| List of years in Canadian television: |
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The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 2020. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings.
Events
March
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | The NBA has suspended the remainder of its 2019–2020 season "until further notice" after Rudy Gobert, a player for the Utah Jazz, tested positive for the coronavirus, resulting in a game in which the Jazz were facing the host city Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena to be cancelled just as they were about to start (all personnel associated with the Jazz organization are quarantined until they are cleared), effectively leaving a large hole in the schedules of NBA TV, Sportsnet, Citytv, TSN, CTV/CTV 2, French-language RDS, and the league's regional sports network partners, as it pertains to the Toronto Raptors broadcasts. | |
| 12 | Following the NBA's lead of the day prior, several other sports leagues across Canada the United States announce a temporary suspension of play in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Major League Soccer suspends all games for 30 days due to the coronavirus pandemic, while the NHL announces an indefinite suspension of league activity, which was later followed in the day by Major League Baseball's announcement that it has suspended its spring training games and delayed the start of their 2020 regular season (originally scheduled to begin March 26) by at least two weeks. The suspension of the three leagues adds another large schedule void for CBC/SRC, Sportsnet, Citytv, TSN CTV/CTV 2, RDS, and TVA, as well as the leagues' regional sports network partners. | |
| Both the Juno Awards of 2020, which would have been broadcast on March 15, and the 8th Canadian Screen Awards, which would have been broadcast on March 29, also have their ceremonies cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Both awards eventually announce their winners via livestreaming. | ||
| 18 | CBC Television temporarily suspends production of local newscasts on nearly all of its owned-and-operated stations, replacing them with a simulcast of the national CBC News Network in order to "temporarily pool our resources into one core news offering"; the sole exception is the CBC North service in the territories, due to the need to serve indigenous-language communities. However, this move faces criticism in some regions, with politicians and media figures arguing that locally focused news and information is especially critical in a time of emergency. The move is partially reversed by the end of March, with local newscasts resuming in most markets. |
April
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | The Canadian Film Festival and Super Channel announce a partnership which will see television broadcasts in May of the feature and short films that had been slated to premiere at the CFF prior to its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| 26 | CTV, Global, Citytv, CBC, V, Family, and other Canadian local and specialty channels partner on Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble, a special broadcast to raise money for Food Banks Canada due to increased demand for food bank services during the pandemic. The special featured musical performances by Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Alessia Cara, Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams, Jann Arden, Sarah McLachlan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Barenaked Ladies, Arkells and William Prince, as well as spoken word appearances by Margaret Atwood, Tessa Virtue, Eric McCormack, Jason Priestley, Howie Mandel, Rick Mercer, Russell Peters, Will Arnett, Chris Hadfield, David Suzuki, Rick Hansen, Hayley Wickenheiser, Connor McDavid, Bianca Andreescu, Mike Myers, Geddy Lee, and Penny Oleksiak. It ranks as the most-viewed non-sports broadcast in Canadian television history, with 11.5 million viewers. |
July
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Launch of the Water Television Network. |
Programs
Programs debuting in 2020
Programs ending in 2020
| End date | Show | Channel | First aired | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 30 | Lâcher prise | Ici Radio-Canada Télé | 2017 | Ended | |
| April 7 | Schitt's Creek | CBC Television | 2015 | ||
| May 11 | Cardinal | CTV | 2017 | ||
| June 7 | The Weekly with Wendy Mesley | CBC Television, CBC News Network | Canceled | ||
