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Canada's TV Guide Editions Merge Yet AGAIN!!

B

Bluenoser

Back in the summer, TV Guide's 13 Canadian editions got merged into 6. Well, hold on to your hats, folks...history's about to repeat itself!! The October 29th issue will be the last one of the 6 regional editions as the following week's issue brings the number of editions down to 2:

Eastern Canada
Maritimes
East
Rogers Cable-Central Ontario
West & North Ontario

Western Canada
Prairies
British Columbia

Apparently they're going to use the station names in their bullets instead of channel numbers...given that most CTV affilates are now IDing as "CTV", should be interesting to see what happens!!
 
> Apparently they're going to use the station names in their
> bullets instead of channel numbers...given that most CTV
> affilates are now IDing as "CTV", should be interesting to
> see what happens!!
>
I imagine that the Canadian TVGs will now be thick as phone books, covering all the stations and the US border channels in Eastern or Western Canada. And since there are many programming differences for CTV and Global (CBC being the stable one), I don't imagine them following the US TVGs lead and offer only generic schedules anytime soon.
 
Here in the US, TV Guide just switched to a "one size fits all" version. I think it's the same for the whole country. There are NO local listings now. You get listings for CBS/NBC/ABC/UPN etc as well as the cable channels. During times there is no network feed and stations are running local syndication or news, the TV Guide listing just says "local programming." Totally useless. It's just another piece of junk mail in the mailbox every week now. I cancelled my subscription. I can get better listings out of a small local free newspaper. It's a shame. They used to be the "bible" of television listings.



> > Apparently they're going to use the station names in
> their
> > bullets instead of channel numbers...given that most CTV
> > affilates are now IDing as "CTV", should be interesting to
>
> > see what happens!!
> >
> I imagine that the Canadian TVGs will now be thick as phone
> books, covering all the stations and the US border channels
> in Eastern or Western Canada. And since there are many
> programming differences for CTV and Global (CBC being the
> stable one), I don't imagine them following the US TVGs lead
> and offer only generic schedules anytime soon.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Consolidated Corporate Radio S U C K S !!!!!!</P>
 
> Here in the US, TV Guide just switched to a "one size fits
> all" version. I think it's the same for the whole country.

Almost -- they have an "Eastern" and "Pacific" edition, with the middle zones and AK & HI left in the crossfire.

> Totally useless. It's just another
> piece of junk mail in the mailbox every week now.

Unlike other junk mail, it's one we pay for, unfortunately.

> I cancelled my subscription. I can get better listings out of
> a small local free newspaper. It's a shame. They used to
> be the "bible" of television listings.

Agreed -- since Murdock bought the US TVG in 1988, he started taking all the fun out of TVG. Now, all the fun is gone.
 
>
> Agreed -- since Murdock bought the US TVG in 1988, he
> started taking all the fun out of TVG. Now, all the fun is
> gone.
>


Agreed... Everything he touches turns to exrement, IMHO.
<P ID="signature">______________
Consolidated Corporate Radio S U C K S !!!!!!</P>
 
With the advent of the IPG, I question how many people are still relying on paper listings to find out what's on.

Rural Canada? Nope. They've got dishes.
Urban Canada? Maybe. Many are starting to migrate to digital technologies.

I can understand why TV Guide is doing what its doing (and is moving in the direction its moving in). There's a demand for entertainment news out there (see circulations of US Weekly, People, Entertainment Weekly). When you devote pages upon pages to listings, are they really doing everything they can to get people to subscribe or buy at the newsstand?
 
>> Unlike other junk mail, it's one we pay for, unfortunately.

The Rogers Cable Ontario edition is now 88 percercent off, if you are a cable customer, with a VIP card. (but at that rate, why not just give it away as a way of saying thanks for not using "The dish")<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"
</P>
 
Interestingly you can't even get TV GUide anymore here in Southern California at the checkstand news rack since the changeover.


