Over the course of what must have been two very long days in June, two platoons of TV execs – one from CHUM Television, another made up of their various competitors – sparred in front of a CRTC panel in Edmonton, arguing the pros and cons of the Toronto caster’s proposed move into Alberta.

The 28th Toronto International Film Festival will open on Sept. 4 with Denys Arcand’s Les Invasions Barbares.

Telefilm Canada is cutting its funding to the Ottawa International Animation Festival after having been the major government resource behind the event for nearly 30 years.

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.