CHUM Television has killed two series and bought three new ones – making room on its schedules for a vampire, a Victorian-era detective and a period-piece mystery by showing its hunky monk and randy restaurateurs to the door.

CHUM has announced it will not bring The Collector nor Godiva’s, in their third and second seasons, respectively, back for 2006/07.

Godiva’s creator Julia Keatley says the saucy series was performing well among its target 18-34-year-olds, but fell victim to regulatory changes at the CTF that significantly reduced the funds available to CHUM.

‘They said [the show] would have been ordered again if the same system was in place,’ she says. ‘I believe we were getting the audience we were meant to get, but I don’t think those people have Nielsen boxes.’

CHUM had, at one point, talked about making 88 episodes of the hour-long spooker The Collector, but the series was also hit by a funding shortfall, says producer/director J.B. Sugar. The 40-ep run has been picked up for U.S. syndication by First Look Studios.

The not-quite-a-network has, however, ordered three new series, including a 13 x 60 run of The Murdoch Mysteries from Shaftesbury Films. The series springs from a trio of MOWs seen previously on CHUM channels, which were based on the books by Canuck author Maureen Jennings.

The franchise follows a detective through murder cases in Victorian-era Toronto.

‘We’ve worked with CHUM before, but this is the big one,’ says Shaftesbury head Christina Jennings, adding that the series will be faster-paced and brighter than the MOWs. ‘We’re looking for a visual style that’s more contemporary.’

Jennings hopes to go to camera around southern Ontario by November, and perhaps to air by early 2007. Director and Shaftesbury regular John L’Ecuyer (ReGenesis) will set the mood and the look of the series.

Casting has not yet begun. The MOWs starred Peter Outerbridge, who is currently leading the Shaftesbury series ReGenesis.

CHUM has also ordered the 6 x 60 drama Across the River to Motor City from Jonsworth Productions in association with Devine Entertainment, and 22 hours of Blood Ties – about a private eye who teams up with a cop and a 450-year-old vampire.

CHUM ordered Blood Ties last year, but it did not get CTF funding. ‘We were too many spots down the line,’ says Paul McConvey, VP of production at Kaleidoscope Entertainment. He plans to shoot this summer in Vancouver and Toronto, working from a bible by Peter Mohan (Mutant X).

‘It’s going to be high production values, a healthy budget,’ he says. ‘Each week this trio, in addition to being a love triangle, fights all kinds goblins, mummies and beasties.’

Across the River is looking to shoot six hours by fall. The story follows two timelines through two countries – as a woman in the present day uncovers a long-buried secret about her dad’s tumultuous days in 1960s Windsor and Detroit.

Production on all three shows depends on CTF funding. CHUM has not said which of its channels might air the shows.