| June 10 | I Do, Redo | CTV | 2020 | ||
| November 11 | Trickster | CBC Television |
Changes of network affiliation
| Show | Moved from | Moved to |
|---|---|---|
| Being Ian | BBC Kids | Knowledge Network |
Television films and specials
| Airdate | Show | Channel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 8 | Rule of 3 | Crave | |
| March 13 | No Good Deed | Crave | |
| April 26 | Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble | CTV, Global, Citytv, CBC, V, Family, and more | |
| May 28 | Glass Houses | Crave | |
| June 24 | Queer Pride Inside | CBC Gem | |
| June 26 | We're Funny That Way: The Virtual Pride Special | CBC Gem | |
| June 27 | Pride Toronto Drag Ball | Crave | |
| July 27 | Being Black in Canada | CBC Television, CBC Gem | |
| August 1 | FreeUp! The Emancipation Day Special | CBC Gem | |
| August 14 | Fierté Montréal Drag Superstars | YouTube | |
| September 15 | 2020 TIFF Tribute Awards | CTV | |
| October 11 | Every Child Matters | CBC Television, APTN | |
| December 15 | Borealis | TVOntario | |
| Mass Hysterical: A Comedic Cantata | Webcast | ||
| December 18 | The Christmas Setup | CTV Drama Channel | |
| Unknown date | Inendi | CBC Gem | |
| The Lead | Crave | ||
| Within These Walls | Crave |
Networks and services
Network conversions and rebrandings
| Old network name | New network name | Type | Conversion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Noovo | August 31 |
Network closures
| Network | Type | Closure date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Canada | December 31 |
Deaths
- January 17 - Thérèse Dion, television personality (born 1927)
- January 20 - Kit Hood, television editor (born 1943)
- February 5 - Diane Cailhier, filmmaker and director (born 1947)
- March 7 - Earl Pomerantz, screenwriter (born 1945)
- April 3 - Logan Williams, 16, actor (The Whispers, The Flash, When Calls the Heart, Supernatural), fentanyl overdose.
- April 5 - Shirley Douglas, actress and activist
- April 7 - Ghyslain Tremblay, actor and comedian (born 1951)
- April 11 - Paul Haddad, actor (born 1963)
- April 19 - Claude Lafortune, television presenter (born 1936)
- May 7 - Joyce Davidson, 89, Canadian television presenter, COVID-19.
- May 10 - Martin Pasko, 65, Canadian-born American comic book writer and screenwriter (Max Headroom, Roseanne, Batman: The Animated Series).
- May 12 - Renée Claude, 80, Canadian actress (Avec un grand A, He Shoots, He Scores) and singer, COVID-19.
- May 16 - Monique Mercure, 89, Canadian actress (L'héritage, Providence, Mémoires vives), cancer.
- May 18 - Michelle Rossignol, 80, Canadian actress.
- May 22 - André Cartier, 74, Canadian actor (Passe-Partout).
- July 5 - Nick Cordero, actor (born 1978)
- November 8 - Alex Trebek, newsman (CBC Television) and game show host (The $128,000 Question, Reach for the Top, Pitfall and the American version of Jeopardy! among many others) (born 1940)
The year also saw the death of wrestlers Rocky Johnson, Bobby Kay, Steve Gillespie, all of whom performed in televised leagues.
References
- "NBA suspends season until further notice after player tests positive for the coronavirus" from ESPN (March 11, 2020)
- "Major League Soccer suspends season 30 days amid coronavirus scare" from Pro Soccer USA (March 12, 2020)
- Cyrgalis, Brett (March 12, 2020). "NHL set to suspend season amid coronavirus outbreak". New York Post. News Corp.
- "Junos in Saskatoon cancelled, with organizers citing concerns over COVID-19". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. March 12, 2020.
- "Canadian Screen Awards Canceled Amid Coronavirus Pandemic". The Hollywood Reporter. March 12, 2020.
- "CBC temporarily replaces local evening TV news amid coronavirus pandemic". CBC News, March 18, 2020.
- Dave Stewart, "CBC News Network pre-empting P.E.I.'s Compass due to situation with coronavirus". The Guardian, March 18, 2020.
- "Postponed Canadian Film Fest finds new home on Super Channel". Canadian Press, April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Canadian broadcasters to air ‘Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble’ special in support of front-line workers". Canadian Press, April 20, 2020.
- Debra Yeo, "‘Stronger Together’ COVID-19 special becomes most watched non-sports broadcast ever in Canada". Toronto Star, April 27, 2020.
- Greg David, "marblemedia announces launch of Restaurants on the Edge". TV, eh?, December 3, 2019.
