CBC AND GLOBAL TEAM UP FOR NEW TRADERS SEASON
By Adnews Staff
In a move both companies are describing as beneficial for Canadian television, the CanWest Global System has sub-licensed the upcoming fall season of the series Traders to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The two national networks will broadcast individual episodes of the 22-show season in the same week, but Global has retained the right to broadcast each show first, at least three days before the CBC airs its episode. The CBC, CanWest Global and Traders' Toronto-based producer Atlantis Communications Inc. have also reached an informal agreement to co-operate on other initiatives, with the goal of "creating more options for Canadian television production." Slawko Klymkiw, executive director of network programming for CBC Television, told Adnews that getting Traders will allow the CBC to reinforce its image as the home of great Canadian television. Klymkiw said he isn't worried that Global will monopolize the Traders audience with its right to first broadcast because Global doesn't reach all of the CBC markets. Klymkiw also believes viewers don't want to be tied to a TV schedule, so they'll watch the show on whatever night is more convenient for them. Loren Mawhinney, CanWest Global's vice-president of Canadian production, believes the sub-licensing agreement will benefit all of the parties involved, because it will allow more money to be put into the show, resulting in improved quality and higher viewer ratings. This fall will mark the third season for Traders. The first two seasons, totaling 26 episodes, appeared on the Global network in Canada. Atlantis Releasing, the worldwide distributor of the series, has sold Traders to over 20 international territories.