Lack of distribution and packaging guarantees aren’t stopping teletoon and The History and Entertainment Network from commissioning a pack of new productions.

Still in cable limbo, The Comedy Network is playing it safe. But the lead time necessary to produce animation, drama, and documentary product is putting the onus on program execs to make some decisions at the two new analog specialty channels going on air this September and making a disproportionate investment in the underserved program categories.

teletoon, prepared to spend $6 million in original production beginning the first year of operations and handling budgets for full animation ranging from $60,000 to $500,000 per half-hour, has inked deals for four new animation series: Toad Patrol from Funbag Animation, Nelvana’s The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, and Animal Crackers and Caillou from Cinar Films.

Ideally, availability will coincide with the September launch. ‘However, with animated programming, you can’t just put a camera in front of a guy and call it done,’ says teletoon’s vp programming Kevin Wright. ‘But our target is to launch with as much new product as possible.’

then’s vp programming Norm Bolen, on the job for two weeks, has one project with ink drying. Bolen won’t specify the production budget he has to work with over the next few months, but says the range of licence fees in play are $7,000 to $10,000 at the low end for studio-type production; $20,000 to $25,000 per hour, mid-range; and $40,000 to $50,000 per hour at the high end. Producers and distributors haven’t been shy, he adds.

‘At last count, I’m getting between 80 and 100 voicemails a day, too many e-mails, and it seems I have pitches for shelf product from every distributor in the country, English and French, and outside the country. There aren’t many outlets for history, for documentaries particularly, and a lot of international coproductions need a window.’

Exactly how often producers will be able to capitalize on the high-end quotient hasn’t been established yet, but Bolen says plans are for then to host a ‘significant’ public event three or four times a year which will draw the attention of both viewers and critics to a specific program. ‘It’ll be something that really stands out and obviously we’re going to have to invest in those productions.’

Series and one-offs are both of interest, as is, potentially, some kind of interview program based on history. Bolen’s priorities include hammering the schedule into manageable form, and he says when strands are established, he’ll have a clearer idea of how many series then will be prepared to invest in. ctv exec Arthur Weinthal is working with Alliance as a consultant on the schedule.

Bolen will hire his ‘number two’ shortly, who will work with him on independent production. The programming department will consist of four staff by September: Bolen and cohort, a scheduler, and a person to oversee contracts and process acquisitions.

At teletoon, Wright, along with Carole Bonneau, director of scheduling and acquisitions, are looking for eight more additions to the programming department, including a director of original programming who will be based in Montreal, a manager of on-air promotions, a manager of programming, three programming assistants and two secretaries. Some announcements will be made in February.

Priority for Bonneau at the moment is the search for series with both English and French versions.

According to Wright, discussions are in process with another four animation projects. teletoon is ‘certainly open’ to a mix of animation and live action.

At The Comedy Network, none of the more than 100 proposals in-house for stand-up, sketch comedy, improv, even the Canadian version of Politically Incorrect, have deals in place, says Ed Robinson, director of programming.

Projects will get off the ground and the programming department expanded when distribution, fee for carriage, and the length of the free trial period have been established, says Robinson.

‘We’re holding back on moving forward until we know where we’re going.’

A layout from the cablecos was to be available in December, but has been subsequently pushed back twice and is now expected by the end of the month.

Packaging arrangements aside, Robinson says it’s doubtful The Comedy Network will be investing in sitcoms in the early years. ‘It’s out of our price range for the time being.’

Other priorities for all the September start-ups, four English- and four French-language services, over the next couple of months include establishing schedules, on-air presentation, and production values by the end of March so as to woo the media buyers before the mainstream broadcasters’ fall launch season.