Citytv and its plans for Montreal: an interview with Scott Moore

While then folks at Rogers Media await formal Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approval for their purchase of CJNT Metro14 TV in Montreal and transforming it into trendy Citytv, an  affiliation agreement officially kicked in on Monday. It is anticipated that the CRTC will rule on the overall deal within the next few months and when that happens we can look forward to some new local programming.

Scott Moore, the president of Rogers Broadcasting, was in Montreal last Thursday for a very slick presentation to advertising executives at the Corona Theatre. Moore and his team provided a comprehensive look ahead to Rogers programming on Citytv, FX, Omni, Sportsnet, G4, Bio and OLN. There was naturally a lot of hype for the Bachelor Canada, starring Hudson’s Brad Smith, which will air Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. beginning in the fall. Everyone leaving the Corona was presented with a red rose. Smith is currently filming in Western Canada and was unavailable to attend. But we did learn that one of his televised dates will occur here.

Moore, who was born in Montreal, plans to spend a lot of time here over the next few months to try and determine what local programming would be the best fit.  A morning news show, which would go up against Shaw Media’s plans for a Global TV wakeup program, is a possibility. So are shows focusing on music, sports and current affairs.

Here is my video interview with Moore. Please see The Suburban Magazine on Friday for a detailed look at the Citytv fall schedule and interviews with Moore, programming chief Malcolm Dunlop and Julie Lafontaine, the Pierrefonds mom who made it to the finals of Canada's Got Talent.