The New York Times is reporting that the writers have made a breakthrough in contract talks with producers on one of their key issues - being payments for content streamed over the internet. The newspaper reports that this could lead to a deal by both parties by the end of the week.

The WGA's 10,500 members have been on strike since November 5. Four days after their previous contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers or AMPTP.

Full Story at Reuters

The series is a one-hour police drama about cops on highly skilled tactical team. It is currently in pre-production and set to begin production in April in Toronto.

CBS has picked up 13 episodes of the series, which will be the first Canadian TV series to air on both a Canadian and US network since Due South.

Full story in The Toronto Star

Executive producer and creator Raymond Storey says he was approached by the production company, Halifax Film, three and a half years ago with the concept - a drama about four members of the Coast Guard.

"They wanted a series that could go head-to-head with the U.S. competition, and they presented me with an article on the Coast Guard, which I knew nothing about," he says.

The $20 million primetime series has been shooting in Squamish since September and is being co-produced by Steve Hegyes and Shawn Williamson of Brightlight Pictures and Halifax Film's Charles Bishop and Michael Donovan.

Full Story at Playback Magazine

David Eick remains in place as showrunner and will assume all responsibility for day-to-day production of the series, working with executive producer Jason Smilovic.

NBC issued a statement thanking Morgan for his contributions to establishing a template for "Bionic" and said it was looking forward to the show debuting later this month as scheduled.

Variety adds that insiders believe it's possible the show--which is now in production on its fifth episode--might take a break for a while in order to give the writers a chance to focus on refining the show's directions. "Grey's Anatomy" and "Brothers & Sisters" did the same thing and ended up becoming big hits.

One clue in particular is a flashback where Tony and his brother-in-law Bobby Bacaka talk about what it's like to die. "You probably don't even hear it when it happens," Bobby says while they sit fishing in a small boat on a lake.

David Chase says that it was a "legitimate" clue and that he had a definite ending in mind. Many speculated that Chase had shot three endings.

The jarring, cut-to-black ending sparked debate amongst viewers and critics about whether David Chase had even conceived of an actual ending and if he had left the audience with any clues.

Full Story (Reuters)

Larco Investments paid $40 million, for BC's venerable first film studio. The previous owner, PavCo - a crown corporation - ran the studio since the late 1980s to help develop the province's then fledgling film industry.

PavCo runs BC Place and the Convention Centre.

Larco owns and operates retail centers, hotels and convention facilities across Canada. It is owned by the Lalji family. The studio currently has 5 full-time employees and MGM is still an outstanding tenant.

The new owners plans to continue to run The Bridge as a film studio keeping it's 5 full-time employees.

Full Story (Playback Magazine)

Only a handful of shows (i.e. Heroes, Friday Night Lights) have survived like their predecessors of 24, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Lost. But, the rest have disappeared, never to be heard from again. Most of which were cancelled mid-season.

So what went wrong?

First, there were too many shows chasing too few viewers. Viewers are also pressed for time. Serialized dramas as a lot of viewers' time and if you miss an episode, you're lost. (No pun intended)

But one of the biggest reasons is that serialized dramas, like 24, don't do well in reruns. Closed-ended episodic series like House and CSI do very well. Most of the studios' profits come from reruns and syndication sales. The license fee for first-run episodes aren't usually enough to cover the cost of production.

One advantage to serialized dramas, however, is that when it becomes a hit, viewers get addicted. It's appointment television that can't be missed. In an age where appointment-based programming is slowly on it's way out, conventional broadcasters welcome it.

Full Story (Vancouver Sun)

The show will get it's debut in France in July as well as French-speaking regions of Switzerland and Africa. While Canal Plus is a pay channel, the broadcaster plans to unscramble the show in order to attract more viewers due to racial tentions have surfaced in France over the past few years.

Mary Darling, of Westwind Pictures, the Toronto-based company that produces Little Mosque On The Prairie, says when international buyers view the show, they compliment it for it's success in breaking down cultural stereotypes.

On The Web:
Canal Plus Website (French)

There is a catch for fans of the show however. The next three seasons will be shortened to 16 episodes, beginning next February and it will air over consecutive weeks, no reruns.

This may be a problem for the show's Canadian carrier, CTV, however. Lost's season premiere in February 2010 will coincide with the network's coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics. In all likelyhood, CTV will probably air a marathon of the first three episodes after The Games. ABC will air it against NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics as well.

This is the first time a network announced the end of a top-rated series so far in advance.

Full Story (Baltimore Sun)

A quick breakdown of the numbers:

Total revenues: $2.5 billion (up 12.5% from 2005)
including
Local advertising: $48 million
National advertising: $834 million
Other revenues: $35 million

$2 billion was earned by the 136 specialty TV services.
$482 million earned by pay TV, pay-per-view and video-on-demand

Total spending on Canadian programming: $880.6 million
News: $149 million
Sports: $221.2 million
Other information programming: $211.6 million
Drama: $162.3 million
Music and variety: $41.1 million
General interest: $61.1 million

These services spent nearly $300 million to acquire Canadian programs from independent producers.

Full Story (Playback Magazine)
Link to the CRTC report (CRTC Website; pdf)

The show's production team at Insight Productions tried shopping it around to other Canadian broadcasters after Global Television pulled it from it's lineup because it wasn't reaching a broad enough audience. But late last week, ABC Family dropped it saying it was strong in the 12 to 17 audience but failed to attract older viewers in the 12 to 49 demographic.

On the other hand, the show has been a success for it's international distibutor FremantleMedia. It has been picked up in 115 territories including the UK, Australia and France.

Full Story (Playback Magazine)

"Google will not replace radio and television," was Schmidt's quick response. But when the suggestion that there is a limited ad revenue base for electronic media, he added "The trick is -- whatever business you're in -- to use the best targeting."

Getting to really know your viewers seems to be the theme at this week's convention.

Sling Media CEO and president Blake Kerkorian declared that "appointment-based viewing is dead." Some broadcasters reluctantly agree with Kerkorian. But some, like Capitol Broadcasting CEO Jim Goodmon, don't believe the "Sling Box model is appropriate or legal." (The Slingbox is a device which allows a user to access their cable or satellite connection at home, via the internet, in any part of the world.)

Google CEO Eric Schmidt has said in the past "Don't bet against the Internet." Some broadcasters seem to be doing just that.

Schmidt answered, "[The Internet] is as big a possible land grab as enjoyed by the founders of television." He then added "But the new model of broadcasting will have to address user empowerment."

Full Story (Playback Magazine)

On the web:
National Association of Broadcasters website
Sling Media

Topalovich, whose accomplishments include helping to launch the Genies and the Geminis, in 1980 and 1986 respectively, will not renew her contract when it expires at the end of the month.

"I feel the time is right to pursue my own personal goals," Topalovich, who has been with the Academy for 30-plus years, said in a statement.

Paul Gratton, the Academy chair and Quebec chair Charles Ohayon and founding chair Ron Cohen are beginning their search for a replacement. In the meantime, Gratton will serve in Topalovich's place.

Full Story (CBC)

The new series promises to update the story of Flash Gordon, who travels in a home-made space ship fighting evil. The original comic book hero was drawn in 1934 by Alex Raymond and has been featured in many newspapers, radio plays, and films.

The series will debut on the SciFi channel in the US in August. Matthew O'Connor, Peter Hume and Tom Rowe will executive produce.

Full Story (BBC)