Diminished ratings for the 11th annual YTV Achievement Awards, broadcast May 28, have finally forced the kids channel to cancel the program in favor of the weekly magazine-style series YAA! To the Max.

‘We felt we could achieve the same goals showcasing young Canadian achievers through our other show,’ says ytv spokesperson Sally Tindal.

‘And this way we’re not putting all our eggs in one basket.’

The Achievement Awards show, the brainchild of Global Television’s Kevin Shea, has been suffering from falling ratings over the past few years, but this year’s record low (and undisclosed) numbers served as the inevitable catalyst.

‘It’s a one-time, one-night event and it suffered being up against other programs.’ says Tindal. ‘And because it was on the heels of so many other award shows, the media was reluctant to cover it.’

yaa!, produced by Joanne Jackson, was developed two years ago as a companion series to the Achievement Awards. Now, in its second season, it will continue to highlight the talents of kids from across the country, serving as a weekly alternative to the annual awards show, ‘with a broader, more consistent audience,’ adds Tindal.