Barring nuclear exchanges, this year’s upfront had to be a quieter affair than the last. But that’s not to say that all is status quo. While things might seem quiet on the Southern Upfront, much like that proverbial duck that bobs nonchalantly on the surface while it works its feet like mad below, the relative calm belies a storm of activity. Buyers say broadcasting is undergoing a quantum leap, and it’s time to adapt.

Welcome to the new paradigm: More schedules. More shows. More changes throughout the year. It’s the new norm, and viewers, broadcasters and buyers are adapting. In this environment, nets will have to spend more time explaining when and where buyers and viewers can find shows, or opportunities will be missed.

On its 25th anniversary, the Banff Television Festival will once again bring the TV world to Canada, allowing homegrown talents to rub shoulders with their international counterparts.

The future is finally here, and it’s clear – high-definition kind of clear. Stations including Citytv Toronto, Sportsnet and TSN are already broadcasting in HD, and shows are being prepped for life in the HD age, all of which means producers need the HD tools to do the job – even if they are, as of now, only chugging off the assembly line.

Everything is going Andre Bureau’s way. The Astral Media chairman of the board and former president’s recent Gold Ribbon for Broadcast Excellence from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters was merely the capper for another strong year for Bureau’s TV, radio and outdoor advertising company.

1960-68: Bureau practices law at his father’s office in Trois-Rivieres, QC

On whether globalization is a threat to Canadian broadcasting:

In the early days of TV advertising, and on radio before that, jingles were the body copy of commercials. Whether it was ‘Hey Mabel, Black Label’ or ‘Everything’s better with Blue Bonnet on it,’ jingles were the pitch, sung so that listeners would have brand recall next time they were in the supermarket.

A few weeks does not a season make, but with early numbers trickling in, media buyers have begun to prognosticate on the fate of new shows and the early winners of the ratings race.

While other industries might go for the throat when times get tough, the entertainment industry is a savvier beast. Despite recent downturns in production, the CFTPA has struck deals with directors, writers and actors (the latter wrapping up months before the previous agreement expired), and it is working to bring IATSE’s technicians into the fold.

Traditionally, once through the educational system, film and TV students were expected to manage the leap from theory into practice, but an increasing number of facilities are available to help give students the on-the-job training they need to make them immediate assets on any shoot.

While much of the glamour and glitz of the Geminis will be reserved for those who achieved notable success in the last TV year, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television will honor seven individuals who have had an enduring impact at the Industry Gala on Oct. 19.