While the integration of new media and conventional television has been a growing component of the last several installments of the U.S. National Association of Broadcasters conference and trade show, at this year’s event (April 22-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center), it’s bigger than Regis.

Like last year, a major theme among camera manufactures at NAB2006 will be affordable HD, with companies such as Sony, Panasonic and JVC leading the charge. But according to camco reps, high-end systems are poised to generate the biggest buzz at the upcoming Las Vegas show.

Trying to plan your NAB2006 itinerary from the massive menu of panels, sessions and mini-conferences – not to mention all that occurs on the show floor? Here are five ‘can’t miss’ NAB events that will keep you up-to-date on the digital revolution.

Last year, Dave Cole, president of Toronto-based software manufacturer Specialty Data Systems, attended NAB for the first time with a small booth in a low-traffic area to get an idea of whether his company’s SDS eBroadcast system would be of interest to the market. This year he’s going back with a larger booth.

Perhaps its was a case of post-Olympics burnout, but CBC did not fare as well as it hoped with its sports programming last month, one of the most hectic ever for its sports crew.

MIPTV will have a heavy focus on content for multiple platforms – especially mobile – when the annual TV market returns to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, April 3-7.

Post-production company Pictorion Das Werk has opened a location in Vancouver, its first outside of Germany, offering a digital intermediate facility that can handle images in film resolution of up to 6K – far above the usual 2K, or 2,000 pixels, used for most DI scans.

Vancouver – Nerd Corps Entertainment is working on a pair of new animated series – Storm Hawks and Teem Awethum!!!! – for YTV.

Vancouver – Shavick Entertainment has a full plate this spring, most of it occupied by MOW copros with companies including L.A.’s Regent Entertainment and local ally Insight Film Studios.

Halifax – The construction soap opera North/South, from The Halifax Film Company and Toronto’s Inner City Films, began shooting for CBC on March 20.

CBC scored an average of 827,500 viewers with its 2 x 120 Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, its best rating for a miniseries since the pubcaster’s 2005 lockout.

You can’t call it a merger, or a marriage, and many details are still forthcoming, but the Canadian Television Fund and Telefilm Canada became a one-board, one-administration entity on March 1, according to CTF president Valerie Creighton.