The transaction that handed Alliance Atlantis Communications a 50% share in TV phenomenon CSI more than six years ago continues to pay off for the prodco, as the ubiquitous franchise marks a milestone 300 episodes on Oct. 23.

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David Caruso, star of CSI: Miami, talks to Playback about his hit series.

For broadcasters from Scandinavia and Indonesia to Japan and South Africa, Toronto post-production house Deluxe Sound & Picture handles all the international delivery requirements for all three CSI dramas – each sold to over 200 territories.

Top 20 TV Programs tracks ratings for the top 20 television shows in Canada for the period Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2006.

Sportscasters went back to work on Oct. 4 as the National Hockey League opened its 2006/07 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs-Ottawa Senators matchup scoring a strong 1.3 million viewers on TSN.

News broadcasters have taken an early lead at the Geminis, following word that journalists from both CBC and CTV are among the recipients of this year’s special awards.

Global Television broke new ground last month, becoming the first Canadian network to provide Internet access, under its own brand, to American primetime programming. Global’s broadband site (www.canada.com/globaltv/video) now features NBC’s Deal or No Deal.

* Karen Franklin is leaving her post as director of English operations at Telefilm Canada, exiting in mid-November. A successor has not been named.

The fifth annual Innoversity Summit will highlight aboriginals and the disabled in the workplace, while also looking to improve the development of media career professionals when the event returns to Toronto Oct. 23-24.

Karine Vanasse in CBC’s October 1970. The 8 x 60 mini by Big Motion Pictures and Barna-Alper Productions airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. (beginning October 12), recounting that year’s troubles with the Front de libération du Québec.

It was 20 years ago – on Sept. 29, 1986, that the first issue of Playback appeared. During that span, in which we have published more than 500 issues, nothing less than a technological revolution has taken place in the field of communications, transforming the distribution and consumption of filmed entertainment. Fluctuations in the economy, the exchange rate, and government financial support have also added greatly to the challenges faced by the Canadian broadcast, production and interactive sectors.