From Meredith Bond and News Staff at City:
Link: Dina Pugliese saying goodbye to Breakfast Television after over 16 years
Dina Pugliese is saying goodbye to Breakfast Television (BT) after over 16 years serving as co-host.
Her last appearance on the longest-running morning show will be on Friday, Feb. 24. Continue reading.
From a media release:
Add equal parts universally-proven formats, diverse Canadian storytelling, and tremendous talent, garnish with the most dramatic twists (ever!), and serve with a side of serious canine cuteness and you have the perfect mix for Citytv’s 2021/22 original lineup, announced today at the Rogers Sports & Media Upfront.
Citytv is building on the global success of the Got Talent and Bachelor franchises with the launch of Canada’s Got Talent, Bachelor in Paradise Canada, and The Bachelor After Show. And there’s more, with the return of Citytv’s highest-rated original scripted series Hudson & Rex and the newest chapter of OMNI Television’s Blood and Water.
Created by Simon Cowell, the Got Talent franchise holds the Guinness World Records title as the most successful reality TV format, and now Canadians can once again take the stage and hear the golden buzzer as Citytv has commissioned Canada’s Got Talent in partnership with Fremantle, SYCO Entertainment, and McGillivray Entertainment Media Inc. The show begins production this Fall in Niagara Falls, ON, and premieres in Spring 2022 with nine original episodes. Canada’s Got Talent celebrates home-grown hopefuls from across the country as young and old, from every corner of the nation, show the country what they’ve got.
Keep the bubbly flowing, Bachelor Nation. As announced earlier this year, Bachelor in Paradise Canada is coming exclusively to Citytv this Fall, airing Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. The drama continues beyond the rose ceremony with the launch of The Bachelor After Show, airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET. Hosted by KiSS 92.5’s Deepa Prashad and Daryn Jones, the two will dish on all the juicy gossip and drama from the Bachelor universe – The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise – and across Bachelor Nation.
Citytv’s #1 original scripted hit series Hudson & Rex, which experienced 77% audience growth since Season 1*, is back with more bark as production for Season 4 begins in St. John’s later this month and will air in mid-season. New this year, in partnership with Access Reelworld and Rogers Sports & Media, Citytv announces Level UP, a new mentoring initiative which provides on-the-ground set experience to emerging writers and directors who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour. This year’s program sponsors are Hudson & Rex producers Shaftesbury and Pope Productions, who welcome successful applicants to their set and writers room to shadow the crew, hone their skills, and develop additional training.
On OMNI Television, private detective Michelle Chang (Selena Lee, Forensic Heroes IV, Once More) is back on the case as Blood and Water: Fire & Ice, the original Chinese-Canadian drama, returns for a compelling third and final season, premiering Sunday, June 13 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Season 3 continues the saga of the billionaire Xie family in which Michelle finds surprising allies as she hunts down Norris Pang, the ruthless criminal who kidnapped her daughter. Produced by Breakthrough Entertainment, in association with OMNI Television, the eight 30-minute episodes star Selena Lee, Elfina Luk, Sean Baek, Loretta Yu, Fiona Fu, and Oscar Hsu.
Rounding out Citytv’s original content offering are popular schedule staples Breakfast Television, two-time CSA winner as Best Morning Show, and Cityline, the longest-running and most successful Canadian daytime show for women.
From a media release:
As announced on Sportsnet moments ago, long-time Sportsnet personality Sid Seixeiro is leaving Tim & Sid to join Breakfast Television on Citytv as the morning show’s new co-host.
Beginning March 10, Seixeiro will wake up audiences alongside current co-host and fan favourite Dina Pugliese and the rest of the BT family – Devo Brown, Frank Ferragine (aka Frankie Flowers), Stephanie Henry, Melanie Ng, Nicole Servinis and Tammie Sutherland.
“It’s been a dream to work 20 years in the sports industry, especially alongside Tim Micallef, and express my passion and love for sports on a daily basis. However, I’ve always been curious to explore other areas of the business and this was a unique opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. I’m so excited to begin this next adventure with Dina and the BT family,†said Seixeiro. “While I look forward to my next chapter, this news is truly bittersweet for me. It has been an honour coming to work and talking sports with Tim for all of these years. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner. To the entire show’s crew and our incredible Tim & Sidizens, thank you.â€
Seixeiro marks the end of his long-time tenure as one-half of Sportsnet’s edu-taining duo, Tim & Sid, alongside co-host Tim Micallef. Over the next few weeks, fans of both Breakfast Television and Tim & Sid will see Seixeiro across both Rogers Sports & Media shows.
Seixeiro’s last Tim & Sid air date is scheduled for February 26. Micallef will continue to anchor the 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET timeslot on Sportsnet television and radio, delivering the latest headlines, hot takes and exclusive interviews alongside a rotating panel of friends of the show, until further details are announced.
The recipient of a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for “Best Morning Showâ€, Breakfast Television has been a constant source of warmth and entertainment, delivering the latest news, weather and traffic to help viewers get ready for their day. BT airs live each weekday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET on Citytv and Citytv.com in Ontario, featuring a national hour available in all Citytv markets starting at 9 a.m.
From David Harrigg of the Vancouver Sun:
Link: Rogers axes Breakfast Television in Vancouver/Calgary and cuts radio jobs
Rogers Sports & Media cut its Breakfast Television (BT) shows in Vancouver and Calgary on Tuesday — favouring a national version — and cut senior jobs in radio. Continue reading.
Breakfast Television Toronto is another member down. Less than a month after Kevin Frankish exited Citytv’s early morning program, Adam Wylde took to Twitter to announce Tuesday was his last day.
“Hey – kind’ve a big day,” he began. “Today’s show was my last on Kiss 92.5 and Breakfast Television. I want to thank KiSS management and staff in Toronto and in our syndicated markets across the country. What a great team. The best I have ever been on. I also have to say the same thing about everyone at Breakfast Television, who are just insanely fun and talented people. It has been an outstanding 5.5 years with Rogers Media.”
“This was a decision I made, with a lot of thought,” he continued. “And it wasn’t easy.” You can read his full statement below.
Friday, June 1, marked the last day of Kevin Frankish’s career at Breakfast Television. He had been at the helm of the flagship morning show since 1994 when he replaced David Onley.
Back in 2016, Jennifer Valentyne departed the program due to a programming change, followed by Tanya Kim last year.
Image courtesy of The Academy.
