Here's the list of the shows scheduled for CTV

 

Hard to hope for an increase in local coverage when you fired all your sports reporters and anchors. Having the news anchor tell you the final score over 15 secs. of highlight viz won't cut it. 

I was thinking with the current environment that Bell would be cutting back on original production, but in fact they are doing as much as last year with 98 original series and productions which is huge by any measure. 

The fall season isn't nearly as important as before.  I think the better and more interesting programming comes in the mid season late January and February. This is also when CTV brings back much of their original programming. 

The CFL returning to CTV is a great move.  And with the finals and Grey Cup back on free TV also will raise the profile of the league with the public.  Very good news for both the league and CTV. 

Between Bell, Corus, CBC there is no lack of original programming for 24/25.  Rogers will have their upfronts on Monday.  

RadioActive wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

 Rogers will have their upfronts on Monday.  

I will be very curious to see if Law & Order: Toronto gets a second season. 

The show certainly started out strong, with one of the highest ratings for any drama last season.  Whether it remained popular for all 10 episodes is another matter.  

Hudson & Rex will also be interesting to see if it gets renewed for season 7.  This show apparently is popular here and in several other countries.  But for season 7 contracts are renewed and production costs can skyrocket.  And they have enough shows in the can for syndication right now.   Hudson & Rex seasons have varied from 13 to 20 shows.  Last year they produced 16, so if it is renewed may come back with fewer episodes to keep costs in line.

Canada's Got Talent with a $1 million dollar first prize.  A one off or back again?

Here's the sometimes convoluted story of how the CFL came back to over-the-air TV after many years as a cable-only entity. (And is that part about showing the games in the past with no announcing crew thanks to a strike true? What a weird series of broadcasts that must have been.)

CFL games, including Grey Cup, return to CTV after almost four decades in long lobbied-for move

RadioActive wrote:

And is that part about showing the games in the past with no announcing crew thanks to a strike true? What a weird series of broadcasts that must have been.)

For August 20 to October 5, 2005, the Canadian Media Guild workers were locked out by the CBC after they failed to reach an agreement over a bunch of key issues, including wages and the number of contract/casual workers employed by the Corp. CBC TV and radio had years of pre-recorded programs available for day-to-day use to fill the airtime, but the impact was really noticeable in news and sports coverage. Managers were forced to anchor bare bones newscasts with very little visual material. The CFL games were still televised, but used raw sound from the crowd, plus stadium announcers to identify players and yardage gained, etc. 

TSN acquiring the rights to CFL telecasts made sense at the time because the league was struggling and teams needed the financial shot in the arm the deal provided. However, the quality of the broadcasts, especially compared to the CFL on CBC, suffered a great deal in my opinion. The CBC devoted more time to interviewing players and providing in-depth background on key match-ups and guys like Chris Walby and Khari Jones offered great insights to back up play-by-play from Steve Armitage, Mark Lee and (prior to joining TSN) Chris Cuthbert. I'd like to be proven wrong, but I'm doubtful that putting the games on CTV will lead to an improved broadcast product, which is a shame.
 

paterson1 wrote:

CBC was great in the day for the CFL, but TSN also does a excellent job.  TSN's Grey Cup and playoff telecasts are superior to anything CBC was doing years ago.  The added CTV coverage this year will give the league added exposure with fans and potential fans that don't subscribe to TSN.  Being on CTV likely won't change the broadcast since they are simulcasting with TSN.  

"Excellent"? Well, to each his own I suppose. While the technology for sports coverage has improved, particularly through the use of drones and other visual effects, I can't say I've seen better analysis or play-by-play coverage. Cuthbert is always great. Rod Smith is competent if unexciting and the rest of the crew is "meh". The last halftime report I watched featured Dunnigan, Stegall, Barker and Beirness engaged in an epic discussion on how long it took the CFL on TSN interns to run across the field at Mosaic Stadium. That, combined with the updated gambling odds and endless sports betting ads, means I turn to something else at halftime until the game comes back on. 

But as you say, I'm glad to see the return of the CFL to OTA TV.
 

Last edited by BowmanvilleBob (June 7, 2024 7:25 pm)

RadioActive wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

 Rogers will have their upfronts on Monday.  

I will be very curious to see if Law & Order: Toronto gets a second season. 

Not only did it get a second season, the show also got a THIRD season(per The Cinemaholic).

Go ahead and cue the "dun dun" sound effect.