Revolutionary Moderation

MoreMoses



I have a lot of respect for what Moses Znaimer has done for television, and in particular for the look and feel of local news and information. In an era when local stations produced everything to look slick, polished, professional, and indistinguishable from programming that came from network hubs, Moses sent out his first fleet of "videographers" to begin a revolution. Craig broadcasting's A-Channel stations are children of that revolution, with storefront studios downtown, bumpy-cam reports, a weatherman who stands somewhere in the city's weather instead of in front of a blue screen - all of the good things that give CHUM stations their feeling of immediacy and a sense of being rooted in the communities they broadcast to. And all of the bad things, too, the most prominent of which is the heavy reliance on American sitcom reruns, syndicated shows, and movies to fill hours of prime time.



With the addition of the three Craig stations (Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg) to CHUM's network, I think network has become the right word - I think this is a fourth network in Canada's broadcast universe. But what does this network look like? What does a network of stations that position themselves on "local and independant" look like?



First, there will be the market access and resources to buy first-run American network programming - expect one or two strategic purchases of reasonable to very good quality surrounding reams of dreck. Perhaps CHUM could do for Six Feet Under what CTV did for The Sopranos. There will still be a home for lots of syndicated/second-tier American network programming, too - expect a home for Enterprise, Stargate, Seventh Heaven, and whatever Joss Whedon gets involved in next.



The local news broadcasts will look much the same, but can the CITY-style translate to a network broadcast? Global has been trying very hard to become a more "serious", analytical news source, and doing a supper hour national broadcast has helped considerably - I think there's a lot of open territory on the "What's on fire?" end of the network news, and that's a strength CHUM can play to. I'm not sure people will head to this source for the latest on AdScam, so perhaps any national broadcast at all is a waste.



Finally, Bullard might have a home again.



I'm saddened that Canadian cities don't do a better job of sustaining local independent stations, but I'm astounded and impressed that Canada` can be a four broadcast-network country. (Because, you know, we're clearly watching too much television.) I think a CHUM/CITY/New XY network will be different enough to find an unexploited niche in the market.