[Professional Blog] It's Official

It's official... CBC Here Now is moving to 90 minutes, effective August 31. Actually, they are creating a new 30-minute program, called Early Edition, which will start at 5:30 pm. Here Now will start at its usual time of 6:00 pm.

I will follow up on this with more information, before the show debuts. In the meantime, here's the press release, which was issued by CBC this afternoon. Chances are, you won't see much of this in any other local media, so I am presenting it here verbatim - with upper case letters and boldface, as it appeared in the original.

CBC NEWS: HERE NOW - EARLY EDITION STARTS AUGUST 31

Beginning August 31, CBC Newfoundland and Labrador launches a new live, local news program CBC NEWS: HERE NOW EARLY EDITION weekdays at 5:30 p.m. NT (5 p.m. Lab).

CBC NEWS: HERE NOW EARLY EDITION gives viewers a first look at the days top news stories with hosts Debbie Cooper and Jonathan Crowe. They will also get the provinces first full local weather forecast with Ryan Snoddon.

CBC NEWS: HERE NOW will follow at 6 p.m. (5:30 p.m. Lab), delivering a full hour of in-depth breaking local stories and hard-hitting investigative reports as well as the provinces most comprehensive weather forecast.

With 90 minutes of local news, said host Debbie Cooper, we will reflect more of what is happening around Newfoundland and Labrador, bringing the viewer what is going on right now and updating developing stories that impact their lives.

CBC News will deliver balanced, reliable, up-to-the-minute coverage with the background and depth needed to really understand the story, said Jennifer McGuire, General Manager and editor in chief, CBC News. Its really quite thrilling to be able to expand our local news coverage to better serve Canadians in an economic environment where the inclination could be to retreat.

Named Canadas best local newscast for a medium market by the RTNDA, CBC NEWS: HERE NOW hosts Debbie Cooper, Jonathan Crowe, Ryan Snoddon and the CBC News team have won more awards than any local TV news show in the market.

Coinciding with this addition, CBC Television will air GHOST WHISPERER at 4:30 p.m NT., CBC NEWS: HERE NOW EARLY EDITION at 5:30 p.m. NT, CBC NEWS: HERE NOW at 6 p.m. NT, CORONATION STREET at 7 p.m. NT, WHEEL OF FORTUNE at 7:30 p.m. NT and JEOPARDY at 8 p.m. NT.