Citytv in Winnipeg will be losing its nightly news programs under some heavy staffing cuts announced Wednesday by the broadcaster.

The news came on the same day that Bell Globemedia made public its $1.7 billion bid for Citytv's owner CHUM Ltd.

Effective Wednesday, Citytv's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. night newscasts are off the air. Cam Cowie, the station's general manager in Winnipeg, says 28 on-air reporters, anchors, camera operators and other staff will lose their jobs.

"It's been a tough day here," said Cowie.

"I really have to take my hat off to the staff that left [Wednesday]. I mean they were all professionals. They all worked hard. They all did their jobs."

About 281 full-time and part-time employees will be laid off across the country, according to a memo to employees that was obtained by CBC News.

In addition to the job losses in Winnipeg, Cowie says technical operations now based in Portage la Prairie will be moved to Calgary.

Cowie maintains the layoffs are not directly related to the take-over bid and have been in the works for a week.

Looking back, Cowie says the station has had a tough go of it.

"You know, we won a lot of stories in terms of being there first...but since day one, and [with] the inception with Manitoba Television Network, it's been an uphill battle."

In place of the program cuts, Citytv will reportedly roll out a local morning information show.

Canadian Press is reporting that the moves include switching Citytv stations in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg from one-hour evening newscasts to a daily half-hour local news magazine show.

An official with the Winnipeg station says the cuts are not related to the proposed take-over of Citytv's owner CHUM.