What's The "Big" Deal? CBC's Saturday Night Confusion: Viewers Can't Differentiate Hockey and Astrophysics

- CTV's BIG BANG Night is No Longer "In Canada" -

- CBC's "very serious" concerns addressed regarding Saturday night programming -

TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - In an effort to help confused viewers everywhere, CTV responded today to CBC's request to cease all promotion and publicity for its broadcast plans for BIG BANG NIGHT IN CANADA. The timely, two-hour programming block featuring episodes of Canada's most-watched television program, THE BIG BANG THEORY, begins tomorrow Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV.

In a strongly worded legal directive, the CBC has accused CTV's branding of being "confusing" to viewers with respect to their trademark for "Hockey Night In Canada." "We take this matter very seriously," the letter said.

Apparently, reasonable viewers could consider encore hockey broadcasts "confusing" with the widely popular comedy series about four socially awkward scientists and their friends.

So, out of deep respect for the millions of viewers that CBC has alleged are "confused", and in the spirit of the Lady Byng trophy, CTV today pledged that it will heed the request and rebrand its Saturday night programming as BIG BANG NIGHT ON CTV.

Hopefully, the move will prevent further "reducing the esteem" of CBC's programming.

However, CTV will be forced to ramp up its promotional campaign for BIG BANG NIGHT ON CTV, tripling its on-air promotional resources to re-launch the block and prevent any supposed and unintentional "confusion." A new on-air promo for the Saturday night block was launched last night during THE BIG BANG THEORY, the most-watched 30 minutes on Canadian television.

Additionally, Bell Media has undertaken a review of its operations to ensure no additional potential "confusion" with CBC programming. Although similarities were found, Bell Media  confirms it has no issue with CBC imitating its specialty channel ESPN Classic with the airing of classic hockey games on Saturday nights, as long as CBC is not concerned that viewers may interpret that Gretzky, Gilmour, and Lemieux have come out of retirement.

Bazinga.

About CTV

CTV is Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at ctv.ca.

SOURCE: CTV

Jim Quan, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.5311 or [email protected]