MTV Canada
Encyclopedia
MTV is a Canadian
English language
Category A specialty channel
devoted to talk, lifestyle and documentary programming.
MTV is owned by Bell Media, with its name licensed from the American channel of the same name
, which is owned by MTV Networks
, a division of Viacom
.
The channel launched as talktv in 2000, but was not as widely available prior to its relaunch as MTV in March 2006. Unlike MTV channels in the U.S. and elsewhere, the channel cannot carry music video
s and is limited in its ability to carry music programming due to Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) genre exclusivity restrictions, thus it is just called "MTV" instead of "MTV: Music Television", the full name used in the rest of the world prior to February 2010. MuchMusic
, now a sister channel of the Canadian MTV channel, had been launched in 1984 with exclusivity in the mainstream music category.
launched Canadian music channel MuchMusic in 1984, inspired by the success of MTV in the United States. CRTC genre exclusivity restrictions prevented MTV from either bringing its U.S. channel directly into Canada or setting up a homegrown competitor. As a result, MTV was initially content to sell Canadian rights to its programming for rebroadcast on MuchMusic. However, relations between the two channels were strained in the mid-1990s when CHUM launched an American version of MuchMusic (later resold and now known as Fuse
) in direct competition with MTV.
In October 2001, MTV partnered with Craig Media to launch MTV Canada as a digital cable
channel. The channel in question had initially been licensed by the CRTC as "Connect", a broadly based teen channel, without MTV involvement. One of the conditions of licence was that a maximum of 10% of the schedule could be devoted to music videos. In 2003, CHUM filed a complaint with the CRTC alleging that MTV Canada was airing more music videos than allowed by its licence and had subsequently become competitive with MuchMusic
. In Broadcasting Decision 2003-65, the CRTC found that MTV Canada was offering a music-based service rather than a broadly-based teen channel. Furthermore, the Commission found that MTV was broadcasting in excess of 10% music video clips and that MTV was not meeting its commitment to provide educational programming for teens, nor was it providing any programming from independent educational authorities. Craig was ordered to come into compliance with its broadcasting licence.
After CHUM purchased Craig in 2004, MTV Networks terminated the agreement with Craig; the contract had included a provision to cancel the agreement if there was a change in ownership. CHUM Limited was required to pay MTV Networks the remaining licensing fees which amounted to C$
10 million. On June 30, 2005, MTV Canada was re-branded Razer
. CTVglobemedia would purchase CHUM in 2007; this led to Razer being rebranded as MTV2 on August 1, 2008, making it once again an MTV-branded channel.
Talktv was licensed in 1996, but did not launch until four years later in 2000. Talktv was home to repeats of CTV talk shows, as well as a six hour afternoon/evening program, The Chatroom, which aired every weekday until mid-2002, usually broadcast from the CTV-owned Masonic Temple
in Toronto
. The program featured future CTV network personalities Seamus O'Regan
and Ben Mulroney
, as well as Craig Norris
(currently of CBC Radio 3
) and Jennifer Hollett
(currently a contributor to CBC News Network's Connect with Mark Kelley
). In 1999, talktv also acquired the broadcast rights to Pamela Wallin Live
, formerly broadcast on CBC Newsworld
. On talktv, the program was renamed Pamela Wallin's talktv.
Talktv had been licensed as an analog channel, allowing cable companies to offer it without a digital cable
box, and was one of the last specialty channels to be launched with that status (all specialty channels licensed since 2001 have been specifically limited to digital
distribution). However, it was not explicitly required to receive analog carriage either, provided the provider had already launched digital services. Due to this, combined with the channel's late launch and cable systems approaching capacity for analog channels, talktv was only available by digital means, aside from a handful of major markets such as Toronto.
Because of low ratings, and much more narrow distribution than other specialty channels, The Chatroom was cancelled in 2002, following which talktv became solely a repeat service for CTV network programming and repeated segments of The Chatroom. Ironically, this came just after the CRTC had granted it the right to charge seven cents per subscriber when carried on basic cable, whereas it was previously made available to these viewers free of charge; this decision had been expected to help sustain the channel's live programming.
The final show broadcast on talktv was on March 20, 2006 at 11:30 p.m. EST; specifically that night's episode of eTalk Daily, followed at midnight by a large, red MTV logo and an 18 hour countdown clock for the launch.
