Will Brian Lilley Issue Grovelling Apology For November 18th Video Segment?

The video segment itself is  here.  Its print counterpart here. The grovelling apology (print edition) is below:

Will there be a video version of this apology to follow?  Official steps have been taken by Mr. Raynolds to extract one, and they seem to have paid off:

Pls'd we r expecting a full Sun News retraction of falsely attributed statements in last week's article + TV. More to follow. #cdnpoli #LPC
— Marlo Raynolds (@MarloRaynolds) November 22, 2014

Stay tuned (but not to Sun TV, needless to say).

Portents?

Look for announcements about Sun Media cutting frequency of papers in southwestern Ontario this week and next week.

And:

...heard a rumour of press room layoffs in London, anyone hear more?

And at Sun News Network HQ some guy apparently came around this week to look at the HVAC system.  When a guy comes around to look at the HVAC system, it usually means your building is up for sale.  Pink slips usually follow soon after.

Sun TV Ratings: The Shorter Story

 The only way anyone will watch is if they put a Liberal on.

Coming Soon To Sun TV

...this: Menzoid Mornings.  And soon to be leaving the air shortly thereafter, I imagine. If you've never heard of him, and I'm sure you haven't, David Menzies appears to have made a journalistic niche out of getting stopped by police and then writing about it.

Fox News North Gets Sued!

Sources tell me that Ottawa human rights lawyer Richard Warman has launched a defamation suit against Sun TV. His suit pertains to an episode of Michael Coren's The Arena on which fellow Sun TV employee Ezra Levant guested. I have also learned that Kathy Shaidle of Five Feet of Fury has been served as well; I believe this is for hosting the episode in question on her blog.

This may be history in the making. Unfortunately, George Soros abandoned his suit after Fox News North issued a grovelling apology, so this will almost certainly count as the first one to go forward against the struggling network.

Note: I should note that Soros actually threatened to sue the T.O. Sun for a column Ezra wrote; he did not sue Sun TV.

More Sackings At Sun TV?

Their full schedule page shows this:

First Look was  Neelam Verma; Newswire was Jacqui Delaney.  Couple that with this tweet from Lorne Gunter (National Post):

...and I think we have some staff rotation.

Robocon Update: How The CPoC Stiffed Sona

It was already common knowledge that the notion of Mike Sona's involvement in the Robocon affair was pushed by Conservative Party sources.  This bit from Glen McGregor and Stephen Maher's latest makes clear the exact path by which the rumour was transmitted:

Sona, who was director of communications for the Burke campaign, made headlines during the campaign when he tried to shut down a special ballot being held for university students by trying to grab the ballot box.

He was first associated with this story when Sun TV reported that senior Conservatives believed he was a person of interest to the investigation. Sona soon resigned from his job working for Conservative MP Eve Adams.

The original report can be found here.

As for all those stories re the Canadian public not caring about the scandal, I would simply urge patience.  Adscam surfaced in 2004.  Nobody cared until about two weeks into the '06 election until, suddenly, they did.  And its been a ball-and-chain around the LPoC's neck ever since.

Their Audience Is "Indeed Miniscule"

The verdict so far on Fox News North:

So who does watch Sun News Network?

“The vast majority of the few viewers SNN does get are way over 50, outside the demo advertisers want. So SNN draws enough on a nightly basis to fill a senior’s mall,” says Brioux

He went on to say that after the top two shows, Sun News Network gets even fewer viewers.“Beyond Lilley and Levant’s shows—the two highest rated SNN offerings by far—everything else stiffs,” says Brioux. “Charles Adler has bombed from the beginning, drawing 8,000 at 8 p.m. and 2,000 at 11 p.m. on the 28th—and zero in the 25–54 demographic both hours, across Canada.”

As for David Akin’s Daily Brief, Brioux says 6,000 viewers tuned in over the supper hour. But the late-night slot tanked. “Daily Brief at midnight got zip and zip—so few viewers, BBM Canada could not measure them. The same night, CBC News Network peaked at 198,000/60,000 viewers.”

Poor David Akin.  The rest of them, on the other hand, can get bent.

A Match Made In Heaven

 One of the very last products still advertising on Fox News North, it seems.  Otherwise, they drone on endlessly; one yearns for the appearance of Dr. Ho.

Sticking Up From The Little Guys: Is Brian Lilley Sun TV's Tallest Midget?

 From the Owen Sound Sun Times:

... it's long overdue, says Lilly, whose personality, lively style and opinions -- and hairdo--resonate with viewers. He's the highest-rated TV host on the Sun News Network.

The Ez won't like hearing that, but its roughly in accord with Bureau of Broadcast Measurement numbers from late June, which were, generally speaking for the new network, crap.

