CTV on Tuesday rallied behind its specialty channels as it unveiled a raft…

The media conglom was upbeat when unveiling its fall 2009 schedule to ad buyers…

As a Brit, I know I should like BBC wildlife shows and Channel 4 sitcoms. And I should probably bolster ITV’s ad story by watching endless Agatha Christie murder mysteries.

Almost lost in the coverage of Canwest’s much-publicized troubles is the success the media giant has had with its specialties, both homegrown and those acquired in 2008 from Alliance Atlantis.

The CRTC has delayed imposing new spending rules on American programs. The TV watchdog delayed at least for a year a decision on whether to impose a ‘1:1’ spending requirement on Canadian and foreign programming to curb purchases of U.S. network shows and encourage Cancon expenditures.

Rogers Cable, one of the largest carriers that eluded TSN2, has finally signed on to distribute the sports channel, nearly nine months after it launched. The deal will likely see TSN2 go from 3.2 million homes to over four million, though a spokesperson for the channel couldn’t confirm the exact number.

CBC will shed up to 180 employees from its English-language operations, fewer than originally expected, partly because of the network’s early retirement program. Richard Stursberg, EVP of English services, said in a memo to staff that some 100 employees have applied for the voluntary retirement program, which was offered in hope of sparing some staff from the ax. CBC said in March it planned to eliminate as many as 393 jobs. The network as a whole is facing an ad revenue shortfall of $171 million, some $85 million of which is on the English side’s books.

CTV and Canwest Global have virtually split the slates of the major studios between them following the L.A. Screenings.