Dumped by Citytv, Hosein hires lawyer

[elook]

Dumped by Citytv, Hosein hires lawyer
Weatherman shocked after abrupt dismissal
Is being replaced by Global's Michael Kuss
Jun. 24, 2006. 01:00 AM
BRUCE DEMARA
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

Long-time TV weather forecaster Harold Hosein is shell-shocked about being left out in the cold by Citytv without getting a chance to say goodbye to his loyal viewers after nearly 17 years of advising them when to take an umbrella to work or pack sunscreen.

Hosein, 66, who has reported on weather for the station since Sept. 1, 1989, said he only learned he was off the air when a senior Citytv official telephoned him last Sunday, the day before he was to return from a four-week vacation.

Hosein, who was on contract with the station, has hired a lawyer as a precaution to ensure a fair and clean departure from his former employer. He's also determinedly looking for work.

"I'm looking for a job, hopefully with another network doing what I used to do. The termination was totally unexpected. Well, I wouldn't say totally unexpected. You get these little feelings. But it was unexpected," he said in an interview. "That's life in this kind of business. I've seen similar things and heard of similar things happening to other people. It's the way of the corporate world, I guess."

Concerned about his future at the station, Hosein had briefly considered saying farewell on air.

"I had wanted to wave goodbye to (viewers) on the last day when I was leaving on vacation, just in case. But I didn't," Hosein said, adding he has been told that Citytv has no plans to announce or commemorate his departure.

"Apparently, they (station officials) are not going to say anything or acknowledge my time (there). ... You're here today and gone tomorrow and only your true friends keep remembering you. But that's all right."

Citytv has announced that former CanWest Global weatherman Michael Kuss is scheduled to start Monday. Citytv officials did not respond to requests from the Star for comment.

This is the second recent change in the station's weather department. Nadine Hinds-Powell left suddenly last month. She has since been hired by Global on a casual basis.

Former Citytv anchor and broadcaster Ben Chin called Hosein's departure "sad news."

"Harold is a real pioneer and a wonderful guy," Chin said, alluding to Hosein's groundbreaking role as a visible minority in news broadcasting.

Originally from Trinidad-Tobago, Hosein came to Canada 39 years ago and joined Environment Canada on a co-op program where he trained as a meteorologist. He stayed there for 21 years before joining Citytv.

He will continue to report weather for radio station 680 News, which he said has been "very supportive" in the aftermath of his recent troubles.

Hosein also does some private consulting, visiting schools and teaching motivation and communications skills.

"I'm a survivor. I've been to hell and back. There's not much that can put me under. I train people in motivation and communications and teach them how to get past things like this (firing)."

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A Toronto icon - sad to see him go, and shame on Citytv for the move.

 

[SD2]

I wonder why CityTv got rid of him. He was definitely the most watchable and 'real' of the weathermen/women on various Toronto networks.

 

[Ed007Toronto]

Age?

 

[billy corgan19982]

Maybe it was the fact that CityTV had the least accurate weather forecast out of all the Toronto stations.

 

[elook]

That crappy weather forecast went along with the crappy news and sports - consistency.

What the heck Kuss is doing leaving Global for that, I'll never know.

 

[blixa442]

To call that City TV news segment a 'weather forecast' is a serious misnomer.

 

[shawnmicallef]

City always seemed to work for me because it was the urban, neighbourhood version of "down home".....getting rid fo Hosien is a big step in killing that, bad weather forcasts or not, so i'm not sure why i'd watch it, esp. now that Adam Vaughan is gone.

 

[CliffColeclough]

elook - totally agree with you, Kuss should have never left Global.

 

[thx1038]

Popular Toronto TV weatherman axed

By BILL BRIOUX - Toronto Sun




TORONTO - For years he's told us to grab an umbrella, reach for a sweater, avoid the sun.

But when weather specialist Harold Hosein got left out in the cold last weekend, he never saw it coming.

Hosein is history at CITY-TV, where he spent nearly 17 years as the friendly face and voice of CityNews.

That all ended last Sunday night when the affable Trinidad-native picked up a message at home after a four-week vacation. He returned the call and was told not to report for work Monday -- his services were no longer required.

"I didn't leave, I was pushed out," Hosein, 66, told the Sun yesterday.

That's a different story from the one CITY-TV News director Stephen Hurlbut was telling yesterday. He said Hosein had "felt it was time" for a career change. "He was at that stage in his life when he was looking for a new challenge," Hurlbut said. "He talked about becoming a financial planner. We wish him nothing but the best of luck."

Hosein can still be heard, if not seen, filing up-to-minute weather reports for Toronto radio's 680 News. "I'm happy that they're still glad to have me," he said.

As for Hurlbut, Hosein says he hasn't spoken with him, not about the firing, not about anything, in years. It was

CityNews director Tina Cortese who gave him the bad news on the phone. He said he has been given no reason for his release.

As for dropping hints about a career change, the weatherman said that's a front. "I am not a financial planner," he said. "I do not know what I am going to do."

Hurlbut said Hosein's radio gig did not factor into the changes at CITY. "Harold came to us with a radio deal in place," said Hurlbut.

Hosein isn't the only change in the weather at CITY-TV. About a month ago, meteorologist Nadine Hinds-Powell was also suddenly sacked. (She re-emerged last Thursday at Global). Hosein said she was equally baffled upon her exit.

Joining CityNews Monday is Michael Kuss, who worked the weather beat the last five years at Global. The B.C.-born Kuss has worked both sides of the border, for NBC affiliates in St. Louis and Oregon as well as Edmonton's A-Channel and The Weather Network.

Hurlbut called Kuss "engaging" and "a perfect fit." He's had his eye on him for eight years, dating back to Kuss' A-Channel days. "He's a full, blue-blooded meteorologist," said Hurlbut.

So is Hosein, who worked 21 years with Environment Canada before embarking on his CITY career.

Hosein said colleagues have reacted with "utter surprise, dismay, disbelief, anger" at the news. His contract with CITY expires at the end of August.

Hurlbut says no on-air salute to the CITY-TV veteran is planned. "We're all about the future," he said.

The spring 2006 ratings book shows CityNews is now a poor third at 6 p.m.

The spring local news averages, according to BBM Canada (all persons 2+): 1. CTV 448,000; 2. Global 324,000; 3. CITY-TV 100,000; 4. CBC 54,000.

 

[BuildTO]

"I didn't leave, I was pushed out," Hosein, 66, told the Sun yesterday.

That's a different story from the one CITY-TV News director Stephen Hurlbut was telling yesterday. He said Hosein had "felt it was time" for a career change. "He was at that stage in his life when he was looking for a new challenge," Hurlbut said. "He talked about becoming a financial planner."

I hate this kind of nonsense. If City is going to fire an on-air personality, they have to know there's likely to be publicity. The very least they can do is to be honest about it.

 

[EnviroTO]

You have to wonder why they would let him go when they kept that Gord guy who was caught showing his true colours on camera.