CBC documentary majordomo Mark Starowicz has assumed a seat at CBC’s senior management table, from which he will acquire and air more factual programming across multiple platforms.

The Hot Docs board of directors has expanded with appointments from both the public and private sectors. National Film Board commissioner Jacques Bensimon and Cineplex Entertainment executive VP of film and marketing Michael Kennedy join the board, bringing its number to 15.

It’s official: Stargate SG-1 rules the earthly television universe.
Embarking on a record-breaking 10th season of production, the B.C.-shot TV series has entered uncharted territory, laying claim as the longest-running drama series ever produced for cable television, and the longest-running North American science fiction drama of all time, outlasting The X-Files, The Twilight Zone and every installment of Star Trek.

As Stargate SG-1 rolls on its 10th season, even the head of programming at its U.S. broadcaster is surprised at the series’ continued success.

Stargate Atlantis launched into the sci-fi stratosphere in July 2004, premiering on the Sci Fi Channel to nearly 4.2 million viewers – the first sci-fi series ever to surpass the four-million-viewer plateau.

At 200 episodes and counting, Stargate SG-1 isn’t just a sci-fi institution – it’s also helped provide a foundation for the burgeoning Vancouver post and FX industry. Over the last 10 years, several Vancouver post houses have been able to flex their creative chops and grow their businesses on MGM Television’s flagship series, along with its Stargate Atlantis spin-off.

Maurice ‘The Rocket’ Richard, the Montreal Canadiens player who shot to national super-stardom in the 1940s, will bring even more hockey to the nation this NHL playoff season with the spring rollout of The Rocket (titled Maurice Richard in Quebec).

On April 21, an English-subtitled The Rocket will open on an unprecedented 115 screens in English Canada – the biggest national movie release of a French-Canadian film in the history of its distributor, Alliance Atlantis.

After seven years of development, Jeremy Podeswa is ‘thrilled’ to be finally making the page-to-screen adaptation of Anne Michaels’ award-winning novel Fugitive Pieces.

The CBC says it’s not concerned that the Toronto Maple Leafs – Hockey Night in Canada’s national team and ratings powerhouse – will likely miss the NHL playoffs this season.
This post-season looks to be the first since 1997/98 in which the Leafs will be left behind, which, based on historical patterns, could take away up to 50% of the Ceeb’s national audiences.

The folks behind the 13th annual Hot Docs are dealing with the kind of problems of which fest organizers dream.

Telefilm Canada has promoted Dave Forget to the top of its television business unit – putting the former boss of the Ontario and Nunavut office in charge of the agency’s entire TV sector and its partnership with the Canadian Television Fund.

Private broadcasters in Canada saw revenues rise almost 4% in 2005 to $2.2 billion, delivering profits of $242 million, according to data released by the CRTC.