The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / The Only Toronto OTA Station Not Carrying The English Language Debate

**Posted by RadioActive** April 15, 2025 5:26 pm

Thursday is going to be a big day for those into politics - it's the one and only English language debate before the April 28th election.

Every all-news channel will be carrying it as will every over-the-air TV station. All, that is, but one.

Unless things change and the two separate places I checked are wrong, only City TV will not be showing a frame of this thing when it goes live. Instead, viewers will be treated to a rerun of NBC's "Found" and a new episode of a crossover "Law & Order." The debate starts at 7 and goes until 9, so it only eats into an hour of network primetime.

CBC, CTV, Global and even CHCH and TVO are carrying it. (The moderator is TVO's Steve Paikin, so it only makes sense it becomes part of The Agenda) But not City TV.

And yes, I know their all news streaming service will be on top of it, as well all the others with their own streaming stations. And I know most here will not agree with me, since it can be easily found elsewhere, but there are certain responsibilities that come with being awarded an over-the-air TV licence. And I maintain carrying the only English language debate of one of the most consequential moments of a federal election may be one of those.

Even though it's available "Everywhere" (ironically, City's old slogan) it should be carried on their channel, as well. That, to me, is the price of a licence.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 15, 2025 5:31 pm

Why? It's redundant.

Nobody who receives City doesn't receive CTV or CBC.

Last edited by RadioAaron (April 15, 2025 5:32 pm)

**Posted by RadioActive** April 15, 2025 5:36 pm

Yes, I know most would feel that way, but as noted there's a certain responsibility that comes with using the public airwaves. I would argue this is one of them.

But I suppose the lure of showing American programming is too lucrative for Rogers to resist. (And to be fair, it IS a Law & Order crossover simulcast, meaning you can't show one episode without also showing the conclusion.)

It just rubs me the wrong way, considering what's at stake.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 15, 2025 5:38 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Yes, I know most would feel that way, but as noted there's a certain responsibility that comes with using the public airwaves. I would argue this is one of them.

The public absolutely must have free and easy access to the debate. What Citytv does has no effect on that.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 15, 2025 5:52 pm

I know we will never agree on this and that's fine, but there are certain events that require them to give up a single night's profits (well, really an hour's simulcast's profits.) This is one of them.

Will they even bother covering the election results on April 28th? Not if they have something better to show. It's only the future of the country. Why should that delay American Idol, their ABC simulcast?

The non-Rogers version of City TV that I remember would have covered this.

But yes, I will readily concede there are other choices. Doesn't make their decision right. I believe CBC Radio 1, CFRB and AM640, among others, will be picking up the audio feed for those in their cars or away from a screen.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 15, 2025 5:56 pm

So should CHUM-FM have to carry it?

**Posted by torontostan** April 15, 2025 5:58 pm

Should Sportsnet have to carry it? I think you're more obsessed with the tradition of OTA, rather than what is logical in 2025.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 15, 2025 6:01 pm

No, but radio is a different animal in my mind. And Sportsnet is a separate pay cable outlet and is not using public airwaves. City TV is. That brings with it a different level of responsibility. Again, I expected to be alone in this opinion and it appears on that, at least, I was correct.

**Posted by Binson Echorec** April 15, 2025 6:10 pm

If I wish to watch the debate, I'll find it. I won't necessarily care if it's on CityTV because I know it'll be on CBC so that's where I would go first.

I get where you're coming from RA, but L&O is too lucrative a franchise for CityTV to ignore. Also, I like the idea of one outlet not carrying these things - just so they can offer something to the audience that is not interested.

**Posted by paterson1** April 15, 2025 6:23 pm

I am sure that City did this also because of their own Law & Order Toronto at 10pm. Keeping with their regular schedule and theme could work out well for them. Everyone isn't into politics, or won't watch all two hours of the debate. IMO all of the over the air stations don't need to carry the debate and in the long run this won't hurt City or their reputation.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 15, 2025 7:08 pm

paterson1 wrote:
I am sure that City did this also because of their own Law & Order Toronto at 10pm.

And guess where part of Thursday's L&O Toronto takes place?

The Rogers Centre.

They just can't resist working their name and I.D. into everything!

**Posted by paterson1** April 15, 2025 9:44 pm

Just noticed that again this year the first prize for Canada's Got Talent is $1 million. Rogers/City may not have a lot of prime time productions but their shows all do well in terms of ratings. L&O Toronto, Hudson and Rex, Canada's Got Talent and of course hockey on Saturday night all strong performers. And Breakfast Television in Toronto at least is one of the top morning shows, even number one from time to time. I wonder how City is doing with their evening newscasts?

