Entertainment, at 36%, is the category that tops the English market for May 26-June 1, 2006. Meanwhile during the same time period last year, it was automotive – at 25%. Backlash from the steep price of gas, perhaps? Check out others topping the charts, and which brands had the most new spots. This info was gathered through Montreal-based ELODA’s online TV ad tracking, auditing and viewing services. All data supplied is based on the ELODA recording grid.
http://www.eloda.com

CTV announced its summertime fare yesterday. New series include the Canadian hour-long drama, Whistler, a primetime series set atop the Rockies. Whistler begins airing on Sunday, June 25 at 10 p.m. Half-hour comedy series Alice, I Think begins its run on Sunday, July 13 at 7 p.m. Then, on Friday, June 23 at 9 p.m., Simon Cowell’s America’s Got Talent hits the screen. The show profiles Americans with unique talents. Tori Spelling’s scripted series, So NoTORIous airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. beginning July 13. Finally, One Ocean View debuts on Monday, July 31. The hour-long drama follows young professionals in Manhattan. Its time slot has yet to be decided.

Returning summer properties include: Canadian Idol, Comedy Inc., Comedy Now!, Instant Star, The Sopranos and So You Think You Can Dance?.

CHUM’s got something for everyone in the fall, offering a mix of newly-acquired American properties, Canadian productions and returning favourites.

New to the net for fall are:
· Betty the Ugly, a Salma Hayek-produced series from ABC about a plain gal’s adventures in the world of fashion publishing;
· CBS’ Jericho chronicles the drama of residents in a small town plunged into chaos after witnessing a nuclear mushroom cloud;
· American Idol‘s Mr. Nasty, Simon Cowell, is behind the FOX property, Duets, which pairs singers with non-singers;
· Seasons one and two of the HBO hit, Entourage, a show about young hotshots in Hollywood;
· ABC’s Men in Trees stars Anne Heche as a relationship coach with a failed relationship;
· TV personality and chef Rachael Ray will host the new, daily Rachael Ray

The net’s midseason pickups include the CW’s Hidden Palms about a 15-year-old striving to unearth the secrets of his neighbours. CBS’ 3 Lbs., starring Stanley Tucci, follows a brain surgeon’s experience with his own neurological problem. Finally, in mid-season Canuck programming, there’s Terminal City which stars Ally McBeal‘s Gil Bellows. The show follows the life of a woman diagnosed with cancer.

Returning series include: Everybody Hates Chris, America’s Next Top Model, 7th Heaven, Supernatural, Smallville, Supernanny, Battlestar Galactica, Monk, The Bachelor, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show and America’s Funniest Home Videos.

MuchMusic properties for fall are The Grinder, a series of music video-inspired pranks and Music is my Life, a show that features folks’ life soundtracks. Meanwhile, MuchMoreMusic will air Back in Love, a series that reveals Hollywood celeb secrets. Jumping the Couch chronicles a pop idol’s fame and subsequent decline.

New Canadian programs for Space include The Triangle, Motel Man and Ice Planet (in pre-production). The first series stars Eric Stoltz and chronicles the adventures of specialist hired to analyze the Bermuda Triangle. Motel Man is about a homicide detective who stumbles into a bizarre motel room. And finally, Ice Planet follows a spacecraft crew who crash into a planet of ice.

Clutter is a growing problem on U.S. TV but now cable is as big – if not bigger – offender than conventional according to the 2006 Clutter Watch study recently released by MindShare USA. The study reports that commercial minutes during prime time on conventional networks rose by 2% in 2005 over 2004 while cable nets increased by nearly 5%. MTV jammed 2.5 more non-program minutes into each prime-time hour for a total of 16 minutes, 13 seconds.

While MindShare Canada has no new Canadian data on TV clutter, Jake Norman, the agency’s managing director/director of Insights, says some of its current work highlights some interesting facts related to clutter – including that Canadians watch less television than their U.S. counterparts and are less tolerant of clutter.

Production has begun on the new CTV Travel Channel series Exhibit Eh! A look at the myths and mysteries of Canadian history, the 10×30 series will be shot in HD in 36 locales across the country over the next two months. A broadcast date hasn’t been announced. According to unit publicist Jessie Kergan, the prodco (Big Red Barn Entertainment) has organized cross promotions with Beaver and Kayak magazines and is trying to work similar deals with websites like Historica.ca. Another partner is Enterprise Car Rentals. Slots are still open. The prodco is particularly interested in inking deals with food, beverage and hotel brands.
http://www.brbmg.com.
jessiek@brbmg.com.

How are the specialty stations performing in Toronto? April 2006 is showing consistency in a year-over-year comparison with April 2005. Please click the link below to see trending in specialty stations in Toronto.

Toronto specialty

CBC has unveiled its summer programming roster. Four new series are on tap including Hustle, What It’s Like being Alone, 11 Cameras and Northern Town. Hustle is an hour-long drama about a gang of con artists in London. The series will debut on Wednesday, June 21 at 9 p.m. The stop-motion half-hour animation series What it’s Like Being Alone starts its 13 week run on Monday, June 26 at 9:30 p.m. The half-hour 11 Cameras is a 22-ep look at human relationships in the digital age. 11 Cameras will air twice a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays, beginning June 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18 at 8:30 p.m. marks the premiere of the six-part, half-hour series, Northern Town. The comedy follows a Yukon-based man’s quest to find a meteorite that has crashed to earth.

Also on the net’s slate are two half-hour daytime soaps. North/South premieres on Tuesday, July 4 at 2:30 p.m. The series is set in the construction industry of Halifax and continues its run on July 5-6 and July 11-13. 49th & Main is a drama around a new medical practice in Vancouver. It takes over the 2:30 p.m. slot from July 18-20 and continues on July 25-27.