuring it out themselves.

This is likely the future of the CBC. We are it's guinea pigs, and have an opportunity to shape it through our feedback and participation. In fact, they are asking for feedback in the sidebar of the blog, so have at it! :)

Comment edited by highwater on 2012-02-10 09:12:45

CBC Digital? It's a natural!

http://www.alancross.ca/a-journal-of-musical-things/2012/1/24/cbc-dismantling-music-archives.html

Actually there may be some truth in what Ram Jam is trying to say.

Is the soul of Yorkville the same now as it was in the 1960s? Is the soul of Queen W. what it was in the 1980s? Gentrification can change the "soul" of a community.

Are you the person was was cranky about Gian & his British-isms? Some of us grew up with them & they sometimes just 'happen'. I rather have 'Q' (GOOD Talk Radio!) than what we have in Hamilton now. I've never really noticed Galloway & 'perhaps'. If you want to talk annoying, there's Mary Ito's music choices. I've got to think that she is programming her own music since it's so ummm... "Unique'.

Heck! Never mind Toronto media, sometimes you have to apply a baseball bat to the local media to get it to talk about what's going on in the GHA. (Media by KGB?)

I'd be excited if it was Sun News instead of CBC, dt has enough taxpayer subsidised orgs as it is.

Not thrilled it will be an ex-Spectator employee at the helm. Aren't we underserved enough by that media outlet? My concern is the Spec culture will infiltrate this outlet...

Agreed. Terrible choice. The CBC couldn't find someone in Hamilton to take this position? Really?

Instead they pick someone who fled Hamilton and who hasn't been in touch with what's going on here for years (that's assuming he EVER was). This whole thing has started out on a terrible footing.

Fellow CBC listener: I am not president of the Spectator Fan Club, but how about we shelve the pre-criticism (just for now) and give the wee thing a chance?

I am not president of the Spectator Fan Club...

Me neither, but I have to say I've heard only good things about Roger.

Will the CBC Hamilton digital service offer a totally fresh perspective on local news, politics and the arts scene? Or will it offer the “same old, same old” with the occasional dollop of fresh?

That is the challenge facing CBC Hamilton executive producer, Roger Gillespie, a former Hamilton Spectator journalist prior to his recent position with the Toronto Star, and CBC Hamilton producer Conrad Collaco, who worked in the CHCH-TV newsroom prior to his most recent position at CBC Radio Toronto. This city is in serious need of a local news service with more depth and objectivity than CHCH-TV or CHML radio has provided. A rehash of the existing local news formats with existing local media personalities would not be worth listening to, watching or reading. A new, objective local news service with new local media personalities would be most welcome.

While we await the launch of the CBC Hamilton digital service in the next several weeks, it is encouraging, even exciting, to read about their move into their new headquarters at 118 James Street North in the heart of downtown Hamilton: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamiltonbl...

Comment edited by RenaissanceWatcher on 2012-02-18 16:53:23

Judging by the photo credits, OpenFile Hamilton's Sheryl Nadler is working for CBC now. So that's another Spec veteran.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamiltonblog/2012/02/cbcs-first-look-at-118-james-street-north.html

It wouldn't be Hamilton if there wasn't organizational incest.

... although hand-on-chin is the serious journalist's answer to duckface.

Let's all take a breather.

I have confidence that CBC Hamilton will do what's needed in our local news ecosystem.

Roger Gillespie and I have known of each other for years. While he and I did not meet prior to a few weeks ago, I know from his professional reputation that he's the right person to lead this service.

My first impressions of Conrad Collaco are positive as well.

I've met with Gillespie three times now. We've had very productive discussions about the direction of CBC Hamilton and I'm sure everyone that frequents RTH will be very happy with the service.

There are three hires yet to be announced. (I do not know who they are) Let's wait until they've actually had the opportunity to prove themselves before rushing to judgement.

I'm working on a blog post with more depth than reasonably possibile in a comment.

My last line was a little over the top. I didn't intend it to be as biting as it reads. Apologies to Roger, Conrad and Sheryl (who, going off LinkedIn at least, is an Associate Producer at CBC).

I shouldn't prejudge. I am certainly eager to see what comes of it all and how it spurs other local media to step up their game.

I'm also sure that this venture will water a thousand seeds, and those seeds will flower and fruit and brighten our city in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine at this point.

PS: Even if this ends up being a medley of local MSM types, it doesn't necessarily mean that it will repeat the mistakes of the past. Collaborations that expand the dialogue should be celebrated.

According to twitter rumour, CBC Hamilton welcomes (so far):

Roger Gillespie (Toronto)
Conrad Collaco (Toronto)
Samantha Craggs (St. Catharines)
Julia Chapman (Toronto)
Jessica Young (Kingston)

No one hired from Hamilton? Hopefully this isn't the complete list.

Yes, I'm reporting (using Twitter) those three as the reporters hired by CBC Hamilton.

"No one hired from Hamilton?"

We can't win them all nor can we have it both ways.

We cannot complain about hires with CHCH or TheSpec on their CV and expect someone to be hired from Hamilton. Everyone in Hamilton who could reasonably be considered by CBC has one or the other on their CV.

In terms of Conrad and Roger - both have Hamilton experience. In the case of Roger, he lived in Hamilton for 20 years.

Jessica Young is no stranger to our fair city. I do not know her background (none of the hirees were on my radar) but I've seen her post pictures from past visits to our fair city and she's already running the Wentworth stairs.

I, for one, I'm pleased with the decision to start fresh with two experienced leaders at the helm.

Comment edited by JoeyColeman on 2012-02-23 11:35:38

Another Hamilton news portal, courtesy Metroland.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/news/metro-hamilton

Undoubtedly an add at some point, and useful to anyone with a new computer and a white-hot connection: HD weather "microforecasting" is being rolled out starting today with Newsworld.

Colin Eatock pegs another possible economic factor, when comparing BBM's Radio 2 audience stats.

Toronto: 1.8% in 2007, 1.3% in 2011 (1.5% in 2012)
Montreal: 3.5% in 2007, 2.5% in 2011 (2.7% in 2012)
Calgary: 2.2% in 2007, 2.0% in 2011 (2.2% in 2012)
Edmonton: 5.3% in 2007, 2.3% in 2011 (2.6% in 2012)
Vancouver: 6.5% in 2007, 3.5% in 2011 (4.4% in 2012)

For sake of local comparison, Vinyl 95.3 claims a 2.1% market share in the most recent BBM numbers.

http://www.colineatock.com/1/post/2011/9/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit1.html

Whatever its limitations, I suspect that local digital is at least a niche that you can own to a greater degree than the airwaves.