In any case, Brian's previous work experience stands him in good stead, given the perilous state of the floundering station:

Born and raised in Hamilton, Lilley is actually a jack of all trades -- from bricklayer, painter, cook and waiter at a 24-hour diner, to actor, factory worker, Second Cup manager, gas station manager, and Greenpeace canvasser.

Worked in a restaurant, at a gas station...Your past may well be your future, Brian Lilley.

CBC Should Have Had Ezra Levant Tased

 Objectively, he is 1,000, 000 times more unfunny and pointlessly obnoxious than Mary Walsh, and that's saying alot.  In fact, I am willing to let the gov. pass as many oppressive laws as they need to put him in jail for something.  And I think most mainstream Canadians share this view.

But until that day, the Free Market must grind slowly on.  But it grinds fine indeed; within 12 months, I predict, Ezra'll be back grievance mongering from his rich daddy's basement.

Fox News North Update! Lieberman Replaces Caldwell

Sun News Network weekend anchor Caryn Lieberman will be the new host of a weekday program called Right Now.

The show, which will air weekdays from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. EST, will focus on, quite literally, what's happening right now.

The evening slot that previously saw a shortened version of Caldwell now gets Coren.  Right Now replaces Caldwell's two hour afternoon show.  Their evening news update guy, Brian Dunstan, now gets to work weekends too.

Fox News North Death Spiral Continues Spiralling Towards Death

..but perhaps  a wee bit more slowly.

Looks like Theo Caldwell (who?) is out and Michael Coren is in at Sun TV.  Once thing about Michael Coren: while I can't stand his writing, he is a smooth and quite genial talk show host.  The only problem: other than the now exited Mr. Caldwell (who?), nobody in Sun TV's line-up constitutes anything like a new face, and so it will continue to be difficult for them to attract new viewers.  Mr. Coren's is a known quantity and his addition won't help that situation much.

One interesting side note: Coren was approached back in March by FNN and offered a position, which he refused, citing the fact that he could produce as well as host his CTS show.  This change of heart makes me wonder at the financial state of CTS.

Fox News North In Dutch With CBSC

I've never played through the youtube clip of  that interview Sun TV's Krista Erickson did with interpretive dancer Margie Gillis, but I'd already been told that it got the Canadian arts community up in arms.  Apparently, more up in arms than I'd ever imagined.  From the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council:

This note is directed to those persons who:

1.may be contemplating the filing of a complaint with the CBSC regarding the interview with Margie Gillis on an episode of Canada Live; or

2.have filed such a complaint since June 8.

While the CBSC wishes to thank everyone who has taken the time to send a complaint to the CBSC concerning the Krista Erickson interview with Margie Gillis on an episode of Canada Live, the volume of complaints already sent to us exceeds the Council’s resources.

[...]

So, many thanks for contacting the CBSC or contemplating doing so.  We have more than enough substance to go on to resolve the concerns regarding the interview with Margie Gillis on an episode of Canada Live.

Sounds like an organized effort on behalf of Ms. Gillis.  Got get 'em., artsy types, although I'm still pretty sure "Voice of Fire" ripped off the New York Giants.

Because There Can Be No Price Below $0.00

... it’s time to buy Quebecor stocks:

“We do not expect particularly strong first-quarter results on May 26, but the recent relative weakness in QBR.B shares gives us confidence that expectations are sufficiently low heading into the quarter, so we are not waiting for the results to upgrade the stock..."

A ringing endorsement!

Your Daily Nazi: Fox News North Has A Fan!

John Beattie,  founder leader of the Canadian Nazi Party, now leader of the British People’s League, lauds the Network for "sticking up for white rights".  Brian Lilley and Ezra come in for special praise.

As a side note, it looks like SunTV has run a piece on the Fourniers in connection with another of the many, many defamation cases proceding against Free Dominion.  In addition,  since April a good dozen Blogging Tories have made an appearance, for one reason or another.  If the station lasts three months they'll have interviewed their entire prime-time audience.

Fox News North Vs. Bell Canada EXPLAINED!

Quebecor Media Inc. has reduced the carriage price of its new Sun News Network to “zero” by broadcasting it free over-the-air and streaming online, Mirko Bibic, senior vice-president of regulatory affairs at Bell Canada, says.

Like your mom used to say: nobody will buy the milk if you give it away for free.  Naturally, Bell Canada doesn't want to pay.

What Is Wrong With This Picture?

The guys at Fox News North don't seem to know.

Bell TV, Fox News North Part Ways

TORONTO – Quebecor’s Sun News was removed from the Bell TV satellite lineup at 10 a.m. this morning (Tuesday, May 3).

While the channel slot itself remains, the feed has been replaced with text telling customers that the channel “has been taken down at the request of the owners of Sun News."

Go through the link for details.