CTV’s popular Degrassi: The Next Generation series returns to the fall schedule for its fourth season with a special one-hour season premiere on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m.
Pre-empted the following week, the series will air back-to-back episodes (8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.) on Sept. 21 and again on Sept. 28 before settling into its regular Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. time-slot beginning Oct. 5.

Media in Canada has asked some of the industry’s top broadcast specialists to give their take on the new programs being offered this fall. We will be revealing their picks and pans in the weeks running up to the launches.

More people purchased digital TV subscriptions in Q1 this year than in the same period last year, reports Toronto-based Decima Research. The number of Canadian households subscribing to digital TV services showed a slight increase of an estimated 3% or approximately 113,582 in the period from Nov./Dec. 2003 to Feb./March 2004, compared to about 3% or 102,432 during the comparable period ending Feb./March 2003. The total number of subscribers by March 2004 was estimated to be 3.9 million, a 12% increase over last year.
The figures are drawn from the latest instalment of Decima’s quarterly digital TV market overview, The Digital Domain: Tracking the Growth and Development of the Canadian Digital TV Distribution Market.
http://www.decima.com/research/en/index.asp

It’s not enough he’s sitting flush with money, success and beautiful women – now Donald Trump’s got a board game – Trump the Game.
Hasbro Games is introducing it as a high-stakes board game, where the winner can make millions of dollars – just like ‘The Donald’ seemingly does on a regular basis. Piggybacking on the rolling out of the game at retail outlets will be displays embedded with a motion-activated voice chip that calls out ‘You’re fired’ in a Donald-like way when someone passes by. TV ads will follow next month.

Riding on the heels of the successful reno/makeover shows comes the new series Renovate My Family hosted by Jay McGraw (author and son of Dr. Phil), which will start airing Sept. 1 on Global.
The one-hour series will take one family each week and give them a complete life improvement overhaul – everything from dealing with weight issues to physical disabilities or a rundown home. Armed with a panel of experts – a stylist, interior designer, construction crew and pet and car experts – Renovate My Family helps these selected families get back on track.
The series airs at 8 p.m. on Global Ontario, Quebec and B.C. on Sept. 1 and moves to 9 p.m. on CH Hamilton/Vancouver Island/Montreal on Sept. 6.

In an attempt to key in on its channel’s ‘breadth of cool movie offerings,’ IFC (The Independent Film Channel) has launched a stylish new on-air look and attitude (complete with new slogan: ‘Where all the cool movies go’ and ad headline: ‘Life’s too short for movies that suck.’)
Eight movies including award-winners such as Fargo, and The Usual Suspects to cult classics like Clerks and Reservoir Dogs will air uncut everyday. Adding to the lineup of movies will be enhanced programming features, which will include trivia and DVD-style bonus elements and footage.
‘We’ve already seen tremendous audience growth on this channel, which now ranks number three behind Showcase Action and Showcase Diva (among digital networks for Adults 18 to 49),’ says Walter Levitt, SVP marketing and creative services for Alliance Atlantis Communications. ‘This new positioning will better convey the channel’s unique content, enabling us to attract more viewers and continue growing our audience.’
http://www.ifctv.com/ifc/index

Sexpert Sue Johanson returns to W for her 10th season of the Sunday Night Sex Show. As in seasons past, this year viewers can look forward to a new pleasure chest full of toys and more tips and advice as Sue takes calls on questions on all things sexual – from revitalizing your sex life to the latest information on STDs and sexual disorders.
The popular show’s 10th season begins Oct. 17 at 10 p.m.
http://www.wnetwork.com/tv_shows/shows/sunday_night_sex_show/index.asp

The home makeover show that started it all is coming to an end with its eighth – and last season on the BBC this fall. Changing Rooms spawned copycats in 20 other countries, including Decorating Challenge in Canada and Trading Spaces out of the U.S.
The demise of this popular pioneer is not the only makeover in store for the British public broadcaster.
Speaking at the annual Edinburgh International Television Festival this past weekend, BBC director general Mark Thompson said that rather than take the cheap and easy road with tired genres such as reality, the broadcaster was going to strive for excellence and put its money back into programming that is distinctive, original and valuable such as news and comedy.