As the dust settles on the two top networks’ upfronts, CTV looks to have made stronger fall schedule acquisitions than Global, but it will be hard-pressed to maximize its schedule because of a number of shows airing out of simulcast and the loss of the Citytv stations, which it was forced to sell by the CRTC.

The former is not a new problem for CTV, which for several seasons has had more hit shows from various U.S. nets than it could slot into simulcasts. The net saw a solution in the form of the five Citys it expected to get as a part of its purchase of CHUM. Those stations are situated in most of the top urban centers (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg), and CTV was looking to shift some of its U.S. inventory – often purchased in packages – to these outlets.

Well, we all know how that turned out.

It’s an unfortunate situation for the net, because, despite the near impossibility of picking which new shows will stick, I would hazard to guess that the red, blue and green network has the best chance of hitting pay dirt with its newbies. The Grey’s Anatomy spin-off Private Practice looks as close as a series can to being a surefire hit. The special two-hour May 3 Grey’s episode that in essence launched the new show brought CTV 2.6 million viewers, indicating a built-in audience.

The net is also putting a big push behind Dirty Sexy Money, a drama about a lawyer (Six Feet Under’s Peter Krause) who reluctantly takes on the task of looking after a stinking rich – and way dysfunctional – New York family. Women I’ve spoken to who have seen the pilot loved it and are already marking it in their appointment books.

Trouble is, CTV is airing episodes Sunday at 10 p.m., which nicely follows Desperate Housewives, but that’s four days after ABC will broadcast it, which could take away anywhere from 10% to 50% of Canadian viewers, and which has media buyers soft on it. Also out of simulcast – but airing in advance of ABC – is Pushing Daisies, a quirky Tim Burton-esque fantasy.

The net also has big hopes for Big Shots, a darkly comic soaper about four executive buddies and their travails with women that CTV dubs ‘Desperate CEOs.’ It will air in simulcast with ABC, but for that to happen, the venerable ER – which did surprisingly well last year in its 13th season and is likely entering its final cycle – has been bumped all the way out of primetime to 7 p.m.

The most brazen move of all will have CSI go head-to-head with Global’s Survivor – losing steam but still strong – Thursdays at 8 p.m., moving the net’s top drama up one hour – and out of simulcast with CBS – to facilitate a Grey’s Anatomy simulcast with ABC. CTV is gambling that there is more upside to a surging Grey’s than a plateauing CSI.

These kinds of gut-wrenching decisions – which can always be reversed – are the stuff that keeps programmers up at night. But despite the loss of the Citys, the consolation prize A-Channels offer CTV an outlet it can use the way Global will use its newly rebranded E! stations, which have skedded a wide array of new U.S. shows come fall, including Bionic Woman and Viva Laughlin.

But unlike the spread-out Citys – which also would have given CTV greater presence in the crucial Alberta market – five of the As are located in Ontario, and one in B.C.

But it doesn’t end there. As we speak, CTVglobemedia head Ivan Fecan and network programming boss Susanne Boyce are dreaming up a variety of scenarios for the As, the leading candidate being asking the regulator to allow the caster to expand the reach of the As, just as CanWest was allowed to expand the signal of its CH channel out of Red Deer, AB to reach Calgary and Edmonton.

If CTV makes this move, this time don’t expect the CRTC to tell them no.