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Newscast review: CTV News Toronto at 5 for Wednesday, April 15 2026

Summary

While it’s great to have more choice and competition in local news, the late afternoon/early evening 5 pm newscast on CFTO feels inferior to CP24 Live at Five, formerly simulcast on CFTO. The overall feel of the newscast feels “compliant,” a bit boring, and perhaps gives off “small market energy” with little reporter presence or set utilization.

Nonetheless, the 11 stories presented were a strong selection of major local stories, provincial matters, and feel good human interest stories rounding out the C and D blocks. Despite the slight tease of “maybe at 5”, Andria Case’s report on new inductees onto the Scarborough Walk of Fame did not air on this newscast. Time distribution was good, chunking approximately 10 minutes for the A-block, 7 minutes for the B-block, and 3 minutes for the C and D blocks.

Opener & A-block

17:00:05 - 17:09:35

A-block structure

• 17:00:05-17:00:38 open & headlines (Zuraidah Alman)
• 1st story, to 17:03:01: FIFA fan fest as a paid event (Janice Golding), live on camera at City Hall (intro & close)
• Weather, to 17:04:11: (Lyndsay Morrison), live in studio
• 2nd story, to 17:04:48: Toronto Police Service officer charged with manslaughter in Niagara (Alman)
• 3rd story, to 17:05:15: Motor vehicle accident in Bowmanville (Alman)
• 4th story, to 17:06:55: Pedestrian struck in Mississauga (John Musselman), voiceover only
• 5th story, to 17:07:39: Three arsons in Markham (Alman)
• 6th story, to 17:09:10: Mayor pushes for Scarborough East LRT funding (Alman)
• to 17:09:22 (:28 with 407 ETR, :35 with Bell) 2 minute break transition: weather (waterfront skyline camera)

B-block

17:11:49 - 17:18:47

B-block structure

• Weather, to 17:14:38
• 7th story, to 17:16:01: Relaxed alcohol rules in provincial parks (Alman)
• 8th story, to 17:18:11: Mistakenly released prisoners (Siobhan Morris), on camera at Queen’s Park (pre-recorded, at close)
• to 17:18:25 (:40 with 10400, :47 with Bell 5G) break transition: students invited to Blue Jays baseball experience event

C-block

17:21:30 - 17:24:54

C-block structure

• 9th story, to 17:22:33: Raptors prepare for playoffs (Alman)
• 10th story, to 17:24:42: Students invited to Blue Jay All Stars series (Allison Hurst), voiceover only
• to 17:24:47 (:54 with Bell 5G) break transition: CTV News app

D-block

17:27:22 - 17:30:05

D-block structure

• 11th story, to 17:29:23: Meals On Wheels volunteers (Jessica Smith), on camera on site (pre-recorded, at close)
• Weather, to 17:29:49)
• to 17:30:05 Proper close

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