. Brad Schwartz, previously an executive with MTV Networks, became the general manager of MTV Canada. Schwartz is now the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the newly formed MuchMTV Group. In the September 28 press release, CTV claimed to have applied for a category 2 licence that would feature music video
s, along the lines of the former MTV2 Canada (now PunchMuch
). The application is believed to have been abandoned.
CTV already had strong ties with MTV; it was the first broadcast
network to air The Osbournes
, which aired during prime time, uncensored and subsequently added Punk'd
, and Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.
CTV's "exclusive" rights to MTV content meant that CHUM's MuchMusic lost all rights to MTV programming immediately following the announcement. CHUM released a statement saying that they would be intrigued as to how talktv could be morphed into MTV without violating its CRTC broadcasting licence, and filed a complaint with the CRTC. However, the CRTC was unable to take preemptive action based on a press release.
Since MTV uses the same broadcasting licence CTV held for talktv, CTV is restricted by the following conditions of licence:
In February 2006, MTV began promoting their launch date with a series of ads with the slogan "the drought ends 03.21.06" some of which appeared during various programs across Bell Globemedia's (now Bell Media) television platforms.
Talktv's bug
began periodically changing into an MTV logo to notify viewers of the coming change. On March 1, 2006 the network identifier on several program guides changed from talktv to MTVCAN, additionally the sole program listed was MTV is Coming, though this was not an actual program and the talktv schedule remained.
The actual relaunch occurred on March 21 at 6:00 p.m. EST, with the first edition of MTV Live
.
The start of MTV Live was preceded (at 5:58:20 p.m. EST) by a ten-second countdown featuring water drops with "MTV drops" appearing at the end, followed by a 90-second promo featuring various people wearing beige MTV shirts falling out of the sky signifying that the drought was over, as seen in the launch promos.
The relaunch as MTV did not affect the channel's analogue status. In fact many analogue cable viewers that never had access to talktv were able to view the channel at, or soon after, its relaunch. Analogue coverage has been greatly expanded, and many channel placements improved, through new deals with Rogers Cable
, Bell TV, Shaw Direct and others.
The channel held its official on-air launch party on April 18, 2006, with live performances by Kanye West
and Sam Roberts
. These performances were edited into several specials that are aired on CTV.
series that currently dominate the schedule of its U.S. counterpart
. However, music-based programming is notably absent from the channel. It has been widely speculated that MTV in Canada does not show music programming because of MuchMusic, however that is not the case. Because the broadcasting licence issued for talktv did not allow for any music programming, MTV in Canada can not show music based programs. Because of this, the MTV logo used by MTV in Canada never includes the phrase "Music Television", unlike other MTV-branded channels around the world. However, since mid-2007, MuchMusic
and its affiliated channels including MuchMore have been under the same ownership as MTV in Canada, following CTVglobemedia's acquisition of CHUM Limited
, meaning the former rival networks are now sister channels.
Before the re-launch, The Globe and Mail
reported that the network would "... be quite different from what most people associate with the original American MTV, which has increasingly moved away from music videos toward reality shows and other original programming," placing a heavy emphasis on "talk and lifestyle shows". In a recent Canadian Press
report, it was stated that while there could not be a Canadian version of the music-oriented Total Request Live
, other spin off programs were not out of the question. Canadian versions of MTV Cribs
, Diary
and Making the Video
have already been produced.
Leading up to the launch, CTV aired MTV Unplugged
: Alicia Keys in early October 2005, and MTV's New Year of Music on New Year's Eve 2005.
On February 20, 2006, CTV announced that the Masonic Temple in Toronto - previously home to talktv and Open Mike with Mike Bullard
- would be the new home for MTV Canada and its new flagship show, MTV Live
. This would be essentially a revival of the live-and-interactive talk show format introduced by the chatroom, with new hosts, the addition of a studio audience, field reports, and live performances.
On June 27, 2006 MTV Canada aired Making the Video for the first time (Ashlee Simpson's "Invisible"), but only showed a short clip of the video. Viewers were told to watch the rest of the video on the MTV website. Recently, episodes of Making the Video have included the full music video.
