Changes at CTV will see the end of a designated sports slot in local television news broadcasts.

The changes, effective Tuesday, include CTV News London doing away with its coverage of local sports as a segment within its newscast. Changes to local sports coverage will also be happening at other CTV stations around the country.

When local sports are covered, it will be in terms of the importance of the event as part of the regular news cycle. That will be a blow to most local sports, including high school, Junior B hockey, the London Lightning and the London Knights.

The local CTV station features two local sports broadcasters, sports anchor Norman James and Brent Lale. Neither would comment on what was happening at the station. Both are eligible to bump into other positions at the station because of collective bargaining agreements.

“We have reduced a number of broadcast positions at Bell Media local TV stations in Kitchener, Windsor and London as part of a larger restructuring at Bell Media,” said Bell Media spokesperson Matthew Garrow by email. “The restructuring is a response to the challenges we and other Canadian media companies are facing on multiple fronts: changing broadcast technologies and growing international competition, a tough advertising market and ongoing regulatory pressure.”

CTV London News director Steve Young wouldn’t comment either directing enquiries to Bell Media, CTV’s parent company.

“I can only say if you watch the newscast (Tuesday) you will notice a difference,” he said.

There was no mention in the newscast of any changes. Only news, weather and entertainment stories made the broadcast. The word ‘sports’ was mentioned once.

Nothing was mentioned about the lack of a sports' segment in the show nor was anything mentioned about James or Lale.

mdallacosta@postmedia.com