Parents are going to become an increasingly common part of the programming mix on Corus Entertainment’s children’s channels starting this fall, as the broadcaster pursues better ratings through ‘co-viewing.’

Corus recently announced its fall lineup for YTV, Treehouse and Discovery Kids Canada and for its W Network, CMT and Scream channels.

Noting that demographic trends indicate YTV’s target of 6-11-year-olds will continue to shrink over the next five to six years, Phil Piazza, VP programming, children’s television, says the broadcaster has decided to ‘age-up’ its lineup. The strategy involves introducing new shows with appeal to slightly older audiences (especially for time slots after 9 p.m.) and also getting parents to watch with their kids.

‘In the next three years we’re trying to introduce shows with a more prevalent adult storyline,’ Piazza says. ‘We want to make sure the programs we’re going to air have not only appeal to the children but also to the parents that are going to be watching [the shows] with them.’

In this vein, YTV has acquired Paramount’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch (163 x 30) and Nickleodeon’s new Unfabulous (26 x 30), a live-action show starring Julia Roberts’ niece, Emma Roberts, as a savvy 13-year-old trying to get through middle school. It airs Mondays at 7 p.m. Sabrina will air Monday through Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ‘That brings in an older audience appeal,’ says Piazza.

New Canadian productions on YTV include two reality-type programs, Ghost Trackers (26 x 30, CCI Entertainment), about kids investigating the paranormal, and Prank Patrol (26 x 30, Apartment 11), about playing pranks on parents. New episodes of the teen-aimed tennis drama 15/Love (Galafilm Productions), now into its second season, are also scheduled Mondays at 7:30 p.m.

New to Treehouse is Toopy & Binoo, a 26 x 30 animated series from Montreal’s Spectra Animation based on the best-selling children’s books.

Over at W Network, Joanna Webb, VP programming, says there are few changes planned this season, thanks to the female-aimed channel’s strong ratings.

However, the channel is ‘trying to move beyond [design shows] and develop in the area of transformational shows,’ says Webb.

Thus, two new Canadian productions. Save Us From Our House (13 x 30, General Purpose Pictures) brings together a relationship strategist, a contractor and a designer to help families manage their space and their personal lives. Between the Sheets (10 x 30, Breakthrough Films & Television) takes a lighthearted approach to Canadian sex lives, featuring couples and singles looking to explore their sexuality and to put some fun into procreative activities. It features sexpert Rebecca Rosenblat.

W has also acquired Fat Actress, starring Kirstie Alley as a fictional version of herself wrestling with weight gain and the tabloids in Hollywood. Fat Actress begins airing in November on Sundays at 11 p.m., leading into Between the Sheets.

W has also said goodbye to the Sunday Night Sex Show with Sue Johanson, which has ceased production after 10 years. The sex-advice show has long been the tentpole of W’s Sunday night, but Johanson has pulled the plug, putting the blame on her busy travel schedule.

A slew of minor changes are in the works at CMT and digitals The Documentary Channel and Scream. There will be no escaping the reach of the reality show, even on CMT, which this fall will air The Wilkinsons – House Raising (Henry Less Productions), a series following the country music family around Canada as it tours and tries to build the ultimate family home at the same time.

Lifestyle series CMT Star will also debut, giving audiences an inside look at their favorite stars’ passions and pastimes, while entertainment magazine CMT Central will be relaunched, this time with more live music and a new set. This fall will be its third season.

‘In the first year it struggled but it’s kind of found its pace,’ says Michael Harris, VP/GM, CMT, The Documentary Channel and Scream. ‘Its audience is up 50% from the year before. We want to make it one of the top variety shows on Canadian television.’

Scream’s new Canadian production is Masters of Horror (13 x 60, ICT Entertainment), an anthology of one-hours helmed by Hollywood horror directors such as John Landis and George Romero.

Corus owns 53% of The Documentary Channel, with the remainder divided among partners CBC, the National Film Board and independent programmers. Corus is the majority owner of Scream, which it shares with Alliance Atlantis.

-www.corusent.com