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Citytv in the US?

C

cdnradiodude

Guest
With a large number of stations losing their affiliations to UPN with the network merger, does anyone think that stations like KCOP, WWOR, even WPWR Chicago will look at possibly cloning (or even franchising) the Citytv model from Canada?

It seems like a fit for some markets.

Thoughts?
 
I suspect Citytv owner Chum Limited is probably going to agressively approach former major-market WB and UPN affiliates that will be left without an affiliation after the merger to become City franchisees.

Hopefully, at least a few stations about to lose network affiliation will try it. The City stations are supposed to be far and away Canada's most successful independent stations.

"As much New York as the Staten Island Ferry......City TV, WWOR-TV Secaucus/New York City, everywhere!"

"Cruising down the 101 Freeway......City tv, KCOP Los Angales, everywhere!".

"Relieved that the Big Dig is finally completed.......City tv, WSBK Boston, everywhere!".

I love the idea. I'm going to send Chum Limited an E-Mail. We NEED City here in the 'States!
 
> With a large number of stations losing their affiliations to
> UPN with the network merger, does anyone think that stations
> like KCOP, WWOR, even WPWR Chicago will look at possibly
> cloning (or even franchising) the Citytv model from Canada?
>
> It seems like a fit for some markets.
>
> Thoughts?

That idea has been floating around for several years, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Citytv model gets the once over again in the States. It'll be interesting to see which broadcast group follows that concept.
 
> I love the idea. I'm going to send Chum Limited an E-Mail.
> We NEED City here in the 'States!
>

I also love the idea, but I doubt it would be franchised to two different ownership groups, and the orphaned major city stations are across multiple ownerships. (In Boston, it's CBS; in NYC and LA, it's Fox; in Philly, it's Tribune; and in some cities, it's none of the above.)
 
> I also love the idea, but I doubt it would be franchised to
> two different ownership groups, and the orphaned major city
> stations are across multiple ownerships.

Why not? On the radio side, Jack, Bob and homegrown brands like Froggy and ESPN were successfully franchised to multiple companies. There's no reason the same thing can't be done for Citytv.
 
> Hopefully, at least a few stations about to lose network
> affiliation will try it. The City stations are supposed to
> be far and away Canada's most successful independent
> stations.
>
> "As much New York as the Staten Island Ferry......City TV,
> WWOR-TV Secaucus/New York City, everywhere!" (etc.)

Though, in my opinion, it'll just be "Citytv, everywhere", with the legal ID supered somewhere on screen.

Who actually verbally announces the full ID on TV anymore, anyway?
 
> Why not? On the radio side, Jack, Bob and homegrown brands
> like Froggy and ESPN were successfully franchised to
> multiple companies. There's no reason the same thing can't
> be done for Citytv.

Well if it happens, one has to wonder if the US media will put the Toronto model under the microscope, given its reputation of airing racy, uncensored programming, especially in the adult movie department.

But on the other hand the concept would have to be tailor-made for American audiences, just as long as it is done right.
 
uh guys..hate to do this, but remember waaaayyyy back when barry diller had the same idea when he turned some HSN stations (WAMI Miami for one) into Citytv type stations under the USA BROADCASTING Inc. umbrella and wanted to take it national, but he wound up selling those to Univision...

Good idea tho, i mean the Citytv franchise is working not just in toronto,vancouver,calagry,but in paris,and Bogota colombia..
 
> uh guys..hate to do this, but remember waaaayyyy back when
> barry diller had the same idea when he turned some HSN
> stations (WAMI Miami for one) into Citytv type stations
> under the USA BROADCASTING Inc. umbrella and wanted to take
> it national, but he wound up selling those to Univision...
>
> Good idea tho, i mean the Citytv franchise is working not
> just in toronto,vancouver,calagry,but in paris,and Bogota
> colombia..
>
Those stations weren't major signals and didn't exactly attract viewers in their prior 24/7 shopping incarnations.

WWOR, KTLA, WPWR, et al would have a much better chance than making it work. It's basically just what KCAL already does, only with fewer infomercials, more recent movies, and the goofy deskless news setup.
 
