* `Orphaned’ specialty channels

The crtc wants cable companies to furnish the commission with copies of any agreements concluded with unlaunched specialty tv channels, the so-called `orphaned’ services which have been licensed but not distributed.

According to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ TVPlus July newsletter, a recent letter from the commission asks cable operators to, ‘Please advise how you intend to distribute the remaining unlaunched services that choose to launch on September 1, 1999.’

The crtc letter goes on to say access must be provided – subject to channel availability – even if negotiations have not been concluded. Operators who have no plans to carry the `orphaned’ services have been asked to explain their position to the crtc and provide a copy of their Sept. 1 channel line-up.

* CRTC approves Star Choice/Cancom merger

The crtc has approved the merger between Star Choice Communications and Cancom. The commission says it feels the merger is in the best interests of all parties involved and will help create better competition between satellite servers, offering subscribers more choice of distributors.

The crtc has also given Cancom the authority to make ownership changes in the new robtv service, allowing Shaw to pick up a temporary 8.8% of indirect ownership on the channel.

* Niagara College launches screenwriting program

Niagara College in Welland, Ont. is offering a new post-graduate program in screenwriting beginning in September.

The Professional Screenwriting Program is an eight-month course designed for college or university graduates in the areas of broadcasting, journalism, communications, film or television as well as those already working in the industry.

Topics covered in the program include the collaborative process, formats and genres, writing visually, character development, analyzing the market and legal and professional issues.

Writer/director Maureen Judge, screenwriters Carl Coons and Steve Lucas and independent producer Anne Frank helped create the program and form the core of the program’s industry advisors.

* Vision/CBC coproduction

Specialty channel Vision tv has struck a deal with cbc to coproduce a 10-episode season of the cbc mainstay Man Alive. Having debuted on cbc in October 1967, Man Alive will be seen first on Vision on Tuesday nights beginning Oct. 12, with a second showing on cbc on Sundays at noon.

* SARDEC-APFTQ deal

Screenwriters in sardec (Societe des Auteurs, Recherchistes, Documentalistes et Compositeurs) and the apftq (Association des Producteurs de Film et de Television du Quebec), representing producers, have signed the first collective agreement covering feature films. A source at sardec says the deal took more than five years to negotiate.

The agreement goes into effect Aug. 1 for a period of three years and covers a range of issues including writer’s contracts, acceptance and re-write practices, formal credit obligations and payment tariffs.

* Sloan overwhelmed with Talent

Toronto talent houses The Sloan Agency and The Talent Group have merged and will now receive mail as The Sloan Agency Inc. The new Sloan Agency will relocate to the offices of the Talent Agency on Toronto’s Richmond Street. Sandi Sloan will remain president.

The Talent Group’s president, Lawrie Rotenberg, who sold his agency to Sloan after 30 years in the talent game, will keep the name Talent Group in a new venture, producing, packaging and distributing for other companies, running his new business out of pei.

The five agents employed by the Talent Group all retain their jobs under the Sloan banner.