- ^ Dutt, Aruna (November 21, 2019). "Get ready for a year full of drama: here's what's coming to CBC in 2020". CBC. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- Corey Atad, "New Medical Drama ‘Nurses’ Joins Global’s Winter 2020 Lineup". ET Canada, November 12, 2019.
- Greg David, "Preview: Kortney and Dave pay it forward in Making it Home". TV, eh?, January 20, 2020.
- Greg David, "Food Network Canada announces Wall of Chefs". TV, eh?, November 28, 2019.
- Jillian Morgan, "Food Network Canada sets premiere for 'Great Chocolate Showdown'". RealScreen, December 6, 2019.
- "Les épisodes de La maison bleue mis en ligne jeudi". La Presse, February 11, 2020.
- Dana Gee, "Top British landscape TV hit gets a fresh coat of Canadian paint". Vancouver Sun, February 13, 2020.
- "First Nations crime series Tribal comes to APTN". The Globe and Mail, February 20, 2020.
- Greg David, "Joseph Kay returns to TV with a new family in CTV’s Transplant". TV, eh?, February 24, 2020.
- Rita DeMontis, "Scrapping it out on the competition series Fridge Wars". Toronto Sun, February 26, 2020.
- Greg David, "Citytv’s new original drama series, The Wedding Planners, premieres March 27". TV, eh?, February 25, 2020.
- John Doyle, "Whodunnit: CBC hits the true-crime jackpot with The Oland Murder". The Globe and Mail, March 2, 2020.
- Marc-André Lemieux, "C’est comme ça que je t’aime : une touche bien personnelle". Le Journal de Montréal, March 8, 2020.
- Debra Yeo, "CBC turns ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ into ‘Movie Night in Canada’". Toronto Star, March 17, 2020.
- Debra Yeo, "Redone weddings in ‘I Do, Redo’ are about healing old wounds, says Jessica Mulroney". Toronto Star, March 12, 2020.
- Greg David, "Marblemedia announces re-commission of All-Round Champion". TV, eh?, February 7, 2020.
- Jordan Pinto, "CBC switches up Sunday nights, puts Tom Power in primetime". Playback, April 3, 2020.
- Victoria Ahearn, "Hot Docs to screen some films through CBC after festival postponed". Canadian Press, April 6, 2020.
- Greg David, "Young chefs showcase their culinary skills in Food Network Canada’s Junior Chef Showdown". TV, eh?, March 13, 2020.
- Chris Brown, "Former Hatter Mark Sakamoto sharing stories of Good People". CHAT-TV, May 8, 2020.
- Debra Yeo, "He shoots dead people: Acorn TV’s delightful ‘Dead Still’ blends the macabre art of post-mortem photography with period mystery". Toronto Star, May 15, 2020.
- Karen Bliss, "Live Nation Canada, Budweiser Set At-Home Televised Series With Black Crowes, The Trews". Billboard, May 25, 2020.
- Debra Yeo, "It’s the summer of drag! Two new shows ‘Queens’ and ‘Canada’s Drag Race’ fill out roster". Toronto Star, June 12, 2020.
- Kelly Townsend, "Slo Pitch EPs on opportunities in short-form LGBTQ content". Playback, August 17, 2020.
- "These Are 'Canada's Drag Race' Season 1 Queens". Out. May 14, 2020.
- Jeremy Dickson, "Line please? How to cast during a quarantine". KidScreen, April 28, 2020.
- Melissa Hank, "Family Home Overhaul is the feel-good renovation show we need now". Canada.com, September 22, 2020.
- "‘Departure’, ‘The Equalizer’ And ‘neXt’ All Coming To The Global TV Fall 2020 Lineup". ET Canada, June 23, 2020.
- "Because News, Canada's funniest news quiz show hits TV screens this fall". CBC News, September 10, 2020.
- Vincent, Melissa (October 18, 2020). "Documentary epic Enslaved, starring Samuel L. Jackson, tells a story that is 400 years overdue". The Globe and Mail.
- Craig Takeuchi, "New CBC shows with Rosemary Barton and Vassy Kapelos to boost political and COVID-19 coverage". The Georgia Straight, October 20, 2020.
- Kelly Townsend, "TVOkids turns up the volume on Bristow’s Backyard Beats". Playback, May 9, 2019.