> uh guys..hate to do this, but remember waaaayyyy back when
> barry diller had the same idea when he turned some HSN
> stations (WAMI Miami for one) into Citytv type stations
> under the USA BROADCASTING Inc. umbrella and wanted to take
> it national, but he wound up selling those to Univision...
>
> Good idea tho, i mean the Citytv franchise is working not
> just in toronto,vancouver,calagry,but in paris,and Bogota
> colombia..
>

The big difference between WAMI and the City format, though, is the way local programming is produced. WAMI treated news like a joke... news is critical to the execution of the City format -- it's about reputable, reliable, and intensely local... in a way, it's got the drive of NY1, and the credibility of any other news organization in the community. That just wasn't the case with WAMI.
 
> WWOR, KTLA, WPWR, et al would have a much better chance than
> making it work. It's basically just what KCAL already does,
> only with fewer infomercials, more recent movies, and the
> goofy deskless news setup.

Minor disagreement only. There's a bit more to Citytv than that, though its edgier side has been muted/moved over time. Still, I agree 100% that these stations could make the move, and without the uniform programming buys in the schedule that City is able to do in Canada, their identity would have to primarily come from the news/talk area.
 
> With a large number of stations losing their affiliations to
> UPN with the network merger, does anyone think that stations
> like KCOP, WWOR, even WPWR Chicago will look at possibly
> cloning (or even franchising) the Citytv model from Canada?
>
> It seems like a fit for some markets.
>
> Thoughts?
----------
CanadianRadioDude, seeing as you're active today, could you please take a look at the Canadian TV board? There's a post there that you'll be interested in.<P ID="signature">______________
From WNBC-TV New York this is Liiiiive at Fiiiiive!</P>
 
> Who actually verbally announces the full ID on TV anymore,
> anyway?
---------
WWJ-TV Detroit announces its calls and channel on the odd occasion. Other than that I doubt there are many out there.<P ID="signature">______________
From WNBC-TV New York this is Liiiiive at Fiiiiive!</P>
 
> With a large number of stations losing their affiliations to
> UPN with the network merger, does anyone think that stations
> like KCOP, WWOR, even WPWR Chicago will look at possibly
> cloning (or even franchising) the Citytv model from Canada?
>
> It seems like a fit for some markets.
>
> Thoughts?
>

I have been to Toronto MANY MANY times and I LOVE Citytv!

Though something tells me that you'll see homeless people sleeping at the New York version of Speaker's Corner LOL. And whoever operates a camera for CityPulse better make sure that no one will take it! Heck..NY1 has been safe so far.

A television station that is TRULY interactive is something New York (anod other US cities) definitely needs!

TS
 
> Good idea tho, i mean the Citytv franchise is working not
> just in toronto,vancouver,calagry,but in paris,and Bogota
> colombia..
----------
Other than in Toronto, the Citytv concept hasn't worked too well elsewhere in Canada. The Vancouver station, CKVU-TV 10, has the lowest-rated local newscast in the market, even lower than CBC station CBUT 2. Back when CKVU was owned by Global, it achieved significant growth and eventually made it to second place, which is a good feat when you're trying to compete with CHAN-TV 8. Last I heard, the other three Citytv stations in Canada were in last place in their markets.<P ID="signature">______________
From WNBC-TV New York this is Liiiiive at Fiiiiive!</P>
 
> Good idea tho, i mean the Citytv franchise is working not
> just in toronto,vancouver,calagry,but in paris,and Bogota
> colombia..

It's in Barcelona, not Paris.<P ID="signature">______________
Derek
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.tvvancouver.cjb.net>TV.Vancouver</a>: Covering TV stations in Vancouver, BC</P>
 
It should be noted that the City stations in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Calgary were re-branded to "City TV" only about six months ago (if even that). They were formerly branded as "A-Channel". So it's too early to tell how City will do in it's three newest cities. But eventually, it might work.
 
> With a large number of stations losing their affiliations to
> UPN with the network merger, does anyone think that stations
> like KCOP, WWOR, even WPWR Chicago will look at possibly
> cloning (or even franchising) the Citytv model from Canada?

Hmmm.

CityTV does have some experience dealing with us south-of-the-border types, they were selling Speakers Corner equipment in the States a few years back.
 
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