The Canadian network program buyers are down in LA right now, doing their damnedest to save local television. Somehow–even though they all say they’re broke–they’ll come back from the annual LA screenings with most of the 22 new U.S. network offerings announced last week by ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW. Business is business, the folks at the Canadian offices of Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Television gotta eat too, you know, and the show must go on.
Rogers has already committed to NBC’s radical new Jay Leno Show weeknights at 10 next season for its City-TV stations. Rogers and even Toronto’s Sun TV could emerge as bigger players this shopping trip with so many bank fingers on Global’s cheque book (not to mention a little extra CRTC scrutiny this year).
It will all become a little bit clearer with the Canadian network upfronts, scheduled to begin next week (Canwest June 3, CTV June 4, Rogers/City. June 9).
Which brings me to this shameless plug for the Broadcast Research Council’s annual June Gala, held June 23 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. I’ve been asked to join Marc Berman, Mediaweek’s expert “Programming Insider” as the guest speakers at this year’s BRC event. We’ll be providing a complete as possible picture of the how the fall will shake down on Canadian and U.S. schedules in the fall, along with analysis and predictions for the coming season. This will also be a chance to see clips from some of the big buzz shows–and not so buzzed about shows–coming this fall.
It’s been a few years since I’ve stood before this industry/ad crowd at one of these events–over a dozen, in fact. I co-presented three or four times in the ’90s while with TV Guide magazine. There’s been a revolution in television since then, and I’m looking forward to seeing a few other survivors in the room. Marc is certainly an expert on the network and numbers landscape, having worked both within network research departments as well as a journalist. Those attending should find clues and direction to what is shaping up to be a lively, unpredictable fall.
If you want tickets or more information, go here to the BRC site.
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