June 22, 2006
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.
