Wikipedia:

Breakfast Television

This article is about the Canadian television show. For the concept of breakfast television shows in general, see Breakfast television.
The last minutes of Breakfast Television (Toronto) on November 16, 2004
Enlarge
The last minutes of Breakfast Television (Toronto) on November 16, 2004
Liza playing ping-pong with the previous guest (now off screen), while the camera begins to cut to Kevin for a news update
Enlarge
Liza playing ping-pong with the previous guest (now off screen), while the camera begins to cut to Kevin for a news update

Breakfast Television, also known as BT, is a Canadian morning news and entertainment program which airs on the Citytv stations (in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary), CP24, A-Channel Barrie/Toronto, CTV Atlantic, and ASN.

Each Citytv station produces its own Breakfast Television, as does ASN. CTV-owned A-Channel Barrie/Toronto simulcasts the Toronto edition which is known as Breakfast Television with local news inserts. CTV-owned CP24, the local Toronto cable news channel which broadcasts across Southern Ontario, simulcasts the Toronto edition of Breakfast Television (along with all other news programming airing on Rogers Media's Citytv Toronto), and CTV-owned CTV Atlantic simulcasts the ASN version.

BT tends to be more relaxed and spontaneous than American morning shows. Unlike American morning shows, it does not have pre-taped segments that are focused on current events or socio-political issues. The guests tend to be more human interest, informational, and promotional in nature and there is little focus on celebrities. This was likely born out of necessity in the early years of BT, but it is most likely a simple matter of preference or style now.

When celebrity guests come on the show, they most often reminisce about their career in general, or are promoting charitable causes. This differs from the American standard of appearing to promote new movies or television series.

Citytv Toronto / CP24 / A-Channel Barrie/Toronto

Main article: Breakfast Television (Citytv Toronto)
Liza and Kevin on the set, 2004.
Enlarge
Liza and Kevin on the set, 2004.

On-air personalities

Co-host Liza Fromer quit her job at BT on 25 July, days after the birth of her child. Kevin Frankish has blogged that her departure from the show was "on the absolute best of terms." BT has encouraged people to send audition tapes for consideration. During the summer of 2006, BT had numerous Chum personalities on to guest co-host along with Kevin Frankish, while they searched for the next permanent host. The guest hosts included CityNews Sports Anchor Kathryn Humphreys, MuchMoreMusic VJ Tracy Melchor, CityNews Anchor/Reporter Laura DiBattista, BT's own Jennifer Valentyne, CityNews consumer specialist Jee-Yun-Lee, CityNews weather specialist Nalini Sharma, CityNews reporter Melissa Grelo, and Startv's Dina Pugliese. On October 13, 2006 Dina Pugliese became the new co-host of the show.

While the LiveEye tours around the Greater Toronto Area most of the time, Jennifer Valentyne has broadcast from Walt Disney World and Newfoundland.[2] Frankish has blogged that producers are considering facilitating a studio audience.[3]

Every August since 2005, BT has organized a "Viewer Appreciation Day", held in the BT parking lot.[4] Gates open at 6 am, and closed due to capacity crowds early into 7 am. Some people began camping out at BT at 5:30 pm the day before the 2006 Viewer Appreciation Day.[4] Breakfast Television has also held other events such as a successful World Record Attempt and a Christmas Party.

Just as many people within the CityNews team started off on the CHUM phoneline, both Jennifer Valentyne and segment producer Kevin Forget started by working at "the BT Diner".[5]

After the CTVglobemedia takeover of CHUM Limited, Frankish told viewers that "I have it on good authority that they are also big fans of BT and don't want to mess with it."[3]

Kevin Frankish has publicly discussed his panic attacks with viewers, on air.[6]

CTV Atlantic

The name Breakfast Television is also licensed to CTV Atlantic (formerly known as ATV), the Maritime CTV affiliate, which was formerly owned by CHUM Limited, Citytv's parent company. The show runs for one-and-a-half-hours. The entire program is broadcast live on ASN with the first half hour being simulcast on CTV Atlantic.

The show was relaunched on October 24, 2005 with a unique, more news-oriented format that differs from the Citytv versions of BT. Coming around the same time as the end of late-night news on ASN, this appears to be designed to have BT count towards ASN's local news commitment. The main difference is that very few guests appear in the studio live. Instead, pre-taped segments featuring guests are shown. Occasionally, a guest will appear in the studio live but this is not common.

A major feature of the show since the relaunch is the Hot Topic which is the daily subject of conversation. The hosts discuss an issue based on news, sports, or general interest, and read email comments from viewers.

Breakfast Television has once again returned to live broadcasts which had been phased out around 2002. A new set was constructed for the relaunch and the logo was revised. The viewer mail segment of the show, which had existed since its inception, has been dropped.

CTV Atlantic/ASN are the only stations in the CTV network which produce their own local morning program in addition to Canada AM. During its time as an independent station, and for several months following its affiliation with CTV, CIVT in Vancouver, British Columbia also produced a local morning program, however it was cancelled by early 2002 when Citytv Vancouver began broadcasting.

Personalities

  • Main Anchors: Jayson Baxter, Maria Panopalis, Cyril Lunney
  • News: Joanne Clancy
  • Past Hosts:
  • Local Personalities:
    • Zanta - This local celebrity was banned from the filming location, as he attempted to get into the background shots for the show with his comical antics.

Citytv Vancouver

Citytv Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton

CHUM Limited purchased Craig Media in late 2004. The $265 million (CAD) deal included, among other things, Craig's three A-Channel stations (CKAL in Calgary, Alberta, CKEM in Edmonton, Alberta, and CHMI in Winnipeg, Manitoba).

In February 2005, CHUM announced that the A-Channel stations would be relaunched as Citytv stations by that fall. The morning show on the original A-Channel stations, The Big Breakfast, was relaunched as Breakfast Television on August 2, 2005 when stations were officially overhauled as Citytv.

Winnipeg personalities

Edmonton personalities

Calgary personalities

References

  1. ^ Inside BT Blog: "DINA IS THE ONE!!!!", 13 October 2006.
  2. ^ Inside BT blog: "A Visit from J.D. FORTUNE & Getting Ready for VIEWER APPRECIATION DAY", 11 August 2006.
  3. ^ a b Inside BT blog: "You Asked...", 28 July 2006.
  4. ^ a b Inside BT blog: "Second BT Viewer Appreciation Day A Smash Success", 11 August 2006.
  5. ^ http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx?contenturl=http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/2996.aspx
  6. ^ Inside BT blog: "Panic Attacks", 31 July 2006.
  7. ^ Mitchell appeared to replace McCool while on maternity leave.

External links

Coordinates: 43.649701° N 79.390233° W


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