TV Land Canada to Relaunch as Comedy Gold August 2nd with Focus On Classic Sitcoms

[Zoneboy]

Link (http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000375729)

CTV announced today the launch of a new specialty brand, Comedy Gold. Launching August 2, Comedy Gold pays tribute to timeless sitcoms of the 70s, 80s and 90s, and becomes CTV’s fourth new specialty brand this year, following the previous announcement of Discovery World HD, Investigation Discovery, and Discovery Science. The announcement was made as CTV confirmed the programming lineup for its industry-leading suite of specialty channels.

“With the launch of Comedy Gold and the new Discovery Channel brands, along with the premiere of hot new series and the return of power-house ratings winners in genres for every key target demo, CTV specialty channels are set to lead the industry for yet another season,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

Comedy Gold

Launching August 2, Comedy Gold sees its former TV Land Canada channel re-focus exclusively on the timeless sitcoms of the 70s, 80s and 90s. With more titles still to be confirmed, Comedy Gold features comedy classics such as the groundbreaking The Mary Tyler Moore Show; both classic Bob Newhart shows, The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart; two-time Emmy-winner for Best Comedy Series, Murphy Brown; court-room hi-jinks on Night Court; classic Canadian laughs on SCTV and the show that catapulted Will Smith to stardom, The Fresh Prince of Belair among others

[Retro4Life]

Thank heavens someone will be airing SCTV again!

I'm not that crazy about Murphy Brown or Fresh Prince but the rest of the lineup looks good too.

Now to convince my satellite network to carry this channel! :)

[Marvo301]

I'm glad there is actually going to be a channel that focuses on classic sitcoms. And I'm really tickled that it's a Canadian channel! SCTV is on the air!

[clj2]

It's a great improvement, but shame they won't show anything from the 60s.

They were like TV Land in 2001...since the TV Land in the US is no longer classic TV only, I guess it makes sense for the other one to reposition if they plan to be.

[James]

I don't see how the 90s sitcoms can be considered classic. (Next thing you know, oldies stations will be playing 90s music! The horror! :eek: )

[kk-likes-tv]

No more Lassie, I'm gonna miss that crazy pooch.

[DSfan]

In addition to the 7 sitcoms they mentioned in the press release, it is conceivable to think Happy Days, Bizarre, Veranda Comedy Club, Chaps Comedy Club, New Red Green Show, and Ready or Not could carry over to Comedy Gold from TV Land Canada's current lineup.

All the other shows they currently air, after consulting their lineup, are either sitcoms from before the 70s or dramas - not part of what they will be airing on Comedy Gold.

It's possible that none, some, or maybe even all of those shows carry over to Comedy Gold but I would say most likely it would be Bizarre, Veranda, Chaps, and maybe Happy Days. Sleeper pick to join the channel = Super Dave Osborne, that would fit in well with their need for sketch comedy and it aired from '87 to '91.