Last edited by paterson1 (April 15, 2025 9:55 pm)

**Posted by mace** April 16, 2025 3:59 am

paterson1 wrote:
Just noticed that again this year the first prize for Canada's Got Talent is $1 million. Rogers/City may not have a lot of prime time productions but their shows all do well in terms of ratings. L&O Toronto, Hudson and Rex, Canada's Got Talent and of course hockey on Saturday night all strong performers. And Breakfast Television in Toronto at least is one of the top morning shows, even number one from time to time. I wonder how City is doing with their evening newscasts?

This is anything but scientific, but on the Rogers Ignite trending site, CTVNEWS@6 always leads the local newscasts. They actually double dip because of the simulcast on CP24. CITY and Global are neck and neck followed by CHCH, CTV Barrie, CTV Kitchener and finally CBLT. Not all are in the top 10, but all are in the top 20. CNN and The Weather Network are usually in the top 5 during the supper hour.

**Posted by Radiowiz** April 16, 2025 7:27 am

The better argument is, why isn't CTV doing the same? They have a CTV National news network for Federal election coverage.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 16, 2025 7:30 am

Well, at least 680 has its election night plans firmed up.

"Anchor Alex Bloomfied will be covering the national race and reporter Cormac MacSweeney will cover Mark Carney, reporter Richard Southern will cover Pierre Poilievre, reporter Sofia Vavaroutsos will cover races in Toronto and the GTA and 1130 News Radio Vancouver reporter Michael Williams will cover Jagmeet Singh."

How and where to watch CityNews’ coverage on election day

**Posted by Shorty Wave** April 16, 2025 7:51 am

RadioActive wrote:

The non-Rogers version of City TV that I remember would have covered this.

100% RadioActive, and that was because the non-Rogers Citytv cared about their service to the community, remember their “Toronto Television” slogan? I bet they would have provided debate coverage even if they weren’t OTA as Znaimer actually cared about Toronto and felt his station had an obligation to the public.

Rogers, on the other hand, have no sense of commitment to their viewers, just the bottom line. Their news is the weakest of the locals and it shows that it doesn’t matter to them, just a contractual obligation. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t cover election night. Sad that, they once mattered, and actually cared.

**Posted by mic'em** April 16, 2025 7:59 am

I watched Canada's Got Talent last year, and no offense to the young female who won, but in my opinion she was not the most talented competitor. The fact that the winner is chosen by viewer voting makes it a farce. All it takes is thousands of votes from a single interest group to claim victory. I know the U.S. version is the same, that is why I don't watch either any more.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** April 16, 2025 8:00 am

One last thing, when I read this topic’s title, “The only Toronto OTA not carrying the English debate”, I knew it was Citytv, go figure!

**Posted by RadioActive** April 16, 2025 8:47 am

Shorty Wave wrote:
I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t cover election night. Sad that, they once mattered, and actually cared.

Actually, City TV is probably the first to announce its election night plans as outlined in this post. But I remember the days when they did their "party" politics coverage, throwing a bash in the newsroom, complete with a piano player. They also stayed on very late waiting for the B.C. results, if needed, to call a winner.

Would they do that again, given the programming interruption and the overtime for staff? We'll find out on April 28th but my guess is no.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 16, 2025 3:47 pm

Just heard a promo on the Jays broadcast over the Fan590 for City TV's debate coverage. They told would-be viewers to tune into their 24/7 streaming channel to see it.

Unfortunately, the promo contains an error, through no fault of their own. It tells listeners to be sure to hear from all the parties - including the Greens, who have now been excluded from both chat fests.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 16, 2025 5:41 pm

Radiowiz wrote:
The better argument is, why isn't CTV doing the same? They have a CTV National news network for Federal election coverage.

CTV still brands around National news. If they don’t carry it, that hurts the brand.

City doesn’t brand around national news. They don’t take any kind of image hit.

**Posted by MJ Vancouver** April 17, 2025 8:41 pm

Interestingly Citytv Vancouver is carrying the debate. But there’s no conflict with their primetime lineup because of the time zone difference.

**Posted by mic'em** April 18, 2025 8:24 am

CTV2 did not broadcast the debate on my service, being Eastlink Sudbury.