New paranormal investigative series debuts on Space
The new weekly, hour-long series, Proof Positive, which examines the paranormal and explores other unexplained mysteries through interviews and documentary footage, will air on Space every Wednesday at 10 p.m. beginning November 3.
http://www.spacecast.com/shows/firstRun/proof_positive.asp
How to Monsterize Everything series hits Discovery Channel
The motto of building it bigger, better and bolder all comes together in this two-hour special How to Monsterize Everything set to premiere on Sunday, November 7 at 8 p.m. on Discovery Channel.
Featuring the three hosts from Monster Garage, Monster House and BIG! the team hits unsuspecting homeowners in their search for everyday things that inspire some creative reinvention – and the trio only have five days to monsterize everything.
http://dsc.discovery.com/schedule/episode.jsp?episode=0&cpi=24780&gid=0&channel=DSC
Wayne Newton leads the search for Las Vegas’ next big star in new reality series
Wayne Newton hits the road in a nationwide search for the next Las Vegas superstar in a new 10-part E! reality drama, The Entertainer. The new E! series follows ten performers (everything from vocalists to illusionists) as they go through various tasks and performance challenges in a weekly elimination. The last one standing earns a spot as a feature performer in Wayne Newton’s Las Vegas show.
The series is set to make its debut January 2005.
The Swan returns to CH for a second season
The Swan, which follows 18 women who take part in a physical, mental and emotional transformation and ultimately compete in a beauty pageant, will return with a two-hour premiere Monday, October 25 on CH Hamilton, CH Vancouver Island and CH Montreal at 8 p.m.
http://www.fox.com/swan/home.htm
Correction
In MIC’s October 14th news brief (Mediaedge:cia wins Paramount media biz but things are staying put in Canada) it was said the Toronto-based MBS/The Media Company would keep the Paramount account (in Canada), when in fact the planning and buying for the Paramount Home Entertainment business moves to Mediaedge:cia and the theatrical business will stay with Toronto-based MBS in Canada.
And in the programming brief (VisionTV’s new drama explores the secret lives of hairstylists) it was reported that Kink in My Hair would be airing on November 3 at 10 p.m., when it will be airing on November 23 at 10 p.m.
People — Passages, Moves & News
CFRB 1010 talk radio host Bill Carroll will be joining the Global News team taking over as host for Focus Ontario. Carroll makes his debut on the provincial political show on October 23.
Events
Print media professional can gather to discuss competitive advantage at the Audit Burea of Circulations’ (ABC) 90th Conference and Annual Meeting on November 10 – 12. The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto
http://www.accessabc.com/annlconf.html
BBM’s fall RTS survey paints a Canada with questionable morals and body piercings
The fall release of the BBM Canada RTS (return-to-sample) survey shows that although we’re a tech-savvy country, marriages and education could be suffering because of it.
The latest report shows a 17% increase in the number of married adults involved in Internet dating. Teens and young Canadians are using Internet chat rooms, downloading MP3 music files, and getting body piercings, but some are also needing to brush up their grades at private learning centres.
25% of Canadian households expected to own an HDTV set by end of 2005
Most Canadians are familiar with HDTV but household penetration of this technology is relatively non-existent. Recent research from Toronto-based Solutions Research Group found that 80% of Canadians are aware of HDTV, 66% have watched an HDTV set in an electronics store, 52% are interested in buying one – but only 2% of households actually own an HDTV set.
Commercial avoidance rampant amongst U.S. TV viewers
Digital Video Recorders are only part of the commercial avoidance problem: the majority of viewers are skipping ads whether the programming is recorded or live, and women are the biggest culprits.
Canadian Blood Services and Universal Studios Canada join forces to promote and donate
Canadian Blood Services (CBS) and Universal Studios Home Video Canada have teamed up for a unique promotion to educate the tweens about donating blood – using the action/adventure vampire movie popular with younger audiences – Van Helsing.
Created by Toronto-based Thornley Fallis Communications, Universal will be inserting a customized ad on donating blood in 500,000 DVD and VHS copies of Van Helsing when it goes on sale October 19. In conjunction with the movie’s release, CBS will launch a two-week Van Helsing blood drive at eight permanent locations in Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Mississauga and Halifax – along with a contest to win one of 20 Van Helsing DVDs at each location.
http://www.bloodservices.ca/
U.S. Paramount media biz move shakes things up in Canada
In the U.S., Paramount Pictures recently awarded its $480 million (USD) theatrical and home video media planning and buying assignments to WPP Group’s Mediaedge:cia. In Canada, the theatrical business will stay put with Toronto-based MBS, but the planning and buying for the Paramount Home Entertainment business moves to Mediaedge:cia Canada.
Molson becomes first Canadian biz to use talking urinal devices in Quebec
Montreal’s Contact Total (a company of Uricom) has brought urinal based ad chip Wizmark, north of the border. Activated by motion, Wizmark can give off an audio ad for up to 20 seconds and can now be heard in roughly 100 bars throughout Quebec – thanks to Molson being the first Canadian business to import this technology.
Distributed exclusively in Canada by Contact Total but created by New York-based Healthquest Technologies, every Wizmark ‘lozenge’ has an average life of two months and costs about $45.
http://www.wizmark.com/
Emmy nominated Corner Gas releases Season One DVD
On October 19 CTV’s homegrown hit Corner Gas hits the shelves with its DVD and VHS release. Viewers can get all 13 episodes of the comedy’s first season in the two-disc DVD package or the three-tape VHS package from retailers across Canada. Following the show’s theme, Petro-Canada has jumped onboard by including in both packages a free coffee coupon redeemable at their JavaStop locations across the country.
Discovery Networks and VISA hook up again for 2005
Discovery Networks and Visa USA have renewed their multi-million dollar ad partnership – not only will Visa be the exclusive sponsor of TLC’s What Not to Wear but their new agreement will also include the new series Taking Care of Business (set to air in late 2004) and advertising opps on the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, BBC America, Discovery Home Channel and Discovery Times Channel.
Along with on-air product integration, Visa will be visible nationwide in Discovery Channel stores as well as sponsoring upcoming What Not to Wear specials — $50,000 Dream Wardrobe, Worst Dressed Couple in America and What Not to Wear: Where are they now.
http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/whatnottowear/whatnottowear.html
