The CBC’s new programming focus came into sharper focus earlier this month with the purchase of a 53% controlling stake in The Documentary Channel from Corus Entertainment and its launch of a factual entertainment division.

Production houses Decode Entertainment of Toronto and The Halifax Film Company have come together under a newly formed umbrella company, DHX Media, which they plan to take public next year.

Was it cold feet or golden handcuffs?

The Banff World Television Festival is banking on a big turnout of U.S. players and speed dating for producers and broadcasters as ways to grow in its 27th installment.

Actor Robert Kray runs from a burning village in Fugitive Pieces, the adaptation of Anne Michaels’ bestseller, now shooting in Ontario under director Jeremy Podeswa. The Robert Lantos-produced project will relocate to Greece in June.

To borrow a phrase from New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell, 2006 is shaping up to be the tipping point for digital content on multiple platforms. And as such, organizers of nextMEDIA: The Future of Digital Content, are looking to establish the conference as the new media event for the content industry.

Mongrel Media’s ScaredSacred and Seville Pictures’ Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey – both well-reviewed Canadian documentaries from the festival circuit – were released on DVD May 23.

Gloomy weather, it appears, helped keep Quebecers indoors and in cinemas over the Victoria Day long weekend, which saw the drama Délivrez-moi enjoy a healthy average of $2,587 on 33 screens. This, despite warnings from Quebec box-office tracker Cineac that the province’s receipts are falling behind those of last year.

The Hot Sheet tracks Canadian box-office results for the period May 12-18 and DVD sales in Canada for the period May 1-7.

Sweeps has brought its wave of season finales, with both Global and CTV seeing strong ratings with their U.S. series as they wrap for the year, and Survivor is still the finale to beat in Canada after the first three weeks of May.

The Banff World Television Festival has become one of the premiere forums for TV producers, docmakers and show creators to generate buzz for their work through its various pitch competitions and opportunities, having helped spawn titles including Being Ian, Puppets Who Kill and the upcoming kids series Roll Play.

Top 20 TV Programs tracks ratings for the top 20 television shows in Canada for the period May 15-21, 2006.