Two thousand and twenty-three was a challenging year in the TV business. Inflation and higher interest rates had consumers thinking twice about streaming subscriptions. The writers and actors strikes put a cork in the content pipeline. Peak TV seemed to slip back from the summit. The big success story in Canada, however, was the rapid
Global framed their 43 minute, virtual upfront presentation Wednesday with an old-fashioned “let’s put on a show” approach. Food Network Canada host Noah Cappe kidded around as the director of the virtual video, introducing Corus execs such as Doug Murphy, Troy Reeb and Barb McKergow. Hey, it’s been a long year in lockdown. Things opened
It is deal day down south as Canadian networks start heaving giant wads of shrinking Canadian dollars at U.S. studios. One report I’m hearing, however, suggests a new player has swooped in and changed the game. And, yes, that would be Netflix. Remember how ABC cleaned house? How they canned Paul Lee and brought in Channing Dungey?
The World Series, municipal elections, Wallendas walking across Chicago skyscrapers (above)–it’s not just The Walking Dead rocking broadcast schedules these days. In the States, shows are finally getting canceled, with three comedies (Bad Judge, A to Z and Manhattan Love Story) and one reality show (Utopia) getting axed. Here’s a look at the overnight estimates for
As expected, Sunday night’s first NHL game of the season helped City bodycheck its way into contention. Whether the Sunday Night hockley audience holds when the Leafs aren’t part of the mix remains to be seen. Rogers’ City stations drew an average of 1,069,000 overnight, estimated viewers starting at 7:05 Sunday night with the Leafs’ lopsided win over the
CTV, as usual, was quick to rush out a release declaring they have all the hot new shows so far this season. This after one week of total ratings. So, yes, Gotham opened huge as expected (3,375,000 Live + 7 viewers, gaining a million over the overnight tally) with Thursday night Shonda Rhimes drama How to
The fall season began in earnest the week of Sept. 22 to 28. After some strategic moves by CBS and ABC, CTV faced three serious challenges. Canada’s most-watched TV show–The Big Bang Theory–was temporarily bumped to a new night. CTV’s No. 1 reality show–The Amazing Race–also got moved, as did CTV’s No. 1 imported drama, Grey’s
As I sit typing in a Winnipeg Hotel room (yes, glamour is my life), the TV is on. I’ve got one of two LG flatscreens in the room tuned to CBS. It is the true, CBS Minnesota affiliate WCCO. Thanks to five interceptions, the Giants are beating the crap out of the Red, uh, jerseys. CBS