In June, Telefilm Canada spread the surprise $12.5 million borrowed from next year’s $75-million Canadian Television Fund installment by the Ministry of Canadian Heritage among 26 Equity Investment Program applicants this year.

Alliance Atlantis Communications, reported a loss of $18.8 million in its fiscal year ended March 31, 2003. This compares to net earnings of $27.5 million the previous year.

The third installment of CTV’s Canadian Idol was the week’s most-watched show in Canada.

Corus Entertainment does not own the Golf Channel, as was reported in the May 26 Playback Tribute to Peter Moss.

Six Feet Under has risen to the top.

Montreal: Many of the key names in the North American comedy industry – performers, broadcasters and production executives – are headed to Montreal for the 21st edition of the Just For Laughs Festival, July 10-20.

Montreal: Documentary series producer Cineflix is projecting growth this year of up to 50% in top-line production revenues in the order of $10 million to $12 million.

Corus Entertainment, through Movie Central, unveiled a new $1.5-million fund to assist production of dramatic movies and series at last month’s Banff Television Festival. The Corus Made With Pay Development Fund is open to projects in the works for Canadian pay-TV or theatrical release – and replaces the company’s previous $1-million script and development fund.

Data released in June by Statistics Canada indicating marked losses in motion picture exhibition in 2000/01 does not accurately reflect the state of the industry, according to some experts.

The Montreal World Film Festival/Festival des Films du Monde will be held Aug. 27 to Sept. 7. The submission deadline for feature films is July 25.

Vancouver: The much-debated and delayed Channel M, Vancouver’s first over-the-air multicultural station, finally went live at 7 p.m. local time June 27, though its final home on the dial is still undecided.

The Canadian Television Fund elected a new board of directors at its annual general meeting, held during last month’s Banff Television Festival. Janet Yale was named for a third term as chair of the board.