Fort Saskatchewan residents who tune into Global Edmonton for local news could soon notice a difference in coverage. Corus Entertainment announced on July 16, 2026, that it will centralize Global News production for Calgary and Edmonton, moving operations out of local studios to a hub outside the communities. The shift means some on-air personalities have lost their jobs, though the company has not said exactly how many.
Corus spokesperson Annie Arnone said the company remains committed to local news delivery in both cities. But the change comes as the broadcaster struggles with declining advertising revenue. Corus reported a net loss of $36.5 million in the third quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, with consolidated revenue falling 16 per cent to $249 million compared to the same period in 2025.
Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie, who represents Calgary Midnapore, criticized the move, warning that communities like Fort Saskatchewan will lose the local angle in their newscasts. “Centralizing regional newscasts means the local angle will be lost — but of greater concern is the power shift and control of the media message. Having local news is important,” Kusie said. Fort Saskatchewan, with roughly 30,000 residents, relies on Global Edmonton as a main source of television news for local government, RCMP activities, and community events.
The Corus announcement follows a wave of cuts at Rogers Sports & Media, which eliminated 230 jobs and closed six radio stations on July 7, including Calgary’s 660 NewsRadio and Sportsnet 960 The Fan. The back-to-back reductions have raised concerns about the future of local journalism in Alberta.
Corus is also waiting for a decision from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on a recapitalization plan that would transfer control from the Shaw Family Living Trust to a group of lenders, who would collectively own 99 per cent of a new parent company, with Canso Investment Counsel Ltd. expected to be the largest shareholder at roughly 44 per cent. The union Unifor has called on the CRTC to approve the plan only if it protects jobs and local programming.
