The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Wednesday's Primetime Line-up To Be Affected By Biden's Farewell

**Posted by RadioActive** January 13, 2025 2:05 pm

There is some major TV disruption coming on Wednesday night and it remains to be seen how it will affect Canadian stations here.

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden is giving his farewell speech starting at 8 PM, leaving the prime time schedules for the night in shambles on all four U.S. networks. Especially affected - NBC & City TV, where "Chicago" Wednesday (aka Med, Fire and PD) will either be delayed or interrupted altogether. What City will do while this is going on isn't known yet, but they're sure to want to keep simsub intact if they can.

But since no one can really say how long Joe will drone on, it will be interesting to see what the locals here decide to do to fill up the time, or just go with a regular schedule.

Joe Biden Primetime Farewell Address: All the Shows Impacted by President’s Speech

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 13, 2025 2:49 pm

I think CTV will take the speach with Vasi reporting on it

**Posted by RadioActive** January 13, 2025 2:59 pm

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
I think CTV will take the speach with Vasi reporting on it

I would be very surprised if they do that. Biden is not a Canadian leader and while it makes sense for coverage on their cable News Channels, I can't see it on the main network.

The important thing here is if you have your DVR set to record anything that night, you may need to extend the time.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 13, 2025 4:09 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
I think CTV will take the speach with Vasi reporting on it
I would be very surprised if they do that. Biden is not a Canadian leader and while it makes sense for coverage on their cable News Channels, I can't see it on the main network.

The important thing here is if you have your DVR set to record anything that night, you may need to extend the time.

Then, they might replace their programming with a movie or reruns.

**Posted by Walter** January 13, 2025 6:01 pm

Most forgettable President ever. Reruns of 'The Trouble With Tracy' would get better ratings.

**Posted by RadioActive** January 13, 2025 6:53 pm

According to Zap2it.com, which displays local TV listings, here's the schedule:

NBC: Presidential Address 8PM
Chicago Med (8:15-9PM)
It's not clear how they expect to show this in a 45 minute version, but Chicago Fire is said to start at 9 as normal.

City TV: It says City will also carry Biden, and then simulcast NBC. I guess we'll see.

CBS: Biden from 8-8:30. Price Is Right At Night starts at 8:30PM, Raid The Cage at 9:30 PM, with a rerun of Poppa's House from 10:30 to 11 PM.

ABC: Biden, then all their regular shows starting around 8:20, with local news starting at 11:20 PM.

CTV had only one U.S. simulcast, "Shifting Gears" with ABC, but it will start it at 8PM and forgo the simulcast, so its schedule starts at 8 and ends at 11.

Global: Abbott Elementary airing on time at 8:30, skipping the simulcast, but simsubbing CBS' 9:30-11 PM shows.

FOX: Biden, then Special Forces reality show until 10:15, followed by syndicated news.

Can't be sure all these are accurate, so add extra time on your DVR just in case.

**Posted by mace** January 13, 2025 7:06 pm

Non OTA viewers can always PVR the primetime schedule at 11pm from Seattle, and as a bonus no simsub!

**Posted by paterson1** January 13, 2025 7:15 pm

Looking at the Wednesday evening prime time schedule CTV has no simsub. On Bell Fibe only ABC is scheduled to show Pres. Biden's goodbye at 8pm. Sort of hard to believe this but NBC, CBS and FOX are showing the regular schedule so far. So other than City TV, what simsub is on Global may not be affected that much. Abbott Elementary on Global may just run separate from ABC, since it is not exactly a big draw on Wednesday evenings. CHCH and CBC have no simulcasting Wednesday.

**Posted by mace** January 13, 2025 8:20 pm

All I watch on Wednesday is Chicago Med/Fire/PD, so simsub would affect me. Hello KING 5.

**Posted by RadioActive** January 13, 2025 8:35 pm

paterson1 wrote:
Looking at the Wednesday evening prime time schedule CTV has no simsub. On Bell Fibe only ABC is scheduled to show Pres. Biden's goodbye at 8pm. Sort of hard to believe this but NBC, CBS and FOX are showing the regular schedule so far. So other than City TV, what simsub is on Global may not be affected that much. Abbott Elementary on Global may just run separate from ABC, since it is not exactly a big draw on Wednesday evenings. CHCH and CBC have no simulcasting Wednesday.

According to Zap2it, which I find quite accurate and updates quickly, all of the American networks are showing the Biden bow-out. This was such a sudden announcement that it's possible your Bell Fibe listings have not been fully updated. I'd keep my eye on them closer to the event.

There really is no way NBC, CBS or FOX would not show the president's farewell speech. I think those listings will change.

I'm curious about the supposed 45 minute Chicago Med on NBC. I can't believe they'll either cut the episode or the commercials. I'm dubious about that one but we'll see.

**Posted by paterson1** January 13, 2025 9:05 pm

I will watch Biden's farewell on one of the news networks. They will give this much more time and more interesting with their analysis. The OTA nets will be getting out very soon after Joe wraps up. All the rest of the prime time shows on Wednesday, don't normally watch anyway, so doesn't impact me or likely many others.

**Posted by Paul Jeffries** January 14, 2025 3:55 am

Apparently NBC is going to be airing reruns that night. Also, the official One Chicago Facebook and X (Twitter) pages announce that the shows are returning with new episodes on January 22.

Chicago Fire, Med, and PD pulled from Wednesday lineup in unexpected schedule change

PJ

**Posted by Radiowiz** January 14, 2025 4:03 am

Hmmm....According to my Rogers box guide (ignite/xfinity) Fox is committed to only covering 15 minutes @ 8PM, then it's off to regular programming (already in progress?)
Special forces world's toughest test.

Is this nothing more than a 15 minute deal? Or does it actually take up more time?

**Posted by paterson1** January 15, 2025 9:35 pm

Prime time line ups at 8pm were only affected on US networks. Canadian nets all stayed with their regular schedules and any new shows are running separate from the American nets and on time. Not much simsub tonight anyway. At least CBS had analysis until 8:30. The other networks got to regular programming a few minutes after Joe wrapped up. So they have now messed up their whole prime time schedule tonight.