Global premieres the $25 Million Dollar Hoax on Monday, November 8. The new one-hour unscripted reality show stars a woman who tricks her family into believing that she has won the lottery and become a selfish shop-a-holic. Former Star Search host Ed McMahon and George Gray help the woman set up her family.
The series airs every Monday at 8 p.m. in Alberta and the Maritimes, 9 p.m. in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and 10 p.m. in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, until Nov. 22.

YTV will be celebrating Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa throughout the entire month of December. Launching Saturday, December 4, their festive line-up includes new specials annual classics and seasonal episodes aimed at kids and their families.

The new MOW Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven — based on the best-selling book of the same name – will be airing on Sunday, December 5 at 8 p.m.
The story follows a grizzled war veteran’s (Jon Voight) journey after he dies and awakens in the afterlife, where the meaning of life is explained by five people who were in it and changed it forever.

Broadcasters and cable companies are again locking horns over the question of U.S. specialty channels – arguing in recent submissions to the CRTC that a plan to insert more Canadian ads on channels such as CNN, A&E and TLC is either necessary for cablers to stay competitive, or, conversely, would undermine long-held rules regarding local and Canadian content.

Cadbury’s Mr. Big is launching a new wrestling-themed 30-second TV commercial – in French and English – nationally on selected programming network television and specialty networks including World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Also in the works (and created by Publicis Canada), a 45-second spot which will be shown in Famous Players and Cineplex/Galaxy theatres and lobby televisions. Running with the broadcast campaign is a consumer contest featuring ‘Mr. Big movie trivia’ to run in Cineplex/Galaxy theatres as well as online sponsorship of Much Music’s The Big One. Cadbury’s media agency is the Toronto-based Zenith Optimedia.

Four weeks into the 2004 fall season and CTV is still showing strong numbers with its programs taking eight of Canada’s top 10 shows and 15 of the top 20 according to BBM Canada. Among adults 25-54, CTV programs are eight of 10 and 16 of 20 with the 18-34 demo. When compared to the same time period last year, CTV gained two and three spots respectively in the top 20 spots in the adult demos 18-49 and 25-54.
Survivor: Vanuatu stayed its course last Thursday, earning 1.835 (A18-49) million viewers nationally, with a total 2 + audience of 2.977 million. According to BBM People Meter Data, the sixth episode earned a 10.6 rating (18 to 49 year olds) in the Toronto market and a 20.6 rating in Vancouver.

Premiering with two back-to-back episodes Discovery Channel’s Ultimate Survival: Everest follows the trials and triumphs of a climbing team set out to conquer the highest mountain in the world. This six-part series airing on Sunday November 18 (at 8 p.m.) is an in-depth look at not only the mountain but the individuals climbing it. The remaining four episodes air nightly Monday, November 15 to Thursday, November 18 (8 p.m.). To countdown to the launch of the new series, Discovery will show a one-hour special Expedition Everest: The Journey Begins on Sunday, November 14 ( 7 p.m.).
And on CTV Travel channel, the net will be highlighting alpine adventure with Mountain Madness Week airing Monday, November 15 to Friday, November 19 at 9 p.m.

On November 9, the Life Network debuts Crash Test Dummy, a new reality series that substitutes mothers with a childless man or woman. Produced by Vancouver based Paperny Films, the half-hour show replaces mom with a relative, friend or neighbour chosen by hosts Charlie Lubiniecki and Dagmar Midcap. For 48-hours, the substitute must cook, clean and tend to the children while dealing with unexpected challenges and demands.

The debut of The Money Show, CBC Newsworld’s personal finance show, originally scheduled as a six-part series to begin airing Sunday, November 7 has been changed to airing only two episodes – Wednesday, November 17 and November 24 at 8 p.m.

The annual Country Music Association Awards show will be coming to Canada in a live simulcast on Tuesday, November 9 at 8 p.m. (on CMT). Before the awards go live, CMT will be airing a special one-hour interview with Shania Twain at 7 p.m.