1 of 1- RadioActive
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This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
This story on MeTV - the U.S. subcarrier channel that carries nothing but ancient reruns of shows like M*A*S*H and The Andy Griffith Show - could have some influence on CHCH.
It shows that programmed the right way, people will still watch their old favourites, something CHCH has been doing in the afternoons for years. But MeTV is also succeeding in primetime, when 'CH is running other less well known programming. Could they take a lesson from the network, which unfortunately, is on the very weak WBBZ-TV Channel 67 from Buffalo and can't be received in the GTA?
That, in itself, is an advantage for 'CH, which could have that market all to itself if it chose to go the rerun route full time, including at night.
Weigel’s MeTV is one of the top TV networks in America. Most of its shows are decades old.
- RadioAaron
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
I think it needs the big, national scale that MeTV has; they reach 95% of the US population.
750,000 viewers (their top sow) in the US in equivalent to 1200 people in Hamilton.
And they're probably not selling ratings, but rather potential reach.
- RadioActive
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
Is CHCH not carried on cable/satellite in other markets or even provinces? It used to be that way, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.
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Thread Starter- RadioAaron
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
RadioActive wrote:
Is CHCH not carried on cable/satellite in other markets or even provinces? It used to be that way, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.
Good point; pretty sure it is. But Canada doesn't have the national syndication ad model that the US does. There's a pretty high critical mass needed to make that model work. (The model is dirt-cheap ads that can *theoretically* be seen by large populations)
- Leslieville Bill
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Thing is, I think, there is only so much old content to go around. I suspect that web based alternatives like Pluto and Tubi will ultimately have the edge.
- Not an industry person. Just a guy with a love of Toronto radio.
- Radiowiz
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
It shows that programmed the right way, people will still watch their old favourites, something CHCH has been doing in the afternoons for years. But MeTV is also succeeding in primetime, when 'CH is running other less well known programming. Could they take a lesson from the network, which unfortunately, is on the very weak WBBZ-TV Channel 67 from Buffalo and can't be received in the GTA?
That, in itself, is an advantage for 'CH, which could have that market all to itself if it chose to go the rerun route full time, including at night.
If classic is the way to go, then why did CKVR "Classic Television" go away?
(CTV 2 is still CKVR Barrie, but you know what I mean...)
Last edited by Radiowiz (December 9, 2025 10:34 pm)
- ckg927
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
I've said it before: CHCH's owner, Channel Zero, should take notes from Weigel and create a MeTV-like network for Canada. Start acquiring the rights to programming and be as varied in your programming mix as Me is.
- ckg927
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
I think it needs the big, national scale that MeTV has; they reach 95% of the US population.
750,000 viewers (their top sow) in the US in equivalent to 1200 people in Hamilton.
And they're probably not selling ratings, but rather potential reach.
If memory serves, MeTV DOES pop up in Nielsen ratings.
- RadioActive
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Yes, there are only so many old classics, but I like the way MeTV sometimes packages them. For instance, during Thanksgiving, a series of shows about the holiday. Same with Christmas.
You could do a "It's winter in M*A*S*H" during February, showing episodes where they're trying to escape the cold.
Mother's Day could have shows about TV sitcom moms, etc. etc.
It keeps the content feeling fresh, even if it isn't. And yes, those episodes get shown a lot. But there are some programs you can watch and re-watch forever, because they were just that good or a part of your childhood. CHCH could take a page from MeTV and try to do the same thing.
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Thread Starter- DOPEfm
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
This story on MeTV... is on the very weak WBBZ-TV Channel 67 from Buffalo and can't be received in the GTA?
That, in itself, is an advantage for 'CH, which could have that market all to itself if it chose to go the rerun route full time, including at night.
As a side note, I do occasionally get 67 when it's clear skies on Hamilton central mountain with a large directional antenna steered to Buffalo & Niagara on my legacy tablo.
- mace
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To mark Gunsmoke's 70th anniversary this past September, METV began running the rarely seen 1955-61 30 minute episodes of the series.
- ckg927
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
To mark Gunsmoke's 70th anniversary this past September, METV began running the rarely seen 1955-61 30 minute episodes of the series.
MeTV has aired them in the past; that was part of a 70th anniversary celebration showcasing the first eps, well known guest stars, etc.
- MJ Vancouver
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
Is CHCH not carried on cable/satellite in other markets or even provinces? It used to be that way, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.
CHCH is carried throughout most of Ontario on cable, and even still has OTA transmitters covering much of the province. They have digital transmitters covering Ottawa, London, and Muskoka, and to my knowledge they still have analog transmitters covering Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Timmins.
- paterson1
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
I am not sure if CHCH went "all gold" with vintage TV shows would be the answer. Their 4 hour morning show isn't bad and news coverage is decent IMO. CHCH did an excellent job during the last federal election and the coverage on election night was well done from what I saw, lots of reporters out in the field. Excellent for an independent TV channel. On long holiday weekends they also have their regular newscasts. And they also cover sports and always have a weather person, unlike CFTO.
Their prime time programming has some gaps and I was hoping that they were going to opt for more movies from the last 5-20 years which they were programming a few years back but now seem to be pulling back on.
Last edited by paterson1 (December 13, 2025 11:47 am)
- RadioActive
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
There was a time when CHCH was famous for its first run movie premieres. If memory serves, they were the first station in North America (and maybe the world) to show "The Godfather" on TV. They had some sort of special arrangement with some motion picture syndicators that got them the big name flicks first.
And then came cable and its uncut films, and it was all over. But it sure was interesting while it lasted. 
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Thread Starter- ckg927
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Re: This American Network Could Hold A Good Lesson For CHCH
I am not sure if CHCH went "all gold" with vintage TV shows would be the answer. Their 4 hour morning show isn't bad and news coverage is decent IMO. CHCH did an excellent job during the last federal election and the coverage on election night was well done from what I saw, lots of reporters out in the field. Excellent for an independent TV channel. On long holiday weekends they also have their regular newscasts. And they also cover sports and always have a weather person, unlike CFTO.
Their prime time programming has some gaps and I was hoping that they were going to opt for more movies from the last 5-20 years which they were programming a few years back but now seem to be pulling back on.
As I've said before, CHCH shouldn't. Its owner, however, could try to create a cable network modeled after MeTV.
- Radiowiz
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As I've said before, CHCH shouldn't. Its owner, however, could try to create a cable network modeled after MeTV.
I agree 100%, when one considers that Channel zero also owns SilverScreen TV Canada and perhaps tons of access to content from yesteryear.