- Breakfast Television (Citytv Toronto)
"Breakfast Television", also known as BT, is a Canadian morning news and entertainment program produced by Citytv Toronto.
Four other
Citytv stations and the cable-onlyA Atlantic uses the name and the format (see "Breakfast Television "), creating content relevant to their own local audiences. All other A stations produce their own similar morning shows under the name "A Morning "."BT" tends to be more relaxed and spontaneous than American morning shows. Unlike American morning shows, it does not have pre-taped segments that are focused on current events or socio-political issues. The guests tend to be more human interest, informational, and promotional in nature and there is less of a focus on celebrities.
The show has a segment called "LiveEye", in which
Jennifer Valentyne tours around theGreater Toronto Area , to businesses, tourist attractions, etc. Valentyne has also broadcast fromWalt Disney World [Inside BT blog: " [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx?contenturl=http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/5192.aspx Jenn's Disney Trip] ", 10 November 2006.] and Newfoundland. [Inside BT blog: " [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx?contenturl=http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/2341.aspx A Visit from J.D. FORTUNE & Getting Ready for VIEWER APPRECIATION DAY] ", 11 August 2006.]History
"Breakfast Television" debuted on
September 6 ,1989 , with hostAnn Rohmer and news anchorDavid Onley . In 1994, Onley left the show to focus on CityPulse, being replaced byKevin Frankish , who up to that point was BT's traffic specialist and previously was a reporter for Barrie'sCKVR .Liza Fromer replaced Ann Rohmer in 2001, but then left the show in July 2006, after the birth of her child. Kevin Frankish blogged that her departure from the show was "on the absolute best of terms." OnOctober 13 ,2006 Dina Pugliese became the new co-host of the show, after a summer of guest co-hosts.Jennifer Valentyne (nee Peck) was previously the singing weather girl; she replaced
Steve Anthony on the LiveEye segment after he left the station. Hugh Burrill presented the sports segment and also took part in early morning host chats before being assigned to a later time slot.With the absence of Hugh Burrill, Nalini Sharma joined the BT team as a weather presenter. She went on maternity leave in 2005 and returned that September, before being reassigned to a different time slot. Frank Ferragine, the fill-in presenter during her maternity leave, returned.
Roger Petersen used to be the morning reporter on BT before moving to Citytv Vancouver in 2004 (he is currently atCFTO-TV ). His replacement, Dave Pinton, left in 2005, and Tracy Moore is currently the live reporter for BT.et
Like CTV-owned
MuchMusic , the "Breakfast Television" studio has windows facingQueen Street West . As a result, passers-by are shown on camera, behind the hosts and guests. While many American morning shows now have similar storefront studios, Citytv was the first to have such a layout Fact|date=September 2007. As a result, area employees are repeatedly seen, [ [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx?contenturl=http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/5368.aspx CityNews: Inside BT ] ] as well as people marketing nearby businesses while wearing chicken costumes.Inside BT blog: " [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx?contenturl=http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/5482.aspx Why Did The Chicken Cross Queen Street] ", 22 November 2006.] A toplessstreet performer , "Zanta ", was so much of a visual distraction that CHUM filed court documents to have him banned from the building's area.cite news |last=Burnett |first=Thane |title=Zanta's claws pulled by a court |publisher=The Toronto Sun |date=2005-11-07 |url=http://torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Burnett_Thane/2005/11/07/1296119.html |accessdate=2006-12-06 ]Sixty minutes after "BT" ends, the studio is used for another series, "
CityLine ".On
October 22 ,2007 ,Rogers Media announced plans to move its television stations in Toronto (Citytv, OMNI.1 andOMNI.2 ) and its sports radio stationThe Fan 590 to35 Dundas Street East , the former Olympic Spirit building onDundas Square . The move is scheduled for March 2009. [ [http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18503.aspx "Preview Citytv's New Home"] , CityNews.ca,January 11 ,2008 . ] Citytv has indicated that the program will continue with its traditional streetfront studio format in its new location. OnJanuary 18 ,2008 , BT held its first-ever live broadcast from that location. [http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18716.aspx]In 2008, CTV's
eTalk moved its base of operations to 299 Queen Street West and took up residence in the same studio as BT/CityLine. One wall and several pillars have been fitted with video screens and a red and white colour scheme displaying the eTalk logo. Citytv covers this up with a blue curtain for Breakfast Television and CityLine. CTV-ownedStar! sometimes uses this set for its weekly film based program, "Star! at the Movies" as well as for "Star! Update" on CTV-owned Star! andCP24 .Events
Every August since 2005, "BT" has organized a "Viewer Appreciation Day", held in the BT parking lot.Inside BT blog: " [http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_2655.aspx Second BT Viewer Appreciation Day A Smash Success] ", 11 August 2006.] Gates open at 6 a.m., and closed due to capacity crowds early into 7 a.m. Some people began camping out at "BT" at 5:30 p.m. the day before.Inside BT blog: " [http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_2655.aspx Second BT Viewer Appreciation Day A Smash Success] ", 11 August 2006.]
