Global News is pleased to reveal that Global News: BC 1, the province’s only 24-hour news channel, will officially launch Thursday, March 14. After months of careful planning and preparation, the Global BC-driven specialty channel will flip the switch at 9am PT with the launch of AM/BC, the introspective news program hosted by respected anchor Jill Krop.
“The launch of Global News: BC 1 demonstrates our commitment to providing viewers with unparalleled access to the news they want, when they want it, while continuing to maintain the high standards set forward by Global News,” says Troy Reeb, Senior Vice President, News and Station Operations, Shaw Media. “We know that Vancouverites are already among the biggest consumers of news in the country, and as the first of its kind in the province, Global News: BC 1 will leverage the resources that have made us British Columbia’s number one choice for news.”
Led by a team of anchors, including Sonia Sunger, Leigh Kjekstad, Scott McLean and Asa Rehman, alongside a seasoned team of reporters and producers, Global News: BC 1 has put the pieces in place to ensure viewers are kept up-to-date on breaking news as it happens. An innovative ‘L-frame’ display at the bottom and side of the channel’s screen will carry the day’s top headlines, as well as weather and traffic information to keep viewers informed. The channel will also broadcast all local Global BC newscasts and feature regular content and reports from the station’s entire roster of award-winning anchors and journalists. Through its decades-old connections with key charities, businesses and community groups, Global News: BC1 will also air both daily news coverage as well as the community events and happenings that shape the province.
Global News: BC 1Anchors are as follows:
Sonia Sunger: Weekday Anchor – Born and raised in Victoria, Sunger studied journalism at Concordia University in Montreal, and later graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (NAIT) Radio and Television Arts program. Sunger began her career at CTV Edmonton, working first as a web writer and reporter before being named Anchor of the channel’s Late Night News cast, and later theWeekend News at 6. A passionate traveler, Sunger has visited Europe, as well as India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Germany and Turkey, to name a few places. She can also speak Punjabi.
Leigh Kjekstad: Weekday Anchor – A native of Victoria, Kjekstad began her television career in 2002 as an Anchor and reporter for WOAY-TV in West Virginia before becoming Evening Anchor at WETM-18 News in Elmira, New York. She later moved to KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico before making the trek back to Canada, later working for CHEK News in Victoria. Kjekstad graduated from Queen’s University with a bachelor degree in communications before earning a masters degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University. She enjoys skiing, reading and training for half-marathons.
Scott McLean: Weekend Anchor– An accomplished anchor and producer, McLean studied film production at York University before moving to CHBC Kelowna, and later ‘A’ News in London, Ontario. McLean later joined Global Regina as a reporter, covering everything from breaking news to entertainment and social media. In 2011, McLean joined the station’s Morning News program as a live reporter and anchor. A native of St. Thomas, Ontario, Mclean is an avid traveler; and recently visited Minneapolis, Minnesota to cover the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election from a Western Canadian perspective.
Asa Rehman: Weekend Anchor – Rehman studied communications at Trinity Western University before graduating from the Radio and Television Arts program at Columbia Academy. In 2006, he worked as a weather and traffic reporter for the Canadian Traffic Network, while providing updates for radio station Team1040 and CFUN 1410. A year later, Rehman moved to CKNW NewsTalk 980, where he worked as a sports reporter before being hired by Shaw Media’s Fox Sports World as Anchor of the station’s Fox Soccer Report. While with the station, Rehman also produced and hosted a weekly segment called MLS Pulse.
In addition to carrying newscasts and content, Global News: BC 1 will also feature two new, original talk shows: AM/BC and Top Story. Hosted by Jill Krop, AM/BC will offer an introspective look at the stories and issues making waves across the province. More than an irreverent morning talk show, AM/BC will tackle the hard-topics of the day while also offering a light-hearted look at some of the softer stories not being covered by other outlets. Interviews with expert guests coupled with input from viewers through Twitter, and other social media channels will spark discussion and intelligent conversation throughout the program. AM/BC airs weekdays from 9-10am PT.
A half-hour current affairs program, Top Story will dive deeper into the day’s most buzzed-about topics. Through in-depth, contextual analysis on hard-hitting stories, alongside in-studio interviews with politicians, policy makers and thought leaders, Top Story will go above the day’s headlines to give viewers an informed perspective on the news of most importance to them. Airing weekdays from7-7:30pm, Top Story will feature a rotating host comprised of Global BC anchors and reporters, as well as selection of local and provincial special guests and personalities. News Hour Anchor Chris Gailus will helm the program’s first episode.
“Since announcing plans to launch Global News: BC 1 over a year ago, we’ve been hard at work assembling a team of experienced broadcast professionals and creating a news lineup that is informative, intelligent and entertaining,” says Kenton Boston, Vice President, BC and National News. “As the province’s first and only 24-hour news channel, we are confident that viewers will come to find the channel as both a destination for breaking news, as well as an extension of the Global BC news brand they’ve come to love and trust.”
Global News: BC 1will be available to Shaw cable subscribers in high definition on channel 216, as well as in standard definition on channel 21 for the Greater Vancouver Area, and channel 111 for the balance of B.C. In addition, Global News: BC 1 will also be made available on channel 2 in Grand Forks and Salmon Arm and Channel 88 in Quesnel. Additional providers and channels will be announced in the coming weeks.
