Video Hits (Canadian TV series)
| Video Hits | |
|---|---|
 Title screen for Video Hits. | |
| Genre | Music television news |
| Created by | Sandra Faire |
| Presented by |
Samantha Taylor (1984-1989) Bryan Elliott (1989-1991) Dan Gallagher (1991-1993) |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBC Television |
| Original release | October 1, 1984 – 1993 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Video Hits (Australian TV series) |
Video Hits was a Canadian music video program broadcast nationally on CBC Television from 1984–93. Created by producer Sandra Faire, Video Hits aired weekdays at 5 PM and featured promotional music videos of the day's top hit songs from Canadian and international artists, along with artist interviews.[1] Though the show continued for four more years following her departure, original host Samantha Taylor is perhaps the show's best remembered personality.
History
Video Hits evolved from a CBC radio show called Coming Attractions. Produced by Sandra Faire in Toronto, Coming Attractions was an entertainment news magazine that ran five days a week. Hosts Patricia White and Bob Karstens presented news from the worlds of music, video, art, theatre, film, television, and fashion. One program per week was devoted solely to music videos, which wound up being the highest-rated segment on Coming Attractions. On October 1, 1984, with MTV gaining in popularity and Canada's own MuchMusic launching that summer, Video Hits premiered with host Samantha Taylor, best known at that time as a radio personality at Toronto's Q-107. Broadcast nationally in Canada, the show was an instant success.
Taylor hosted the show until 1989, followed by Bryan Elliott from 1989 to 1991, and Dan Gallagher from 1991 to 1993.[2]
CBC said in 2014 that the entire run of Video Hits no longer exists in their archives.[3] Aside from a handful of short clips available online, all episodes are lost.
References
- ↑ C D G Books Canada, Incorporated (1 September 1998). Who's Who in Canadian Film and Television. C D G Books Canada, Incorporated. p. 336. ISBN 978-0-7715-7600-3.
- ↑ "Video Hits". TVArchive.ca. 2007.
- ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/allinaday/2014/10/20/celebrating-the-30th-anniversary-of-video-hits/ Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Video Hits. CBC.ca, October 20, 2014.