A study of primetime TV viewing by California-based Knowledge Networks shows that TV viewers just can’t put down that remote control. Primetime viewing behaviour such as switching channels, multitasking, and cherry picking what they watch continue unabated, something the consumer research company says indicates that consumers want more control over their TV viewing.

Canada’s specialty channels have joined forces with broadcasters across the country to provide a 31-day free preview for digital cable and satellite owners. The preview, 31 Days of Great TV, will run through the entire month of January and more than 40 specialty channels will be broadcast to all of Canada’s four million digitally enabled homes.
CanWest, CHUM, Alliance Atlantis, Corus, and CTV have all teamed up to air themed weekend programming throughout the month. The first weekend in January (Jan. 1-2) will show exclusive marquee programming unique to the specialty channels; the second weekend (Jan. 7-9) will showcase the best in family-friendly programming; the third weekend (Jan. 14-16) highlights heart-pumping, action-packed programming; and the final weekend (Jan. 21-23) will feature intelligent thought-provoking programming. The entire project, including the themed weekends, will be supported by a comprehensive on-air promotional campaign. Accompanying the on-air campaign is a companion consumer Web site (http://www.greattv.ca), which will list scheduling details and information about how to subscribe to the new specialty channels.

In a way that benefits both their loyal viewers and loyal clients, TLN has added a new promotion this year with the help of Alitalia and the Italian Travel Company, which is aimed at the hardcore soccer fan. The Soccer Fanatics Tour consists of being jetted to Italy for the weekend and watching a premium Serie A soccer match in the company of a TLN Soccer Fanatic on-air personality. The package (running at approximately $1459 + tax/per person) is being offered monthly and could be considered a ‘dream’ vacation for the soccer aficionado.
Labeled an ‘experience tour’, VP of marketing John Montesano says, ‘this initiative is first in a series of opportunities that extend beyond viewing the program and actually take the viewer to a destination.’ Montesano says other projects under the same banner are in the planning stages and could include food tours to Italy (along with Dolce Vita‘s host David Rocco) or music/jazz tours to Cuba.

W Network is preparing to launch Wedding Week next month featuring an entire week of wedding themed programming beginning Monday, Jan. 17. To go along with the programs, W is looking to customize interstitial programming with advertisers and allow for integrated brand promotion throughout Wedding Week‘s entirety. Wedding Week will run during primetime from Monday to Friday and caps off with a full weekend of Hollywood movies and original W shows celebrating the act of tying the knot.
Over the course of the seven days W will also feature its regular lifestyle programs, but with a wedding twist in an attempt to reach not just those about to take the plunge but also audiences that just can’t get enough of hot monogamous romance.

In the New Year, Jen Shefft, who thought she found perfect love with Andrew Firestone on the third season of The Bachelor, becomes The Bachelorette. After their relationship fizzled, Shefft is back and looking to use the show to find her soul mate. In its third season, The Bachelorette moves from the beaches of Los Angeles to New York’s urban jungles where cameras will follow Shefft as she attempts to choose the love of her life. CityTV broadcasts ABC’s The Bachelorette on Jan. 10 at 9 p.m.

The Ultimate Do Up, the newest home improvement show to hit HGTV Canada, has been scheduled for its Canadian premiere in April 2005. Do Up, which peaked at a 33 share for women 18-49 during its run in New Zealand, takes one family and watches as they transform each room in their home from design to completion in just ten weeks, all the while trying to survive living in an on-site trailer.
In addition to HGTV Canada purchasing the broadcast rights to the series from Lone Eagle Distribution, the network received an option on the format allowing it to produce a domestic Canadian version.

Scheduling has changed for the second part of CTV’s mini-series Lives of the Saints, slated to air in January 2005. Part Two will now air on Monday, Jan. 3 at 8 – 10 p.m., not 9 – 11 p.m. as previously advised (except in Manitoba where it will air at 7 – 9 p.m.). Part One is airing Sunday, Jan. 2 (9 – 11 p.m.).

Mischief City, a new Canadian original animated series, debuts on New Year’s Day at 6 p.m. before moving to its regular weekly timeslots on Tuesdays and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and Sundays at both 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mischief City, which was created by Peter Moss, EVP of programming and development at Corus Television, features 13 half-hour episodes that lead into YTV’s popular after-school interstitial, The Zone. Being Ian, which also has its sneak peak on January 1st at 6:30 p.m., was made by the creators of Yvon Of The Yukon, already one of YTV’s top Canadian series, and will air regularly on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 12 p.m.