FAQ

Q: What is the Citytv mailing address?
Q: How do I get in touch with "Silverman Helps" and get some help?

Q: You must see your share of pretty crazy stuff having to look through all the Speakers Corner footage?
Q: How do I send mail to my favorite on air personalities?
Q: How do I purchase City merchandise?
Q: How can I get a copy of a news story ?

Q: I want a copy of a music video, or I missed an episode of my favourite show. Can I get a copy?

Q: What is the History of building?
Q: How do I get a tour of Citytv?
Q: How do I get a makeover on Fashion Friday on CityLine?
Q: How do I find out more information about a guest I saw on "BT-Breakfast Television"?  

Q: How do I get tickets to CityLine? 
Q: What is HDTV?
Q: Where do I find Citytv Toronto on Starchoice and ExpressVU?
Q: Why do the sounds of commercials seem louder than the program?

Q: I'm having trouble with my membership, (login, contests, newsletters, etc). Do you have a special guide for members?

Any questions you'd like answered? Ask Citytv Promotions! Maybe the answer to your question will show up on this page.

Q: How do I apply for a job at Citytv?
For specific shows or departments:
You can address you resume to the attention of Human Resources and email it to Human Resources

For more information on how and where to forward your resume please call our "listen only" voice mail box which can be reached externally at (416) 591-5290, or internally at extension 5290.

Q: What is Citytv's main switchboard number?
A: Main Switchboard: 416-591-5757
World-wide toll-free number: 1-800-774-0471
TTY: 416-340-7207

Q: What is the Citytv mailing address?
299 Queen Street West,
Toronto, Ontario,
M5V 2Z5

Q: How do I get in touch with "Silverman Helps" and get some help?
A: To help you with your problem, we need specific and concrete information. We require a detailed letter outlining the complaint and a photocopy of your documentation before any assessment can be made as to whether we can get actively involved. This process does take at least 8 weeks; our apologies, we receive thousands of complaints. Please be sure to include your complete mailing address and a phone number where you can be reached during the day.
This information may be faxed, emailed or snail mailed in to us ...

Q: You must see your share of pretty crazy stuff having to look through all the Speakers Corner footage?
A: On average Paula probably bears witness to at least one bare bum per day. For the record "Although it appears to be a glamorous job, sometimes it ain't pretty."
                                                                             - Courtesy of Paula Virany - Producer of Speakers Corner

Q: How do I send mail to my favourite on air personalities?
A: You can snail mail them at 299 Queen St.West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2Z5
or email them at citytvhosts@citytv.com

Marilyn Denis can be emailed at cityline@citytv.com

Email Kevin Frankish, Jennifer Valentyne, Frank Ferragine and Tracy Moore at bt@citytv.com

Q: How can I get a copy of a news story ?
A: Unfortunately we do not have a dubbing service. However, if you were interviewed in a story and forgot to set your VCR, you may fax in a request for a copy of the story, provided it is not what we consider "hard news." There is a $55.00 dubbing fee and you must provide a blank VHS tape . All requests must be in writing and approved by our news director. Our fax number is (416) 593-6397. For further details call (416) 591-7400 x 3810. And next time save yourself $55.00 and set your VCR!

Q: I want a copy of a music video, or I missed an episode of my favorite show. Can I get a copy?
A: No, we're sorry to say we don't offer this service.

Q: What is the History of building?
A: When the Methodist Church - later to become the United Church of Canada - was seeking a new home for its administrative offices, presses and bookrooms in 1914, it decided to build on property bound by Queen, Richmond and John Streets. They acquired the land and raised the Wesley Building. The Churches' printing operation was called The Ryerson Press after Egerton Ryerson, a pioneer Methodist circuit rider who established Canada's first publishing company, laid the foundations for our free public school system and set up the country's first university. By the time the Church offices moved into the new headquarters in 1959 the Ryerson Press had become a self supporting and profitable business. In the 1960's the Ryerson Press experienced financial difficulties. The American company McGraw Hill bought the company in the early 1971's & the Church put the building up for sale. Subsequent owners leased space to various artists and artisans as well as Toronto's more interesting cultural organizations and individuals. Today the building remains the finest example of Industrial Gothic Architecture in Toronto and is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Q: How do I get a tour of Citytv?
A: To book a tour, please email Tours or call 416-591-7400 ext. 5678.

• The tours are gratis.
• Minimum of 10 people per tour and a maximum of 40.
• Groups must be 10 years of age and older.
• Tours are booked for 1pm & 3pm.
• Don't forget to bring gifts for the hostess! Just kidding, although if you really want to bring one, no one will stop you!
• Remember to book well in advance.
• Scheduling is confirmed months before show date.

