In what it called the largest expansion in its history, CTV News yesterday appointed five new foreign correspondents, created 15 new specialty reporting beats, and announced the launch of a new half-hour documentary series aimed at younger Canadians.
"While others are retreating, we see opportunities," said Kirk LaPointe, the network's senior vice-president for news. "We think what matters elsewhere also matters here. We want to make the news more accessible to more Canadians."
The new bureaus, underwritten by part of the $230-million benefits package pledged last year by BCE Enterprises when it acquired CTV, will be located in New Delhi (Matt McClure), Los Angeles (Matt Cowan), Mexico City (Denelle Balfour), Kampala (Murray Oliver) and Sydney (Jonathan Gravenor). With CTV's existing bureaus in Washington, London, Beijing, Moscow and Jerusalem, the full complement is now 10, making it Canada's most extensive network of international journalists. It also maintains bureaus in eight Canadian cities.
Filing to both local and national newscasts, the new team of beat reporters will be Web-trained specialists in a range of fields, from science to health to public safety.
The new documentary series, 21C (for Twenty-first Century), aims to take investigative journalism to an age demographic that public-affairs television has all but ignored -- the under-20 set. With hosts Dominic Patten and Anne-Marie Mediwake, the show, beginning Oct. 21, will air Sundays at 7:30 p.m. A complementary Web site will allow viewers to discuss expanded versions of on-air stories and submit their own material.
As previously reported, CTV yesterday also named two new hosts for its flagship morning show, Canada AM -- current Parliament Hill reporter Lisa LaFlamme and current sports broadcaster Rod Black.
Referring to herself as a traditional night owl, Ms. LaFlamme said she would "try to find an alarm clock that sounds like a jackhammer" in order to get up at 4 a.m. five days a week to prepare for the show's 6:30 a.m. curtain call.
Replacing Dan Matheson, who will become anchor of CTV NewsNet's prime-time broadcasts, Mr. Black said he had accepted the co-host job on Monday, after discussing it with his family. He said he intends to continue to do as much sports broadcasting as the new assignment will permit. Asked if he was worried about the physical demands of working 18-hour days, Mr. Black quipped: "I'm a sports broadcaster. I'm not that smart."
In addition, the network announced plans to strengthen Question Period, its long-running weekly show of political debate and analysis. The show's hosts will be veteran CTV Ottawa bureau chief Craig Oliver and Globe and Mail political editor Edward Greenspon. In keeping with Mr. LaPointe's goal of providing better access and accountability, the last quarter of the one-hour show will give viewers a chance to talk back to politicians, decision makers and CTV producers.
Yesterday in Toronto, at a gala company barbecue complete with exotic animals, former NHL hockey players, trained parachute jumpers and a beach volleyball game played by members of Canada's national team, CTV also celebrated the forthcoming launch of seven new digital channels: WTSN, NHL Network, ESPN Classic Canada, Animal Planet, Discovery Civilization, CTV Travel and the French-language service RDS Info Sports. Starting next month, the new channels will be available to Canadians who have digital cable or satellite services, such as Bell ExpressVu.
CTV owns 25 conventional TV stations across Canada and interests in 33 pay and specialty channels, including TSN. Both CTV and The Globe and Mail are now owned by Bell Globemedia.