Cannes, France: Even though Alliance Atlantis Communications was a hive of pre-MIP production and sales announcements, much more was forthcoming at the market itself including word of a doc deal with PBS and news on plans for specialty launches this fall.

The doc deal will see AAC’s factual division, AAC Fact, form a ‘strategic alliance’ with Lark International, a group of six U.S. PBS member stations, with a view to ‘cofunding’ more than 30 hours of docs per year for broadcast on PBS and distribution by AAC.

The programming focus in the deal will be on factual programs, short series and specials. Productions that will work best will be those focused on science, history, health and medicine since these are also suited to AAC’s specialty channels. PBS stations in the Lark consortium include KCTS Seattle, KUHT Houston, KETC St. Lois and the Nebraska State Network. Two of the six stations in the deal were not named, but a senior PBS official hinted a Buffalo border station will likely be included.

Productions will involve partners from Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Responding to a question on whether this deal with Canada would ‘disenfranchise’ American producers, Joe Guerra of PBS said since the pubcaster airs 1,080 hours a year, 30 hours is a small percentage. He added it’s not unusual for PBS to coproduce.

In other AAC news at MIP, AA Broadcasting CEO Phyllis Yaffe said the company hopes to launch eight to 10 digital specialty channels in September. Of course, Health Network Canada and the former Salter Street property Independent Film Channel Canada will be the category 1 entrants. Although IFCC is Halifax-based, AAB will supply master control and sales support.

In category 2, Yaffe says negotiations with cablers and satellite operators are going well and AAB expects to launch the following: BBC Canada; BBC Kids; National Geographic Canada; Fine Living; and likely three movie channels, some of which might come from the group the CRTC licensed to Salter. Yaffe says DIY (Do It Yourself) and U8TV may get a push later on.

Playback will report on AAC’s MIP sales activities next issue. *

Susan Tolusso

-www.allianceatlantis.com