Source : Toronto Star

Canada's favourite homegrown television series, CTV's Corner Gas, is on the
move again.

The comedy hit, which averages 1.5 million viewers a week, is being edged out
of its 8 p.m. Tuesday-night slot for returning U.S. import American Idol.

Starting tonight, Corner Gas moves to Mondays at 8, followed by Degrassi: The
Next Generation.

The move is the second for the Saskatchewan-set comedy since its debut last
season.

According to CTV, the move is to protect the Canadian show.

The devil here is something called "simulcasting."

Tomorrow night at 8, you can turn to Buffalo's Fox affiliate, Channel 29 (28
or 21 on Rogers Cable) and think you are watching the American signal for an
American series (American Idol).

Instead, the cable company blocks the incoming American signal (Channel 29)
and substitutes the Canadian one (CFTO) carrying the same program (American
Idol) at the same time.

In this case, the tactic gives CTV a double punch in the ratings.

Having competitively bid for the Canadian rights for American Idol, CTV would
be crazy to give that up. Sponsors love the thought of all those high ratings.

So CTV and such competitors as Global, Citytv, VR routinely simulcast most of
their incoming U.S. shows, which doesn't always leave enough room for Canadian series.

CTV had the option of "prereleasing" American Idol (as it does with Medium
and Alias), but Ed Robinson, CTV senior vice-president of comedy and variety,
thinks Fox would not have permitted this in a case where learning the winner's identity during each hour is part of the show. And Fox has scheduled a second hour of American Idol Wednesdays at 8 (also simulcast by CTV).

This meant Corner Gas had to move. Mondays at 8 might actually work, since
Corner Gas is a family show.

It wouldn't work any night at 9 and viewers at 7: 30 might not be ready to
settle down for a low-keyed sitcom.

Finding room where homegrown shows can prosper is a bit of an art.

CTV currently runs its premium current affairs series W-Five Saturdays at 7,
and ratings have blossomed.

The season premiere a few weeks back took in 1.2 million viewers. The absence
of hockey may have something to do with this.

Last Saturday CTV had a whole night of hour-long Canadian series: W-Five, Sue
Thomas, FBEye (classed as Canadian content), Cold Squad and The Eleventh Hour.

CTV placed the drama The Eleventh Hour on Saturday nights at 10, hardly the
most watched hour of the week, but a place where Cold Squad prospered for
several seasons.

But, so far, the excellent Eleventh Hour isn't getting the audience it
deserves.

Robinson says that no matter where he slots a Canadian show, "it's against
something." When Corner Gas moved from Thursdays to Tuesdays, its audience
followed.

The difficulty in slotting shows is one reason CTV is experimenting with more
half-hour Canadian series.

Next up is Instant Star, CTV's new half-hour comedy for teens. It premieres
next Sunday night at 7 with back-to-back half hours.

The big week for Corner Gas comes on Feb. 21, when Fox says on its website
that American Idol will expand to three nights a week, including a Monday at 8 p.m. hour.

CTV can move Corner Gas again, or pre-empt it for three weeks.

© The Toronto Star