Current status of CJOH

[Cantplaypiano]

I've seen some conflicting information regarding the current status of CJOH, and I wonder if someone might have some definitive info.

My understanding is that the only thing that is done for "CTV-Ottawa" is the news. Is this done at the same site of YCDTOTV, or is there a different location now? From what I gather, the Merivale Rd. studio is still in use, but someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

I know Studio D was shut down, does this mean it was sealed off, mothballed, demolished, turned into an oversize storage closet, or what?

[MarlinsFanY2K]

You are correct. CJOH as a branded entity is gone. The station is now branded on-air as CTV Ottawa, following the branding of the other CTV stations. It's pretty standard for the TV industry these days - local programming doesn't make any money, and as such, the days of local TV stations as production houses are over (by and large - certain PBS stations seem to do okay, mostly because of private funding).

As I understand it, CJOH still does operate from the original studios on Merivale. The news is done in the center studio (B, I think?), which is the smaller one in terms of space. A and D were closed off for tax purposes by the station - they used to be rented out to production companies, but no more. They're still there, but the doors were chained , power cut off, etc.

Also, as I understand it, the possibility exists for the station to move somewhere else in the Ottawa area, perhaps closer to downtown, with smaller studios. At the time of planning for SC 02 (and again in SC 04), there was talk that the station was going to move out and sell the property to developers of big box stores (ie, Future Shop, Wal Mart, Home Depot, etc. etc.), but economic conditions changed, and the demand wasn't there. That's just what I heard, though, so take it for what it's worth.

[Cantplaypiano]

Mr. Dime: "You mean we got more than one?"
Geoffrey Darby: "We got fouuuuuuur studios."
Mr. Dime: "...how come we got so many?"
Geoffrey Darby: "To make programs in!"

I think this thread might actually belong in the SlimeCon '09 area, but I wasn't sure.

The most experience I have with how television works is from spending a day at a cable access station in Northeast Ohio. I ran a camera for a program about health topics, and they interviewed a doctor on the program. The whole time in my headset I hear the guys in the back making lewd comments. I was slated to do a game show at that station, but it was a one man operation (that man being me) and it flopped.

[temasongu]

So does this mean my CJOH coffee mug and refrigerator magnet are worth more now?

But all kidding aside, does the station still have it's call letters even if they don't use them? I know that would be the case here in the states since it's legally required.

[Mr Agent]

Cjoh

The Call letters are no longer on the building. It is simply CTV...its pretty depressing.

[Cantplaypiano]

Nature of CTV

Isn't this the case with all CTV stations though? I know they've pushed the unified CTV-<city> designation, and call letters are avoided whenever possible. CFTO would be CTV-Toronto for example. Granted, CJOH sounds way cooler...

[Bigzman]

Still, it is very sad that they have gone the way of other corporate entities.
At least, we can all hang on to the memories that were made in 2002 and 2004.

[Molly Dolly]

being just "CTV" makes a lot more sense from a marketing and branding sense then dozens of different on-air brands - why Granada Television and London Weekend Television are now just part of the unified ITV1 brand

[RadamusPrime]

No title

This is one of the best questions I have read, as of yet. Alright!