In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, CBC has introduced new measures that will see its TV coverage change considerably.

In a shift announced March 18, the CBC News Network — which the pubcaster had already made more widely available to certain telco customers as well as streaming it for free online — will serve as a breaking news service integrating journalism and coverage from across the network, The National and local CBC stations.

As such, the broadcast spots that previously contained local market newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weeknights will be temporarily replaced by content from CBC News Network.

While the CBC did not respond to MiC‘s questions about whether or not jobs would be affected, it did issue a statement saying local stations would still create content for radio, digital and social. In addition, CBC North will continue to produce and broadcast its specific programming from Yellowknife and Iqualuit.

As part of an effort to accommodate these changes, Power and Politics production has temporarily been suspended, with the Ottawa-based team re-deployed toward the national coverage efforts.

Susan Marjetti, general manager of news, current affairs and local framed the efforts as a temporary “pooling [of] resources into one core news offering.”