This is a press release from CTV. With the NHL locked-out, which is broadcast on CBC, CTV has been promoting a Saturday night marathon of The Big Bang Theory as a substitute. As a Canadian who actually doesn't give a damn about hockey, my only complaint about the lock-out is the near-constant media coverage of the lock-out. Endless footage of people walking in and out of meeting rooms, and a never-ending stream of talking-heads giving their two cents about it, makes it painful to watch the news. So while I have been making an effort to ignore anything related to the lock-out, I found this press release a delight to read. CBC is upset that viewers may confuse CTV's promotion of the Big Bang marathon with Hockey Night in Canada, and has issued a cease and desist.
The press release from CTV follows: What's The "Big" Deal? CBC's Saturday Night Confusion: Viewers Can't Differentiate Hockey and Astrophysics - CTV's BIG BANG Night is No Longer "In Canada" - - CBC's "very serious" concerns addressed regarding Saturday night programming - To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/X0t2NE TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - - In an effort to help confused viewers everywhere, CTV responded today to CBC's request to cease all promotion and publicity for its broadcast plans for* *BIG BANG NIGHT IN CANADA. The timely, two-hour programming block featuring episodes of Canada's most-watched television program, *THE BIG BANG THEORY*, begins tomorrow *Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET* on CTV. In a strongly worded legal directive, the CBC has accused CTV's branding of being "confusing" to viewers with respect to their trademark for "Hockey Night In Canada." "We take this matter very seriously," the letter said. Apparently, reasonable viewers could consider encore hockey broadcasts "confusing" with the widely popular comedy series about four socially awkward scientists and their friends. So, out of deep respect for the millions of viewers that CBC has alleged are "confused", and in the spirit of the Lady Byng trophy, CTV today pledged that it will heed the request and rebrand its Saturday night programming as *BIG BANG NIGHT ON CTV*. Hopefully, the move will prevent further "reducing the esteem" of CBC's programming. However, CTV will be forced to ramp up its promotional campaign for *BIG BANG NIGHT ON CTV*, tripling its on-air promotional resources to re-launch the block and prevent any supposed and unintentional "confusion." A new on-air promo for the Saturday night block was launched last night during THE BIG BANG THEORY, the most-watched 30 minutes on Canadian television. Additionally, Bell Media has undertaken a review of its operations to ensure no additional potential "confusion" with CBC programming. Although similarities were found, Bell Media confirms it has no issue with CBC imitating its specialty channel ESPN Classic with the airing of classic hockey games on Saturday nights, as long as CBC is not concerned that viewers may interpret that Gretzky, Gilmour, and Lemieux have come out of retirement. Bazinga. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
