* Panavision Canada Corporation, has started discussions with William F. White, a subsidiary of Comweb Production Services, regarding a merger in which Panavision would be the surviving entity and William F. White would retain a significant minority position in the combined business and continue to carry on its operations through two rental divisions.

Pending an agreement, both companies will continue business as separate entities.

* For the first quarter ended March 31, Cineplex Odeon Corporation reports total revenue of $109,964,000 compared to $130,767,000 for the same period last year. During the three-month period, theater admission revenue declined to $78,594,000 from $93,590,000 last year. Concession revenues also declined, from $32,910,000 in the first quarter of ’94 to $26,741,000 for the same period this year.

Also at Cineplex – news of the proposed merger between exhibitors Cineplex Odeon and Dallas-based Cinemark to form Cineplex International was called off 19 days before the letter of intent expired.

* Malofilm Communications’ board of directors has approved a share structuring plan aimed at giving the company access to foreign capital markets while retaining shareholder control in Quebec. The plan calls for each common share to be converted to one-half of a multiple-voting share and one-half of a subordinate voting share. The restructuring will be submitted to shareholders at a special meeting June 23 and is subject to regulatory approval.

Malofilm also announced it has completed its acquisition of all outstanding shares of Megatoon, a creative software developer firm in Quebec City.

* Broadcaster Ann Medina and new-media pioneer Keith Kocho of Digital Renaissance have formed the Cultural Industries Council of Ontario.

The council aims to help independent producers source contacts in the new-media production sector. A database is being set up to access service providers in areas including computer graphics, cd-rom, and 3D animation.

The cic is looking to get 50% of its funding from the government and the remainder from sponsors in the industry.

– Long on buys of late, CanWest Global Communications has purchased 11.3% of Australia-based Southern Cross Broadcasting, through its part ownership of Network Ten.

The Ten Group Ltd., the umbrella group for Network Ten in Australia, is owned 57.5% by CanWest. Southern Cross is the owner of Network Ten affiliate stations in Victoria, New South Wales, and Southern Cross Television Network in Tasmania.

The move is part of CanWest’s continuing effort to invest in broadcasting operations affiliated with Network Ten, says Izzy Asper, CanWest’s chairman and ceo.

* Toronto’s Bulloch Entertainment Services, a member of the Comweb Partners Group, has launched the new software-driven time and payroll management system, Bulloch On Location, a Windows-based program that calculates union time sheets and assists in the calculation of hot costs.

* playboy tv is among the new treats in store for British viewers, when the channel created by Chicago’s Playboy Enterprises, BSkyB and majority-owned by Flextech PLC (itself majority-owned by Denver-based tci) will launch in ’95. The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and the lucky Irish will be next in line.