Troubled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford looks to crack the online TV market
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his brother say they will host an online show so they can take their message straight to "Ford Nation", the term they use for the embattled mayor's conservative suburban supporters.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his brother say they will host an online show so they can take their message straight to "Ford Nation", the term they use for the embattled mayor's conservative suburban supporters.
Doug Ford, a city councillor, said the show would "get their message out and not have that message twisted by the media".
After the mayor admitted smoking crack in a "drunken stupor" and refused to resign, Toronto's city council stripped him of most of his powers. Rob Ford said he has "declared war" on the council after it acted in response to his drug use, public drunkenness and a series of outbursts that have made him an international media sensation, to the embarrassment of many Canadians.
The online show follows last week's airing of a single episode of a television talk show hosted by the Fords on Sun News Network before it was cancelled. Network executives said was its highest-rated programme ever, but was too costly to make.
The Fords co-hosted the hour-long programme. The mayor used much of it to defend himself and talk about his re-election bid next year.
Doug Ford says the new self-funded series, also called , will be uploaded to YouTube before Christmas.
"The objective is to get a clear message out there," he said.
He said the mayor had given up drinking for good and was committed to a healthier lifestyle.
"If Rob comes back a new man, [30-36 kilograms] lighter, he's going to win the next election," Ford said.