> Back in the summer, TV Guide's 13 Canadian editions got
> merged into 6. Well, hold on to your hats, folks...history's
> about to repeat itself!! The October 29th issue will be the
> last one of the 6 regional editions as the following week's
> issue brings the number of editions down to 2:
>
> Eastern Canada
> Maritimes
> East
> Rogers Cable-Central Ontario
> West & North Ontario
>
> Western Canada
> Prairies
> British Columbia
>
> Apparently they're going to use the station names in their
> bullets instead of channel numbers...given that most CTV
> affilates are now IDing as "CTV", should be interesting to
> see what happens!!
>
 
> I imagine that the Canadian TVGs will now be thick as phone
> books, covering all the stations and the US border channels
> in Eastern or Western Canada. And since there are many
> programming differences for CTV and Global (CBC being the
> stable one), I don't imagine them following the US TVGs lead
> and offer only generic schedules anytime soon.

I would rethink that statement, since both TVGs are capable of anything these days.
 
> Back in the summer, TV Guide's 13 Canadian editions got
> merged into 6. Well, hold on to your hats, folks...history's
> about to repeat itself!! The October 29th issue will be the
> last one of the 6 regional editions as the following week's
> issue brings the number of editions down to 2:
>
> Eastern Canada
> Maritimes
> East
> Rogers Cable-Central Ontario
> West & North Ontario
>
> Western Canada
> Prairies
> British Columbia
>
> Apparently they're going to use the station names in their
> bullets instead of channel numbers...given that most CTV
> affilates are now IDing as "CTV", should be interesting to
> see what happens!!
>

I now have a copy of the Eastern Canada version in front of me...here are the notable changes:

(1)Listings are now only given in Eastern Time.
(2)Channels are mainly based on the Rogers Toronto edition with Rogers channels listed after channel bullets.
(3)ASN, CNBC, CNN, CP24, Report on Business TV, Talk TV, TFO, Telelatino, TV5, TVA (CFTM Mtl) are listed in grids only.
(4)Converter grids have been dropped- only channel listings are the usual XVu/*C channels on the side of the prime-time grids.
(5)CBLFT is the only SRC station now listed.
(6)US net affiliates are from Buffalo; everybody else gets the generic sked.
(7)Several stations have been dropped: most notable is TBtv (CKPR/CHFD), CHAN and CITV.

Channel line-up is now on my TVG website:
www.geocities.com/tim_ripley/canada.html

BTW, I'm looking for a copy of the Western line-up...if anyone is able to scan it, my address is on the website!
 
> I now have a copy of the Eastern Canada version in front of
> me...here are the notable changes:
>
> (1)Listings are now only given in Eastern Time.
> (2)Channels are mainly based on the Rogers Toronto edition
> with Rogers channels listed after channel bullets.
> (3)ASN, CNBC, CNN, CP24, Report on Business TV, Talk TV,
> TFO, Telelatino, TV5, TVA (CFTM Mtl) are listed in grids
> only.
> (4)Converter grids have been dropped- only channel listings
> are the usual XVu/*C channels on the side of the prime-time
> grids.
> (5)CBLFT is the only SRC station now listed.
> (6)US net affiliates are from Buffalo; everybody else gets
> the generic sked.
> (7)Several stations have been dropped: most notable is TBtv
> (CKPR/CHFD), CHAN and CITV.


Proves once again that Canada revolves around Toronto, and every city outside of the GTA is secondary.

And with the Canadian TVG now whittled down to two editions (I bet the western edition "revolves" around Vancouver), looks like this will be it for TVG collecting. The only extensive listings will now either be on line or in the local papers.

2005 -- the darkest year for TVG fans both sides of the border.
 
>
> I now have a copy of the Eastern Canada version in front of
> me...here are the notable changes:
>
> (1)Listings are now only given in Eastern Time.
> (2)Channels are mainly based on the Rogers Toronto edition
> with Rogers channels listed after channel bullets.
> (3)ASN, CNBC, CNN, CP24, Report on Business TV, Talk TV,
> TFO, Telelatino, TV5, TVA (CFTM Mtl) are listed in grids
> only.
> (4)Converter grids have been dropped- only channel listings
> are the usual XVu/*C channels on the side of the prime-time
> grids.
> (5)CBLFT is the only SRC station now listed.
> (6)US net affiliates are from Buffalo; everybody else gets
> the generic sked.
> (7)Several stations have been dropped: most notable is TBtv
> (CKPR/CHFD), CHAN and CITV.
>
> Channel line-up is now on my TVG website:
> www.geocities.com/tim_ripley/canada.html
>
> BTW, I'm looking for a copy of the Western line-up...if
> anyone is able to scan it, my address is on the website!


