Every October, TV programmers and producers from around the world flock to MIPCOM at the Palais des Festival in Cannes to buy, sell and coproduce content. For the first time in its history, the keynote at this international TV market will be delivered by an advertising executive.

Montreal-based cable provider Videotron is adding 24 new channels and three HDTV services to its lineup. These include 15 additional Galaxie music channels, three Rogers Sportsnet channels, three French-language, and three English channels.
The French-language channels are Mystère (Mystery), Reseau Info Sport (RIS), and TVOntario’s French-language station TFO.
Joining the English roster are Discovery Kids, Talk TV, and Fine Living, which is currently being seen as a free preview through to the end of the year.

A Decima Research study has found that there are two main factors keeping TV viewers from signing on for digital channels. They are ‘no need’ and cost. Although the number of digital households is growing, most (60%) that pay to receive a television service don’t subscribe to digital. According to the survey, 48% of analogue subscribers said they either did not need the service or are not interested in it. One-third (33%) of analogue subscribers said price was another reason not to subscribe. Fifty-five percent of analogue subscribers who used to get digital cited price as the reason they cancelled.
The results are based on a comprehensive telephone survey of 2,002 TV subscribers (1,193 analogue subscribers) over the age of 18, conducted nationally in May and June as part of the 2004 wave of Decima Research’s syndicated consumer research study on digital TV, entitled ‘The Digital Domain: Consumer Attitudes on Digital Television Services, Benefits, and Features in Canada.’
http://www.thedigitaldomain.ca/index.asp

Global’s new Monday night lineup came up a winner in the primetime 8 p.m.-11 p.m. slot. Fear Factor had a strong second outing, and Las Vegas, which is back for a second season and has moved to Global from CH, dominated its time period and achieved its highest ratings ever. Nationally, the series premiere of LAX won its time-slot and improved on its lead-in by 20%.
Overall, Global was the top broadcaster beating second place by 39% in the 18-to 49-year-old category.

Set in Montreal’s Little Italy, CBC’s new comedy project, Ciao Bella, follows the liveliness of family life in the diverse community. The new 13-episode TV series aimed at the family audience premiers on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. on CBC and Radio Canada.

The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air this Sunday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. on CTV. Hosted by comedian Garry Shandling, the gala will be presented live. The broadcast will be preceded by Countdown to the Emmys 2004, a live, hour-long pre-show from the red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium.
Last year’s broadcast was also on CTV and was seen by 2.2 million Canadians 2+, according to Nielsen.

With last Thursday’s Canadian Idolresults hitting almost three million viewers, CTV’s expecting tonight’s two-hour season finale to be ‘the biggest show yet.’ Airing live at 8 p.m., either Kalan Porter or Theresa Sokyrka will grab the coveted idol title.

YTV and Nelvana are coming together to bring the Care Bear franchise to a whole new generation. Produced by Nelvana and Lions Gate, Journey to Joke-a-lot is the first new Care Bears feature in 15 years. The production’s target demographics are children aged three and up and their families with the hope of catching some retro audience as well. The world premiere airs Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. on YTV.

The second season of Train 48 kicks off on Sept. 20 (Global TV) and for that extra pull look out for a guest appearance by CFL football star and Argonaut coach Pinball Clemons. A rebroadcast of last season’s finale will air Friday, Sept. 17.