CityTV launches in Winnipeg
By Everett Martin, News Director

There is a new network on Winnipeg's landscape, one that helps to solidify the city as a major Canadian media market. As of 6am on Tuesday, August 2, A-Channel Manitoba (formerly MTN) has been transformed into CityTV Winnipeg.

Once found only in Toronto and Vancouver, CHUM has expanded the CityTV brand into Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary following the $265 million acquisition of Craig Broadcasting Ltd in December of 2004. Due to its family ownership, A-Channel and its Craig counterparts were heavily promoted as 'Very Independent', a moniker that has been all but done away with under the CityTV banner.

Cam Cowie, VP and General Manager for CHUM Winnipeg says that the choice to make Winnipeg a CityTV market came naturally.

"In a sole, standalone market [like Winnipeg] you go with your signature brand, and CityTV is the signature brand," explains Cowie. "It has a look that's a little more polished. but what will not change is the dedication to local programming. That was Craig philosophy. and it's a CityTV philosophy."

According to a CHUM press release, CityTV's focus is "high energy news and a highly stylized presentation" along with viewer interaction, urban issues and cultural diversity. In Toronto and Vancouver, CityTV uses unconventional camera angles and a hurried pace to liven up its newscasts.

CityTV's new Winnipeg building at The Forks

Indeed, aside from the new "enhanced screen" weather and news ticker, there was little to differentiate Tuesday's first broadcast of the revamped BT: Breakfast Television, from its predecessor, The Big Breakfast. However, Jon Ljungberg and Jimmy Mac hinted at the addition of a new, yet-to-be-named co-host. The station's website lets the cat out of the bag, though - Winnipeg news veteran Erin Selby will be sharing the desk with Ljungberg, having made the leap from ratings-leader CTV's local newscast.

"She brings professionalism, and a different point of view," Cowie says of Selby, "An integral part of the show will be.the repartée between the co-hosts, and that's something we haven't always seen."

CHUM Ltd owns 12 local TV stations, 21 specialty cable channels and 33 radio stations in Canada. Their original programming is said to on the air in over 120 countries worldwide. Other well-known properties are Bravo, Space and SexTV and MuchMusic (with all its variations).

In addition to CityTV, CHUM operates three radio station in Winnipeg - 99.9 BOB, Q94 and 1290 CFRW, as well as CBC affiliate CKX TV in Brandon.