As a Maritimer I find these changes to be insulting. The listings aren't in our time zone, one of our regional stations has been relegated to grid-only status and our local SRC has been removed entirely, the "channel numbers" are for a city 1000 miles away, and the US affiliates we get have been removed. At the very least they should have Detroit, Boston, Burlington and Fox Rochester so that 90% of the edition's coverage area still has "their" network listings.

It's like they're saying we don't count out here.

I've bought my last TV Guide.

JPK
 
>
> And with the Canadian TVG now whittled down to two editions
> (I bet the western edition "revolves" around Vancouver),

And you'd be right- according to reports, that's exactly what the Western version has done- I'm getting a line-up from a contact in Winnipeg, that will be up on my site soon as I get it!
 
> > I imagine that the Canadian TVGs will now be thick as
> phone
> > books, covering all the stations and the US border
> channels
> > in Eastern or Western Canada. And since there are many
> > programming differences for CTV and Global (CBC being the
> > stable one), I don't imagine them following the US TVGs
> lead
> > and offer only generic schedules anytime soon.
>
> I would rethink that statement, since both TVGs are capable
> of anything these days.
>
I'm Guessing, the solution is NO GRIDS and ONLY list the Canadian station when BOTH the Canadian and American stations are carrying the same show in Canada...even then, how is it saving space not putting a simple little symbol next to another symbol or letter anyway?
 
> 2005 -- the darkest year for TVG fans both sides of the
> border.
>
And the CHEAPEST! Price wise. The News stand price may remain high, but the delivery price is forever decreasing! Look inside one of those coupon things that come in the mail every so often.
Ever notice how 60 percent off quickly jumped to 66 percent (*Bold print* THAT'S 2 THIRDS OFF!) then a recent coupon envelope included a form that offered an "Amazing" 75 percent off TV Guide?
 
> Ever notice how 60 percent off quickly jumped to 66 percent
> (*Bold print* THAT'S 2 THIRDS OFF!) then a recent coupon
> envelope included a form that offered an "Amazing" 75
> percent off TV Guide?
>

They're doing all they can to get new subscribers and keep what they have (current subs have also been getting generous discounts) -- both US and Canadian TVGs realise that the changes in recent months have been losing subscribers by the truckload, and they're doing all they can to keep the sub count up.

Whether or not it'll work for them remains to be seen.
 
> > Ever notice how 60 percent off quickly jumped to 66
> percent
> > (*Bold print* THAT'S 2 THIRDS OFF!) then a recent coupon
> > envelope included a form that offered an "Amazing" 75
> > percent off TV Guide?
> >
>
> They're doing all they can to get new subscribers and keep
> what they have (current subs have also been getting generous
> discounts) -- both US and Canadian TVGs realise that the
> changes in recent months have been losing subscribers by the
> truckload, and they're doing all they can to keep the sub
> count up.
>
> Whether or not it'll work for them remains to be seen.
>
See below. I already mentioned, it's an even better deal, at 88 percent off, if you're a Rogers digital cable customer, with a VIP card, but, to repeat myself, at that rate, why not just give the damn thing away as a way of saying thank-you for not using "The dish".<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"
</P>
 
> why not just give the damn thing away as a way of saying
> thank-you for not using "The dish".
>
Of course, it may backfire if ExpressVu or Star Choice ever drops their own schedule magazines and offers TVG instead, as a way of saying, "thank you for not using cable".
 
> >
> > And with the Canadian TVG now whittled down to two
> editions
> > (I bet the western edition "revolves" around Vancouver),
>
> And you'd be right- according to reports, that's exactly
> what the Western version has done- I'm getting a line-up
> from a contact in Winnipeg, that will be up on my site soon
> as I get it!
>

And here's where to find the Western line-up (it's the last one on the page):

www.geocities.com/tim_ripley/canada.html
 
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