Global Television scored points off CTV earlier this month when it made a surprise grab for Mike Bullard, signing the late-night talk show host to a multi-year contract with the CanWest Global empire. Bullard will bring his gabfest to Global in October, turning out more shows with more money and, it is hoped, reaching international audiences. He will also write a column for the CWG newspaper chain.

‘I look forward to taking Scott Feschuk’s place at the National Post and finally getting a good review for my show,’ read a statement from Bullard, who for six years fronted Open Mike with Mike Bullard on the Comedy Network and, later, CTV.

The 46-year-old comic will turn out 195 hours per year, roughly the same as his stateside colleagues David Letterman and Jay Leno. Bullard had reportedly grown frustrated with his modest 140 eps at CTV, and with his lengthy summer hiatus. His ratings had also dropped on that net and its sister cable channel. Open Mike brought an average of 132,000 viewers to CTV last season, and just 20,000 to Comedy.

CTV suspected Bullard might leave when contract renegotiations stalled earlier this year, says senior VP, comedy and variety programming, Ed Robinson. ‘Something was in the water,’ he says. ‘Mike has always wanted to be full-year-round, but we were never in a position to offer that. He’s a guy that likes to work.’

The deal was orchestrated by CWG exec Rick Camilleri, Bullard’s neighbour and longtime acquaintance, and Global newsman Kevin Newman, a buddy from high school, after an impromptu meeting at a dinner for the Canadian Walk of Fame.

‘A month later, he was with us,’ says Camilleri. ‘It was very easy.’

Global plans to build on Bullard’s current fans. ‘Mike resonates really strongly with his audience, so we want to take that core audience and grow it. We want to take the show international,’ Camilleri says. The new show, with a ‘significantly’ larger budget, will run in the same timeslot and likely be repeated on one or more of CWG’s digital or specialty channels. Plans for the new studio are due shortly.

Bullard’s production company, Aspire, will also get involved. ‘Mike has participation in this show that he didn’t have before… He’ll have a seat at the table,’ says Camilleri.

Open Mike reruns have been pulled from CTV but continue to air on Comedy. The net has not decided how to fill the gap, and may abandon the traditional late-night talk format altogether, says Robinson. ‘I’m not rushing… if we do something, I think we’ll do something a little more unconventional. We’re going to look at all options.’