CTV joined the same club as Julia Roberts, K-Mart and Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft this month when it signed a deal to be represented by Creative Artists Agency. The top-ranked talent handler will rep the network on the development and production of scripted and reality programming in the U.S. and will also help broker coproductions with U.S. broadcasters.

‘We’re looking for ways to bring more production dollars to Canadian producers,’ says CTV programming czar Susanne Boyce, adding that the relationship began to take shape after this year’s CTF shortfall. ‘We’re trying to come up with other business models.’

CTV is looking first to boost MOW production. ‘But a series would be fabulous,’ says Boyce.

Coproing with the U.S. could save the net some cash, when compared to the cost of buying American shows outright, but the numbers aren’t yet exactly clear, says Boyce. She says any such deals will not affect the net’s commitment to Canadian content.

‘The time is ripe for universal stories that happen to be Canadian,’ she says. ‘But we will still, absolutely, be running Canadian stories.’

The net has had good luck with recent cross-border efforts, topping the ratings with Canadian Idol and striking a co-financing deal with U.S.-based PAX TV for production of the successful Sue Thomas F.B. Eye.

-www.ctv.ca