Opening ceremony down from Athens 2004, though pubcaster scores on weekend primetime coverage. Flashpoint gets major push from Dance finale

New name Rogers Plus to reflect company’s trade in cellphones, games and other services

Losses deepen as wide-screen exhibitor looks to Batman for rebound in Q3

Big payoff at box office and snack bar offset by higher costs in second quarter. Earnings fall 39%

Former main man at Mainframe to lead animation and interactive division

Shuffle comes as Toronto shop looks to take on more scripted content

Have you heard the rumors about what a fiasco the Rogers takeover of the Citytvs has been? Terrible!

I hope you’re all having a relaxing summer, because it’s about to get really busy. In case you didn’t know, this industry is at a crossroads, and upcoming events will go far in steering the future course of independent production in this country.

A deal to buy American Greetings’ Strawberry Shortcake and The Care Bears properties for $195 million has cleared the way for Cookie Jar Entertainment to acquire Los Angles-based brand management giant DIC Entertainment.

After finding ratings success with Sophie, Heartland and The Border last season, CBC has ordered five new pilots with comic-driven concepts, including a marriage done on a dare and four curling babes.

• Corus Entertainment president and CEO John Cassaday is temporarily stepping in atop Corus Radio, and will replace outgoing John Hayes on Sept. 2. Doug Murphy, meanwhile, becomes president of Corus-owned studio Nelvana and EVP/GM of Corus Kids on Aug. 5, while his predecessor Scott Dyer takes over as CTO. Dyer will oversee Corus’ planned move to its new corporate headquarters and broadcast facility next year.

• The formats for The Next Great Leader and Trade Up have gone overseas, following a series of deals at Distraction Formats. The political reality show, originally developed by CBC, has gone to Pyramedia, a TV production company that operates in the Middle East and north Africa. The game show Trade Up has gone to MasMedia in Sweden. Distraction has also sold The Last Word to Spain’s Tri Neo Films, while Dirty Rotten Cheater went to TV4 in Poland. A deal was also reached for reality show You Be the Judge, to air on Direct Sight in Ukraine.