It wasn’t the biggest deal. It wasn’t marked by public rancor. And it did not turn on the machinations of a glamorous Forest Hill power couple. But the news that Alliance Atlantis Communications is buying Halifax-based Salter Street Films is the most beguiling industry story in months.
After weeks of takeover speculation that saw Salter stock soar on the tse and media watchers salivate at its prospects, aac revealed on Feb. 12 a complex offer for the Canadian company producing the funniest marquee shows now and launching the sexiest digital specialty in September.

Ottawa: Industry Minister Brian Tobin knows a chance for a sly dig when he sees one, and seize one he did by hinting strongly, at the annual producers association conference earlier this month, that the government will renew the Canadian Television Fund.
In his Feb. 9 luncheon speech, Tobin reviewed some salient fund facts for a capacity crowd of producers and broadcasters, and then scooped cabinet colleague Sheila Copps. Said he: ‘I have every confidence that she [the heritage minister] will succeed in renewing this fund upon its expiry’ at the end of March.

Vancouver: For an industry that thrives on speculation, the movie business in Vancouver may be well into ‘fear fatigue’ when it comes to the subject of u.s. writers and actors strikes. Will they settle? Will they walk the picket? Should I plan holidays?
Jittery volatility is the only certainty.
Mark DesRochers, b.c.’s film commissioner, calls the pre-strike-buildup time the most hot-and-cold period in his experience.

Vancouver: Canadian industrialist Gerry Schwartz has added blockbusters to his bestsellers for us$250 million.
On Feb. 15, the ceo of Onex Corp. – leading a buyout group including Pacific Capital Group (controlled by digital cinema advocate Gary Winnick in Beverly Hills) and l.a.-based Oaktree Capital Management – signed a letter of intent to acquire faltering exhibition chain Loews Cineplex Entertainment.

Montreal: Telescene Film Group, operating on the edge as it files for protection under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, has reported net losses of $29.6 million for the third quarter ending Nov. 30, including a $23.7-million write-down in projected library sales. Foreign sales were affected by the crisis, and further revisions of the company’s assets and liabilities may be necessary.
The results were released Feb. 13, two full weeks after they were due, resulting in a temporary cease trading order issued by the Ontario Securities Commission. Telescene cfo Daniel Proulx said the osc order would likely be lifted once the financials were filed.

Montreal: Cinar Corp. delivered 119 half-hours in the first six months of fiscal 2000, bringing its program library total to 150 titles and 1,967 half-hours.
The library update is part of a long-anticipated release of unaudited financial information, reported to be the main stumbling block to the eventual Merrill Lynch-mediated sale of the company’s considerable assets.
Cinar president and ceo Barrie Usher says the company’s bank credit (us$12 million outstanding) has been extended to Oct. 15. Usher says the company ‘continues to have a strong balance sheet’ with assets (as of May 31, 2000) of $436.6 million, liabilities of $95.7 million and shareholders’ equity of $341 million.

Command Post and Transfer is calling it an acquisition, dave is calling it a merger, but both sides agree something big is in the works. …

Las Vegas: From a programming distributor’s pov, the Internet, for now, is a great way to sell and preview product to international buyers, says Jill Keenleyside, who loves her yearly trips to natpe but also relishes the new and potential opportunities…

Montreal: Quebec’s cultural funding and certification agency, sodec, is raising a number of concerns about new funding rules for the Canada Feature Film Fund. …

Keeping in line with the ever-converging cultural and media industries, the Ontario Film Development Corporation has relaunched as the Ontario Media Development Corporation, a new provincial agency dedicated to bolstering the film, new media, sound recording and book/magazine publishing sectors. …

The juggernaut of convergence rolls on, with bce announcing the development of a new technology that will integrate its Sympatico High Speed Edition DSL Internet access with its Bell ExpressVu satellite tv service. The union will allow the media giant to…

It’s a good thing Alanis Morrisette isn’t scripting the current scenario unfolding in the Canadian entertainment industry. She’d be so busy thanking India and misunderstanding the meaning of the word "irony," she’d miss all the real action on the next ironic…