Nearly all of the MTV US reality, documentary and lifestyle programs air on MTV Canada, although often several weeks after their initial airing in the US. Some programs have aired day, date and time with MTV US, mostly special presentations such as the MTV Movie Awards
. However, seasons 3 and 3.5 of The Hills were shown in simulcast with MTV US. The Canadian-created Hills Aftershow became available to American viewers at this time.
Since its launch, MTV Canada has aired the annual MTV Movie Awards as a simulcast
with MTV US. However, the MTV Video Music Awards
do not air on MTV because of the high level of music content. The ceremony aired on CTV
, the parent company of MTV in Canada in 2006 and 2007, but returned to MuchMusic
in 2008, which aired them until the MTV relaunch.
This block presently consists of two hours on Saturdays (12:05 - 2:05 a.m. local); actual times may vary by location or station. The block also formerly aired 30 minutes a night on weeknights (1:05 - 1:35 a.m. local) from MTV Canada's re-launch until September 7, 2007, which has since been replaced by TMZ on TV
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Category A specialty channel
Specialty channel
A specialty channel can be a commercial broadcasting or non-commercial television channel which consists of television programming focused on a single genre, subject or targeted television market at a specific demographic....
devoted to talk, lifestyle and documentary programming.
MTV is owned by Bell Media, with its name licensed from the American channel of the same name
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, which is owned by MTV Networks
MTV Networks
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV channel in the United States...
, a division of Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
.
The channel launched as talktv in 2000, but was not as widely available prior to its relaunch as MTV in March 2006. Unlike MTV channels in the U.S. and elsewhere, the channel cannot carry music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s and is limited in its ability to carry music programming due to Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) genre exclusivity restrictions, thus it is just called "MTV" instead of "MTV: Music Television", the full name used in the rest of the world prior to February 2010. MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
, now a sister channel of the Canadian MTV channel, had been launched in 1984 with exclusivity in the mainstream music category.
MTV in Canada before 2006
CHUM LimitedCHUM Limited
CHUM Limited was a media company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1945 to 2007. Immediately prior to its acquisition, it held full or joint control of two Canadian television systems — Citytv and A-Channel — comprising 11 local stations, and one CBC Television affiliate, one...
launched Canadian music channel MuchMusic in 1984, inspired by the success of MTV in the United States. CRTC genre exclusivity restrictions prevented MTV from either bringing its U.S. channel directly into Canada or setting up a homegrown competitor. As a result, MTV was initially content to sell Canadian rights to its programming for rebroadcast on MuchMusic. However, relations between the two channels were strained in the mid-1990s when CHUM launched an American version of MuchMusic (later resold and now known as Fuse
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
) in direct competition with MTV.
In October 2001, MTV partnered with Craig Media to launch MTV Canada as a digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
channel. The channel in question had initially been licensed by the CRTC as "Connect", a broadly based teen channel, without MTV involvement. One of the conditions of licence was that a maximum of 10% of the schedule could be devoted to music videos. In 2003, CHUM filed a complaint with the CRTC alleging that MTV Canada was airing more music videos than allowed by its licence and had subsequently become competitive with MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
. In Broadcasting Decision 2003-65, the CRTC found that MTV Canada was offering a music-based service rather than a broadly-based teen channel. Furthermore, the Commission found that MTV was broadcasting in excess of 10% music video clips and that MTV was not meeting its commitment to provide educational programming for teens, nor was it providing any programming from independent educational authorities. Craig was ordered to come into compliance with its broadcasting licence.
After CHUM purchased Craig in 2004, MTV Networks terminated the agreement with Craig; the contract had included a provision to cancel the agreement if there was a change in ownership. CHUM Limited was required to pay MTV Networks the remaining licensing fees which amounted to C$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
10 million. On June 30, 2005, MTV Canada was re-branded Razer
Razer
MTV2 is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel. MTV2 is a lifestyle and general entertainment channel aimed at youth and teen audiences, airing a mix of music video programs, drama, comedies, talk shows and more....
. CTVglobemedia would purchase CHUM in 2007; this led to Razer being rebranded as MTV2 on August 1, 2008, making it once again an MTV-branded channel.
talktv
Masonic Temple (Toronto)
The Masonic Temple, also known as the CTV Temple or the MTV Temple, is a six-storey building on the north-west corner of Davenport Road and Yonge Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The program featured future CTV network personalities Seamus O'Regan
Seamus O'Regan
Seamus O'Regan is a Canadian broadcast journalist and co-host of Canada AM, CTV's national morning show.- Biography :O'Regan was born in St. John's, Newfoundland...
and Ben Mulroney
Ben Mulroney
Benedict Martin Paul "Ben" Mulroney is a Canadian television host, and is the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.-Early life:...
