Less live news, more repeats on CBC News Channel this summer

News on the hour to be repeated 30 minutes later

TORONTO — CBC News Network will have less live programming this summer, but the public broadcaster insists that won’t hamper its ability to jump on breaking stories.

The CBC says starting June 29, the day after the afternoon business program On The Money goes off the air for good, the all-news network will move to a half-hour model from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Instead of being continuously live during those hours, the station will have live newscasts for the first half of every hour.

That live segment will then be repeated for the next 30 minutes of the hour-long block.

“This format will not preclude us from moving quickly on any breaking news,” Chuck Thompson, head of public affairs at CBC English Services, said Thursday.

Thompson noted the station has “done this on occasion in the past during heavy holiday periods,” adding that they're doing it this summer “as many staff go on holidays.”

“So it’s not something completely new. But it has never, ever precluded us from moving on breaking news.”

The CBC will “reassess at the end of the summer” just how long to continue the format, he said.

On Wednesday, the CBC announced it’s cancelling the CBC News Network program On The Money due to budget constraints as it focuses resources on digital platforms.

In a note to staff, CBC News general manager Jennifer McGuire said investments such as enhancing the digital presence of The National and expanded podcasting have strained operational budgets.

She said that along with cancelling On The Money, the CBC has in recent months found savings through other means.

McGuire said business stories will remain key to news coverage, with On The Money host Peter Armstrong continuing as a senior business correspondent.