The 15th annual Gemini Awards will both celebrate its past and embrace the future.

The awards show, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, even numbers itself as a nominee – last year’s telecast has received nods for direction, production design and host Rick Mercer.

Acknowledging the changing face of broadcasting, this year the Geminis have introduced the Most Popular Website competition, created in conjunction with Bell Sympatico hse. The category, which has more than 40 entrants, will recognize the most creative, innovative and informative website for a Canadian-produced television program entered in this year’s awards. Voting is open to the public via the Academy website.

This year’s nominations reflect a split between the old and the new, with the established networks being challenged by the rise of specialty channels. cbc and ctv remain dominant, however, capturing 154 and 93 nominations, respectively. However, one-quarter of ctv’s nominations come through its specialties, including The Sports Network, CTV Sportsnet, The Comedy Network, CTV Newsnet and Discovery Channel.

The best live special event coverage category sees those shirt-and-tie bastions of Canadian tv reportage, CBC Newsworld (‘2000 Today’) and ctv’s Canada am (‘EgyptAir Special’), up against upstart MuchMusic, whose nominated Much@Woodstock ’99 featured editorial ruminations care of co-host Ed the Sock.

Another trend sees dramatic programs which have already been canceled nominated in multiple categories, including Global’s Traders (six nominations) and ctv’s Power Play (five) and The City (five).

Steve Smith (The Red Green Show) will emcee the Awards Gala, which will be broadcast live on cbc Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. (est) from the John Bassett Auditorium at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Technical and journalism awards will be presented at the Opening Gala (Oct. 28) and a broader range of performance, program, craft and special awards at the Industry Gala (Oct. 29).

The Opening Gala will be hosted by Clifton Joseph, a two-time Gemini-winning writer who contributes to cbc’s Undercurrents and served as interviewer/producer on tvontario’s Imprint. The Industry Gala will be hosted by the ubiquitous Carla Collins, host of Comedy’s Chez Carla and E-now. The first two nights of the Geminis will be carried live on Rogers Television at 7 p.m. *

-www.academy.ca