, as well as Craig Norris
Craig Norris
Craig Norris is a Canadian rock singer and radio personality. He is the lead singer for The Kramdens, and is also a host on CBC Radio 3, including the network's weekly record chart show The R3-30, as well as the CBC Radio One program Laugh Out Loud...
(currently of CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
) and Jennifer Hollett
Jennifer Hollett
Jennifer Hollett is a Canadian television personality, currently a contributor to CBC News Network's prime time show Connect with Mark Kelley....
(currently a contributor to CBC News Network's Connect with Mark Kelley
Connect with Mark Kelley
Connect with Mark Kelley is a Canadian news talk show, which debuted October 26, 2009 on CBC News Network. Hosted by Mark Kelley, the show airs weeknights live from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. eastern time...
). In 1999, talktv also acquired the broadcast rights to Pamela Wallin Live
Pamela Wallin Live
Pamela Wallin Live was a Canadian interview series which aired on CBC Newsworld from 1995 to 1999. It was hosted by Pamela Wallin.Following her highly publicized firing from the CBC's Prime Time News in 1995, Wallin formed her own production company and launched the series...
, formerly broadcast on CBC Newsworld
CBC Newsworld
CBC News Network is a Canadian English language Category C specialty news channel owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . It broadcasts into over 10 million homes in Canada. It is the world's third-oldest television service of this nature, after CNN in the United States and...
. On talktv, the program was renamed Pamela Wallin's talktv.
Talktv had been licensed as an analog channel, allowing cable companies to offer it without a digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
box, and was one of the last specialty channels to be launched with that status (all specialty channels licensed since 2001 have been specifically limited to digital
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
distribution). However, it was not explicitly required to receive analog carriage either, provided the provider had already launched digital services. Due to this, combined with the channel's late launch and cable systems approaching capacity for analog channels, talktv was only available by digital means, aside from a handful of major markets such as Toronto.
Because of low ratings, and much more narrow distribution than other specialty channels, The Chatroom was cancelled in 2002, following which talktv became solely a repeat service for CTV network programming and repeated segments of The Chatroom. Ironically, this came just after the CRTC had granted it the right to charge seven cents per subscriber when carried on basic cable, whereas it was previously made available to these viewers free of charge; this decision had been expected to help sustain the channel's live programming.
The final show broadcast on talktv was on March 20, 2006 at 11:30 p.m. EST; specifically that night's episode of eTalk Daily, followed at midnight by a large, red MTV logo and an 18 hour countdown clock for the launch.
MTV relaunch
On September 28, 2005, CTV and MTV Networks announced that talktv would be relaunched as a new incarnation of MTV Canada while continuing to maintain its licence requirement to provide "dynamic, interactive, lifestyle, talk and documentary programming" with over 68% Canadian contentCanadian content
Canadian content refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from...
. Brad Schwartz, previously an executive with MTV Networks, became the general manager of MTV Canada. Schwartz is now the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the newly formed MuchMTV Group. In the September 28 press release, CTV claimed to have applied for a category 2 licence that would feature music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s, along the lines of the former MTV2 Canada (now PunchMuch
PunchMuch
Juicebox is a Canadian English language Category B music video specialty channel owned by Bell Media.Juicebox is a commercial-free service that broadcasts music videos aimed at kids, specifically, pre-teens...
). The application is believed to have been abandoned.
CTV already had strong ties with MTV; it was the first broadcast
Terrestrial television
Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials...
network to air The Osbournes
The Osbournes
The Osbournes is an American reality television program featuring the domestic life of heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his family. The series premiered on MTV on March 5, 2002, and in its first season, was cited as the most-viewed series ever on MTV...
, which aired during prime time, uncensored and subsequently added Punk'd
Punk'd
Punk'd is an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series that first aired on MTV in 2003 and was created by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher. It bore a resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera and to TV's Bloopers...
, and Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.