Q: How do I get a makeover on Fashion Friday on CityLine?
A: It is up to the stylist who he or she picks the day of the show.

Q: How do I find out more information about a guest I saw on "BT-Breakfast Television"?
A: After 10:00am each morning, (Monday - Friday) you can call the "BT Hotline" at 591-7400 ext 2011 and they will have all the info of that days show.

Q: How do I get tickets to CityLine?
A: You can go directly to CityLine's Reservation Request system by clicking here.

Any questions you'd like answered? Ask us folks here at Citytv Promotions! Maybe the answer to your question will show up on this page.

Q: What is HDTV?
A: High Definition television is the newest format for the broadcast of television programming. The existing and most widely used format is called NTSC (National Television Standards Committee.) This format uses an analog signal. By contrast, the newer HDTV signals are entirely digital - offering up a better overall quality of picture and sound.

Q: Where do I find Citytv Toronto on Starchoice and ExpressVU?
A: Starchoice - ch 344
    ExpressVU - ch 214

Q: Why do the sounds of commercials seem louder than the program?
A: This problem is not unique to any one station or company. The phenomenon has a lot to do with the varying sound levels of a television program as compared to the generally consistent sound level of commercials. Broadcasters like Citytv do not turn up the sound of commercials and, in fact, we go to great lengths to minimize the sometimes-jarring effect when transitioning from a program to a commercial.

In an attempt to grab viewer's attention in only 15 or 30 seconds, most commercials are produced to be dynamic and exciting. To achieve this they make the sound at a constant maximum level for the duration of the commercial. In sharp contrast, many TV programs have a wider dynamic range or in other words, they can vary from sound passages as quiet as a kitten purring to loud music and bombs exploding. If the final scene before a commercial is a quieter, subtler scene, the transition to a commercial can make that commercial seem louder and sometimes even send you diving for the remote control to turn it down.

Most TV program producers attempt to "compress" the program sound to lessen the sound difference between the quiet and loud scenes. In addition, Citytv and most broadcasters use sophisticated sound processors to further monitor and "even out" the volume levels. After all, it's in both the producer's and the broadcaster's interest to make the viewer's TV experience an enjoyable one. In spite of these efforts, challenges remain and occasionally the commercials still sound louder. This is particularly true for stations such as CityTV, Bravo! and Space, whose broadcast schedules consist of movies. Most movies are made for a movie theatre and have a wide dynamic audio range. Films specifically designed for the theatre can have sound passages ranging from quiet whispers to extremely loud passages such as bombs or heavy metal music. This can sound fine in a controlled environment like a movie theatre but when the same film is played on TV, the viewer may find it necessary to raise the volume for the quieter passages and perhaps even turn down the volume on the louder passages. There are some producers who will mix the audio twice, once designed for TV and one designed for theater. At Citytv, when we receive a theatrical film release we process the sound so that it is more suitable to television's dynamic range. Citytv and some other broadcasters take the time to "compress" the sound levels of a film or TV program so that the quieter passages are a little bit louder and the louder passages aren't quite so loud. This minimizes, but does not always eliminate some of the jarring effect in the transition to a commercial.

This problem has been around since the beginning of television and at Citytv we go to great lengths to correct this as much as possible. We have installed equipment in our transfer suites and our editing bays to try to reduce and "even-out" the sound levels as much as possible. We have large amounts of on-air content going through our facility each day and great efforts are made to screen and check that content. It is always a battle between the purists who want to hear the audio as it was produced and the viewers who would like us to reduce the dynamic range of the audio so that the sound levels are more even. There is no magic fix. The reality is it we will not be able to fix all the content to suit all viewers. We make great efforts to find the balance to make the viewing experience as enjoyable as possible. What we cannot and do not do is raise the volume of commercials beyond that of the program because, to do so, would push the commercial sound into the distortion range and that would not make our clients very happy.

At Citytv television we are always working hard to improve the viewing experience and we thank you for your comments. It is your comments and feedback that provide us the incentive to review our processes and try to make more improvements. When a viewer has raised concern over general volume or any technical issue, we ask for specific information of Channel, date, and time and show name so that we may go back and review the content to ensure that the process was as good as possible.

We are not the only broadcaster to constantly deal with the issue of commercial vs. program volume. Please visit this CRTC site for additional information: CRTC "Fact Sheet". It is called "It's a blast. Loudness of commercials." Click here for more information www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/G3.HTM

Q: I'm having trouble with my membership, (login, contests, newsletters, etc). Do you have a special guide for members?
A: Yes we do! For answers to all your membership-related questions, please see our special Troubleshooting Guide. You can get to it directly from the Members page, or by clicking here!