- Eric Volmers, "Mary Walsh and Cathy Jones will not go gentle into old age in web series as Mrs. Eulalia and Mrs. Enid". Calgary Herald, March 31, 2021.
- Jordan Pinto, "Canada’s OUTtv greenlights, renews 10 projects". RealScreen, November 25, 2020.
- Meaghan Brackenbury, "Watch: Sahtu’s biosphere reserve shines in national TV series". Cabin Radio, October 1, 2020.
- Richard Therrien, "La quatrième saison de Lâcher prise sera la dernière". La Presse, December 17, 2019.
- Andreeva, Nellie (October 3, 2019). "Fox Television Stations acquire 'Schitt's Creek'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- Brioux, Bill (12 May 2020). "Cardinal snowshoes off into the sunset". brioux.tv. Brampton, Ontario. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- "CBC suspends remaining episodes of The Weekly after 'incident' with host Wendy Mesley". CBC News. June 12, 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- Ahearn, Victoria (June 11, 2020). "Bell Media pulls Jessica Mulroney series after dispute with influencer". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- "CBC says second season of Trickster will not go forward". The Globe and Mail. January 29, 2021.
- Kelly Townsend, "Incendo brings No Good Deed to Montreal". Playback, September 3, 2019.
- Kelly Townsend, "Incendo builds Glass Houses in Montreal". Playback, July 17, 2019.
- Peter Knegt, "This Pride, come inside for a digital queer cabaret unlike anything else". CBC Arts, June 22, 2020.
- Bryen Dunn, "We’re Funny That Way – Virtual Pride Special – June 26, 2020". The Buzz, June 2020.
- Pahull Bains, "11 Virtual Pride 2020 Events Taking Place Across Canada". Fashion, June 25, 2020.
- Pahull Bains, "Visit This Website to Learn More About the Stories and Experiences of Black Canadians". Fashion, August 3, 2020.
- André-Constantin Passiour, "Une édition canadienne toute spéciale de Drag Superstars". Fugues, August 9, 2020.
- "Toronto film festival's TIFF Tribute Awards to air on CTV". CP24, August 12, 2020.
- Kelly Townsend, "CBC, APTN to air special on residential school survivors". Playback, October 9, 2020.
- Natalie Valleau, "New documentary about Canada's boreal forest reveals how it's in trouble, director says". CBC News Calgary, December 16, 2020.
- "Comedian Colin Mochrie to host online presentation of Mass Hysterical: A Comedic Cantata on Dec. 15". Beach Metro Community News, December 5, 2020.
- Leanne Cusack, "The Christmas Setup filmed in Ottawa and Almonte, lauded as holiday rom-com with representation". CTV News Ottawa, December 18, 2020.
- Chris Jancelewicz, "Sarain Fox talks short doc ‘Inendi,’ COVID-19 in Indigenous communities and listening to elders". Global News, December 30, 2020.
- Lauren Malyk, "Incendo’s The Lead gets underway in Montreal". Playback, April 15, 2019.
- Kelly Townsend, "Incendo rolls on Within These Walls". Playback, October 23, 2019.
- Strandberg, Diane (April 3, 2020). "Coquitlam teen actor Logan Williams – young Flash in the TV series – dies suddenly". Tri-City News.
- Ahearn, Victoria (April 5, 2020). "Actress-activist Shirley Douglas, daughter of medicare's Tommy Douglas, dies". CTV News. Toronto: Bell Media.
- Joyce Inez Davidson-Susskind
- Martin Pasko, 'Superman,' 'Batman: The Animated Series' Writer, Dies at 65
- La chanteuse Renée Claude emportée par la COVID-19 à l’âge de 80 ans (in French)
- Monique Mercure, 1977 Palme d'Or Winner, Dies at 89
- La comédienne Michelle Rossignol s’éteint à 80 ans (in French)
- Le comédien André Cartier est décédé à 74 ans (in French)
- Flanagan, Ryan (2020-11-08). "Alex Trebek has died at age 80". CTVNews. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
External links
| (2019 ←) 2020 in television (2021 →) | |
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