The Movie Network and Movie Central are continuing their combined quest to be ‘HBO North’ with their recently announced lineup for 2005/06, putting the drama Terminal City and the B.C.-shot series Stuntdawgs in for this fall.

‘Our priority when it comes to Canadian original series is to create strong commercial drama that will appeal to audiences here in Canada, and will also go on to find an audience internationally,’ says Aubie Greenberg, director of programming for TMN and Mpix. ‘We believe that Canadian drama can be successful and we are aiming to prove just that with this year’s lineup of Canadian drama series.’

Terminal City is the most ambitious project for the fall. Shot on location in Victoria, BC, it tells the story of a woman with terminal breast cancer who gets her own reality TV show. The 10 x 60 series stars Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal), Maria del Mar, formerly of Blue Murder, and Katie Boland, a Playback ‘Ten to Watch’ finalist (see story, p. 22).

‘It’s a human drama with a great cast, a provocative storyline, and a tone that’s dark, funny, and accessible,’ Greenberg says. ‘Terminal City reflects how we are trying to create original Canadian drama that’s on an HBO level.’ CHUM has the second window rights.

Terminal City will debut in October, but a date and timeslot are not yet set.

Stuntdawgs is scheduled for sometime in January. The 13-part series stars Peter Harris Kent – Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double – and will feature Canadian stunt actors revealing the tricks of their trade, including recreating classic movie stunts.

Meanwhile, TMN/MC’s science skein ReGenesis will be back for a second season and its backstage comedy Slings & Arrows will return for a third. Global has the second window for ReGenesis while Showcase has Slings.

The channels, which have a duopoly on Canadian pay-TV, are also banking on HBO product to woo viewers and will debut the US$100-million 12-parter Rome on Aug. 28. The BBC/HBO copro is full of ‘sex, love, intrigue, greed and politics,’ says Greenberg. ‘It’s The Sopranos in ancient Rome.’

Another promising HBO import is Big Love. Produced by Tom Hanks, it stars Bill Paxton as a Mormon polygamist living in Utah with his three wives. TMN/MC also have new runs of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deadwood and The Sopranos.