ION Network

[anotherguyTN]

If ION is getting Canadian shows, why not get Corner Gas, and possibly Brent Butt's follow-up show Hiccups? I'd also suggest The Red Green Show, but they'd probably think that it's too old, even though it lasted until 2006.

 

[tripinva]

The Red Green Show airs regularly on PBS stations, so I'm not sure they'd be able to secure the rights to it.

- Trip

 

[dave73]

If ION is getting Canadian shows, why not get Corner Gas, and possibly Brent Butt's follow-up show Hiccups? I'd also suggest The Red Green Show, but they'd probably think that it's too old, even though it lasted until 2006.

I'm not exactly sure what programs they want for Ion Television, but the Ion Life network I know has a number of Canadian shows that fit their lifestyle channel (that competes with Livewell Network for viewers). So those shows you mentioned would probably fit in with the Ion Television network (if they're interested). I know Ion has aired a Canadian show in the past, but don't remember what it was. As for Red Green, I don't know what stations in each market carry Red Green, but in Chicago, PBS station WYCC has carried his show from time to time.

 

[quadraphonic]

Why not tap programs from other countries like Great Britain and Australia? Yeah, I know, the whole accent/driving on the left thing might not appeal to all us gringos, but at least it's unique. I, for one, like seeing fare like "MI-5" on my local PBS station.

I am imagining a bit, but they might not do this because there aren't many British/Australian shows cut down to American commercial tv lengths. I have watched some British comedies on Netflix (and older American shows like Rockford Files or The Munsters), and they seem to be like :27 for a 1/2 hour show, or :50 long for an hour-long show a lot of times. Nothing like the current American 8-minutes-of-commercials-per-half-hour setup.

I like what they do with their subchannel setup. Qubo, while not showing the highest quality of children's' programming, does fill a niche. And Ion Life has some potential, though it could use some more varied programming.

I like qubo and Ion Life, but they are more repetitive with their episodes than our local PBS outlet. Did they ever make more than 4 episodes of "Junk Raiders" because IonLife has shown the same four every week for two years in the middle of the night. ;D

 

[Nate Wesley]

and while Canadian shows do tend to be kinda lame, at least they're original here. use some more varied programming.

I disagree slightly. Flashpoint on CBS and Rookie Blue on ABC--while both are clearly for mass consumption, they're pretty refreshing for procedural shows when compared to the worst of cliched material seen in the L&O/CSI:/Criminal Minds spinoffs.

Flash has the SWAT-team wrinkle going for it that I don't think any domestic show had tried (recently or at all, to my memory). And Blue seems to be adhering to some of the integrity that the original creators of CBS' Blue Bloods wanted for its series--more internal drama than crime-of-the-week sleuthing.

(That, and Missy Peregrym belongs on my Philips HDTV. )

 

[dave73]

Why not tap programs from other countries like Great Britain and Australia? Yeah, I know, the whole accent/driving on the left thing might not appeal to all us gringos, but at least it's unique. I, for one, like seeing fare like "MI-5" on my local PBS station.

I am imagining a bit, but they might not do this because there aren't many British/Australian shows cut down to American commercial tv lengths. I have watched some British comedies on Netflix (and older American shows like Rockford Files or The Munsters), and they seem to be like :27 for a 1/2 hour show, or :50 long for an hour-long show a lot of times. Nothing like the current American 8-minutes-of-commercials-per-half-hour setup.

I like what they do with their subchannel setup. Qubo, while not showing the highest quality of children's' programming, does fill a niche. And Ion Life has some potential, though it could use some more varied programming.

I like qubo and Ion Life, but they are more repetitive with their episodes than our local PBS outlet. Did they ever make more than 4 episodes of "Junk Raiders" because IonLife has shown the same four every week for two years in the middle of the night. ;D

Junk Raiders is actually 6 episodes, & they've shown all 6 of them. For shows like Design U, Gen's Guiltless Gourmet, She's Crafty, The Right Fit, & Bringing It Home with Laura McIntosh, most of these shows are still on the air, but Ion Life only owns the rights to 1 or 2 seasons of these shows. So shows like these are repetitive. My Green House (Livewell Network also has this show) only had 13 episodes made, & they've shown all 13 of those too. Shows like MASH (yes, it's on Ion Life's schedule) & Texas Justice don't fit the lifestyle programming, or the movies they show either.