Although the 15 new U.S. shows acquired by CanWest MediaWorks were unveiled two weeks ago, Wednesday marked the official launch of the fall schedules for the Global Television and E! networks, at Toronto’s Massey Hall.

No one can dispute the performance of established programs including House, Prison Break and Survivor, as well as the positive growth imparted by successful series this past season, most notably Heroes and Brothers and Sisters. But what can we expect this fall?

It looks like the 10 p.m. time period will become the real challenge, and perhaps the breaking point, for Global. Three new dramas will make their debuts during this window, up against proven and successful properties on CTV.

Journeyman (Monday 10 p.m.), the time-traveling drama starring Kevin McKidd, is up against the hit CSI: Miami. Cane (Tuesday 10 p.m.), the Latin family saga starring Jimmy Smits, will face Law & Order: SVU, while Life, about a wrongly accused and imprisoned detective, will confront CSI: NY. Canterbury’s Law, starring Julianna Margulies as a tough defence lawyer, will face the tough doctors of Grey’s Anatomy on Thursdays at 9 p.m..

So will Kevin, Jimmy and Julianna become the true heroes for Global this fall? Jimmy has the best chance.

Global has also picked up one new comedy, Back to You, starring Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton. This new entry shows a lot of promise and will likely be a success.

For a little razzle dazzle at the presentation, the E! schedule was introduced by the infamous Ryan Seacrest, lead anchor/managing editor of E! News and host of American Idol. We all know the insatiable appetite people have for anything and everything about Hollywood. And now, the rebranding of CH to E! will attempt to capitalize on this craze.

CanWest has certainly succeeded combining its news with Entertainment Tonight Canada, providing a solid platform for Global Television. The question is, can the 8-11 p.m. time block on E! — comprised mainly of established shows, most of which are of the reality genre (Deal or No Deal, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? , The Biggest Loser, The Simple Life), together with a number of new entries (K-Ville, Bionic Woman, Women’s Murder Club, Viva Laughlin) — anchor the viewer and make this network an appealing destination?

It will be a difficult balancing act to ensure the successful position of E!, as CanWest executives use it as both an entertainment platform and as a testing ground for new properties.

Valerie McMorran is SVP/investment director of Starcom MediaVest Group.

From Media in Canada