CTV's "exclusive" rights to MTV content meant that CHUM's MuchMusic lost all rights to MTV programming immediately following the announcement. CHUM released a statement saying that they would be intrigued as to how talktv could be morphed into MTV without violating its CRTC broadcasting licence, and filed a complaint with the CRTC. However, the CRTC was unable to take preemptive action based on a press release.
Since MTV uses the same broadcasting licence CTV held for talktv, CTV is restricted by the following conditions of licence:
- an emphasis on talk programs
- a minimum of 68% of the daytime programming must be Canadian contentCanadian contentCanadian content refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from...
- a minimum of 71% of the prime time programming (6-12 PM EST) must be Canadian contentCanadian contentCanadian content refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from...
In February 2006, MTV began promoting their launch date with a series of ads with the slogan "the drought ends 03.21.06" some of which appeared during various programs across Bell Globemedia's (now Bell Media) television platforms.
Talktv's bug
Digital on-screen graphic
A digital on-screen graphic is a watermark-like station logo that many television broadcasters overlay over a portion of the screen-area of their programs to identify the channel...
began periodically changing into an MTV logo to notify viewers of the coming change. On March 1, 2006 the network identifier on several program guides changed from talktv to MTVCAN, additionally the sole program listed was MTV is Coming, though this was not an actual program and the talktv schedule remained.
The actual relaunch occurred on March 21 at 6:00 p.m. EST, with the first edition of MTV Live
MTV Live (Canada)
Live is a 26 minute flagship show of MTV Canada, on the air since March 21, 2006. The program began as an interactive talkshow where viewers were encouraged to jump into the conversation...
.
The start of MTV Live was preceded (at 5:58:20 p.m. EST) by a ten-second countdown featuring water drops with "MTV drops" appearing at the end, followed by a 90-second promo featuring various people wearing beige MTV shirts falling out of the sky signifying that the drought was over, as seen in the launch promos.
The relaunch as MTV did not affect the channel's analogue status. In fact many analogue cable viewers that never had access to talktv were able to view the channel at, or soon after, its relaunch. Analogue coverage has been greatly expanded, and many channel placements improved, through new deals with Rogers Cable
Rogers Cable
Rogers Cable Inc., a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., is Canada's largest cable television service provider with about 2.25 million television customers, and over 930,000 Internet subscribers, in Manitoba, Southern & Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.The...
, Bell TV, Shaw Direct and others.
The channel held its official on-air launch party on April 18, 2006, with live performances by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
and Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose 2001 debut release, The Inhuman Condition, became one of the bestselling independent releases in Quebec and Canadian music history.-Life and career:...
. These performances were edited into several specials that are aired on CTV.
Programming
The Canadian version of MTV carries most of the reality televisionReality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series that currently dominate the schedule of its U.S. counterpart
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. However, music-based programming is notably absent from the channel. It has been widely speculated that MTV in Canada does not show music programming because of MuchMusic, however that is not the case. Because the broadcasting licence issued for talktv did not allow for any music programming, MTV in Canada can not show music based programs. Because of this, the MTV logo used by MTV in Canada never includes the phrase "Music Television", unlike other MTV-branded channels around the world. However, since mid-2007, MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
and its affiliated channels including MuchMore have been under the same ownership as MTV in Canada, following CTVglobemedia's acquisition of CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited was a media company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1945 to 2007. Immediately prior to its acquisition, it held full or joint control of two Canadian television systems — Citytv and A-Channel — comprising 11 local stations, and one CBC Television affiliate, one...
, meaning the former rival networks are now sister channels.
Before the re-launch, The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
reported that the network would "... be quite different from what most people associate with the original American MTV, which has increasingly moved away from music videos toward reality shows and other original programming," placing a heavy emphasis on "talk and lifestyle shows". In a recent Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Canadian Press Enterprises Inc. is the entity which "will take over the operations of the Canadian Press" according to a November 26, 2010 article in the Toronto Star...
report, it was stated that while there could not be a Canadian version of the music-oriented Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
, other spin off programs were not out of the question. Canadian versions of MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs and CMT Cribs, depending on which channel it airs, is a franchise reality television program that originated on the MTV Networks' MTV. It later aired on its CMT channel that features tours of the houses and mansions of celebrities. The first show aired September 2000...
