* Specialty launch backed up to Jan. 31

The on-air launch date for four new French-language specialties has been pushed back from Jan. 10 to Jan. 31, 2000. Operators of the four channels – Canal Histoire, Canal Fiction, technology channel Canal z and Canal Evasion – say the Jan. 10 launch is too close to the holidays for effective marketing. The channels will launch on a discretionary basis for an anticipated $6 fee. Cable subscribers receive the first three months free of charge.

The crtc has approved the new launch date.

* Shaw invests in OpenTV

Shaw Communications has made a $5-million investment in the ipo of digital television software provider Opentv. The investment represents a purchase of 250,000 class a ordinary shares. Other recent investors in Opentv include aol, General Instrument and Time Warner among others.

* Paramount buys Sunshine

Paramount Classics has acquired Sunshine for u.s. distribution.

Produced by Robert Lantos and Andras Hamori and directed and cowritten by Academy Award winner Istvan Szabo, the film tells the story of a family that rises from humble beginnings to a position of wealth only to fall victim to the oppressive forces of Europe over the past century.

Sunshine recently received 14 Genie nominations, including best motion picture.

Alliance Atlantis Pictures International is handling worldwide distribution and Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution is distributing in Canada and the u.k.

Rainer Kolmel and Jonathan Debin are exec producers.

* NFB@homevideo

The National Film Board has entered the e-commerce business with the launch of a home video website (www.nfb.ca/homevideo.) Howard Krosnick, head of English Program marketing, says more than 160 nfb titles are currently available on the site. The nfb has closed virtually all of its storefronts.

Launched in 1995, the expanded nfb website contains information on more than 10,000 titles. Other e-commerce initiatives are in development.

Channel 4 gives web access to Producer Guide