The BT team also holds an annual public Christmas party, in promotion of the
ChumCity Christmas Wish andDaily Bread Foodbank . In 2006, the event was at the Sheraton Centre.Presenters
* Main anchor:
Kevin Frankish (1994 - present)
* Co-host:Dina Pugliese (October 13 ,2006 -present) [Inside BT Blog: " [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx DINA IS THE ONE!!!!] ", 13 October 2006.]
* Weather:Frank Ferragine (September 26 ,2005 - present)
* LiveEye:Jennifer Valentyne
* Top story reporter (LiveEye): Tracy Moore (September 2005 - present, currently on maternity leave),Pam Seatle (occasionally in summer 2006)
* Transit:Mika Midolo of TTC Transit Control,Eva Fragiskatos (of CFTR-AM Traffic Centre,November 5 ,2007 - present)Past presenters
*
Ann Rohmer (host, 1989 - 2001, reassigned to CP24, and is an occasional fill-in host forKevin Frankish )
*David Onley (news, 1989 - 1994; nowLieutenant Governor of Ontario )
*John Whaley (sports; now sports reporter for Metro Morning onCBC Radio )
*Steve Anthony (LiveEye; now afternoon host on Mix 99.9)
*Roger Petersen (top story reporter, LiveEye, now reporter and night anchor atCFTO-TV )
*Hugh Burrill (sports, reassigned as a sports anchor onCityNews )
*Nalini Sharma (weather,August 2003 -September 23 ,2005 , re-assigned to CityNews weekend editions and CityNews at 11)
*Dave Pinton (top story reporter, LiveEye, 2004 - September 2005; now withCIVT-TV Vancouver )
*Liza Fromer (host, 2001 - July 2006; now withSlice TV )
*Bob Summers (CHUM-FM Traffic Centre - untilNovember 2 ,2007 )
*Sharon Posius (A News Barrie - untilSeptember 5 ,2008 , re-assigned toCKVR-TV 's new morning show; "A Morning ").Guest co-hosts
*
Kathryn Humphreys (July 2006)
*Traci Melchor (July 2006)
* Frank Ferragine (31 July-4 August 2006)
*Laura DiBattista (14-18 August 2006, as well as "a few years ago") [Inside BT Blog: " [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx The Wink] ", 14 August 2006.]
*Jee-Yun Lee (28 August-1 September 2006)
*Merella Fernandez (5-8 September 2006)
*Melissa Grelo (September 2006)
*Dina Pugliese (September 25-28, 2006)
*Nalini Sharma (September 29, 2006)
*Ann Rohmer (for Kevin Frankish occasionally)
* Tracy Moore (for Kevin Frankish occasionally)Crew
Note that this list is purposely incomplete, and only includes crew that Frankish's "Inside BT" blog has devoted an entire post to.
* Producer: Robert Lawlor [ [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/insidebt_3141.aspx CityNews: Meet Our Producer, Robert Lawlor ] ]Past crew
* Floor director: Jessica Vander Kooij, [Inside BT blog: [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx?contenturl=http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/2065.aspx You Asked about..."JESSICA"] , 20 July 2006] who appears semi-regularly on camera - Jessica has taken a position @ BT in Vancouver in a production role.
* BT Diner operator, BT contest line operator [Inside BT blog: " [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx?contenturl=http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/2026.aspx The Contest Phone] ", 18 July 2006.] :Angelica Montesano [Inside BT blog: [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx?contenturl=http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/1871.aspx You Asked About..."The Diner Girl"] , 10 July 2006.] (Off "BT", Montesano is a singer [ [http://www.myspace.com/angelicamontesano Myspace: Angelica Montesano] ] and actress, who has a lead role in "The Adventures of Fuming Chu ".)Notes
References
External links
* [http://www.citytv.com/toronto/tvshows_14391.aspx Breakfast Television Toronto]
* [http://www.citynews.ca/ CityNews]
** [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_748.aspx Inside BT blog] , by The BT Team
** [http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/blogs_1956.aspx Frankie Flowers blog] , by Frank Ferragine
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