, Diary
Diary (TV series)
Diary is an American documentary television series that premiered February 16, 2000, on MTV.The show's opening titles begin with the slogan "You think you know ... but you have no idea."-Overview:...
and Making the Video
Making the Video
Making the Video is an MTV show, consisting of half-hour episodes, which chronicles the process of filming various music videos. Usually the director outlines the concept of the video and the show often includes light-hearted and humorous moments. It always concludes with a premiere of the...
have already been produced.
Leading up to the launch, CTV aired MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
: Alicia Keys in early October 2005, and MTV's New Year of Music on New Year's Eve 2005.
On February 20, 2006, CTV announced that the Masonic Temple in Toronto - previously home to talktv and Open Mike with Mike Bullard
Open Mike with Mike Bullard
Open Mike with Mike Bullard was a Canadian late-night talk show which was broadcast live from 1997 to 2003 on CTV and on The Comedy Network in primetime. It was hosted by comedian Mike Bullard and initially taped at a studio at the back of Wayne Gretzky's restaurant in Toronto, Ontario before CTV...
- would be the new home for MTV Canada and its new flagship show, MTV Live
MTV Live (Canada)
Live is a 26 minute flagship show of MTV Canada, on the air since March 21, 2006. The program began as an interactive talkshow where viewers were encouraged to jump into the conversation...
. This would be essentially a revival of the live-and-interactive talk show format introduced by the chatroom, with new hosts, the addition of a studio audience, field reports, and live performances.
On June 27, 2006 MTV Canada aired Making the Video for the first time (Ashlee Simpson's "Invisible"), but only showed a short clip of the video. Viewers were told to watch the rest of the video on the MTV website. Recently, episodes of Making the Video have included the full music video.
Nearly all of the MTV US reality, documentary and lifestyle programs air on MTV Canada, although often several weeks after their initial airing in the US. Some programs have aired day, date and time with MTV US, mostly special presentations such as the MTV Movie Awards
MTV Movie Awards
The MTV Movie Awards is a film awards show presented annually on MTV . It also contains movie parodies that used official movie footage with hosts and other celebrities and music performances. The nominees are decided by producers and executives at MTV. Winners are decided online by the general...
. However, seasons 3 and 3.5 of The Hills were shown in simulcast with MTV US. The Canadian-created Hills Aftershow became available to American viewers at this time.
Since its launch, MTV Canada has aired the annual MTV Movie Awards as a simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
with MTV US. However, the MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
do not air on MTV because of the high level of music content. The ceremony aired on CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
, the parent company of MTV in Canada in 2006 and 2007, but returned to MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
in 2008, which aired them until the MTV relaunch.
10 Spot
The 10 p.m. time slot from Monday to Friday is branded as the 10 Spot. It features the newest MTV reality and lifestyle series. A full array of promos, on air and online graphics are used to promote the 10 Spot. New, as well as returning series premiere monthly. This branded block normally attracts the highest ratings for the network. The 10 Spot schedule often resembles that of MTV US, though the programs are often several weeks behind their initial airings in the US.Interactivity
During afternoon and prime time commercial breaks, MTV hosts direct discussions about the shows that are currently airing. Viewers are encouraged to interact with MTV and its hosts through email, feedback@mtv.ca, and telephone calls, 866-536-LIVE. These short interstitials are used as a way of fulfilling the requirement of talk programming.MTV on CTV
In addition to MTV Canada's airings, CTV airs a branded late-night block of MTV programming six nights a week known as "MTV on CTV". These programs include several of the music-oriented and comedy programs that MTV Canada itself cannot air. Many of the reality/lifestyle shows that do air on MTV are also featured.This block presently consists of two hours on Saturdays (12:05 - 2:05 a.m. local); actual times may vary by location or station. The block also formerly aired 30 minutes a night on weeknights (1:05 - 1:35 a.m. local) from MTV Canada's re-launch until September 7, 2007, which has since been replaced by TMZ on TV
TMZ on TV
TMZ on TV, or simply TMZ and TMZTV, is an American syndicated entertainment and gossip news television show that premiered on September 10, 2007. The program is generally aired on Fox, The CW and MyNetworkTV affiliates, though a majority of the stations that carry the series are Fox affiliates...
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MTV slogans
- the drought ends 03.21.06 (pre-launch)
- There's something in the water
- Tonight in the 10 Spot
- Watch and Learn