BookTelevision’s foray into reality, The 3-Day Novel Contest: The Series, is turning a 72-hour novel-writing contest into an eight-parter, set to air on three CHUM channels next month. But can the pursuit of literary greatness really draw many viewers? CTV’s Giller Prize awards did it last November, reeling in an average audience of 351,000 with 1.3 million people tuning in to see at least part of the glitzy gala.

The TSN and RDS rights deal for the NASCAR Busch Series, effective this year, will deliver the second most popular racing series to Canadians and the promise of major multiplatform opportunities for marketers.

The CBC’s massive efforts to promote Tuesday’s premiere of the homegrown comedy Little Mosque on the Prairie have paid off. The pubcaster reports that more than two million viewers tuned in – even if, for some, it was only to see what all the hype was about.

One game from CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada will be available in Italian this year due to a simulcasting deal with specialty channel TLN Telelatino. But the simulcast will give more than hockey to Italian-speaking fans in Canada. Major sponsors of CBC’s HNIC broadcasts will get ‘extended exposure’ as a result of the simulcast.

A new drama that will debut on Rogers OMNI Television’s fall schedule is set to begin production in Toronto next month, and the producer says there’s room in the script for marketers looking to put a Mandarin spin on their brands.

Score Media is heading into the New Year with plans for its first fully multiplatform sponsorship deal, following its pick-up of NCAA basketball championship exclusive rights. It’s been a good year for the net in terms of program acquisitions, and the future looks bright too.