Canada’s highest-rated comedy series looks to extend its success into home video with the DVD release of season three on Oct. 3. The three-disc set will be on par with the first two seasons as far as unit volume, says Kerry Kupecz, director of marketing and promotion at Toronto-based Video Services Corporation, which also streets the sophomore year of Gemini comedy series nominee Kenny vs. Spenny on Oct. 24.

‘There’s not a huge change in marketing strategy between seasons because it [has] worked,’ says Kupecz, adding that the Gas DVD release will be supported by TV ads on CTV and The Comedy Network as well as regional spots with creator and star Brent Butt.

Corner Gas’ streak of more than 50 straight episodes of upwards of one million viewers has translated into more than 100,000 units shipped for the first two seasons’ DVD releases through distributor VSC.

Extras in the set of 19 episodes include the hour-long W5 special ‘Beyond Corner Gas: Tales from Dog River,’ although, unlike releases for previous seasons, there are no audio commentaries.

‘We might do audio commentaries on season four,’ says Kupecz. ‘We have to see what’s available when we gear up at the beginning of next year.’

Gas’ inter-season webisodes, which streamed on CTV’s broadband site, are also a possibility for next season’s release, dependent on rights issues.

Technicolor Toronto handled the replication of the discs while Juice Productions did the authoring and design. Inspired by Butt’s on- and off-screen love of comic books, the DVD cover, menu illustrations and episode guide were created by comic book artist Ron Boyd, who has inked both Marvel and DC titles.

Also…

* In hockey-related news, The Rocket blasted its way to number three on the Nielsen Videoscan charts for the week ending Sept. 24, while Maple Pictures shipped 10,000 units on Oct. 3 of the CBC miniseries Canada Russia ’72. Enclosed in a red metallic case, the three-disc set includes an uncut version as well as producer/director commentary and special guest commentary with coach Harry Sinden and Alan Eagleson, architect of the fabled summit series.

* Maple Pictures also quietly streeted the Douglas Coupland-narrated Souvenir of Canada, the doc which follows the Gen X author as he tries to discover what makes us Canadian by filling an empty house with everything from button blankets to beer can pyramids and crumbs of Dad’s oatmeal cookies.

* Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm shipped season one of TV series Les Invincibles on Oct. 10. Extras tacked onto eps of the Quebec cult fave, about four twentysomething buddies who make it their mission to have as much fun as they can before they hit 30, include a making-of documentary, as well as a sneak peek of season two. *