From a media release:

Degrassi switches to the RED digital camera to set a Canadian television milestone

Stephen Stohn, president of Epitome Pictures Inc. and executive producer of Degrassi, credits the PS Production Services Ltd. (PS) supplied RED digital camera as a key reason his company is able to produce the largest single season episode order of a drama series in Canadian television history.

While most viewers won’t notice the change to digital, behind-the-scenes the RED digital camera has made a significant difference. With the RED’s streamlined workflow and film quality digital output, Epitome Pictures Inc. has been able to produce a new episode of Degrassi every 2 ¾ days.

“After 30 years of shooting on 16mm, the switch to the RED digital camera for this season of Degrassi is a huge milestone,” said Stohn. “Without making the switch to RED we would have had a hard time shooting so many episodes. PS was instrumental in helping us make this transition and the resulting picture quality that we are seeing is way beyond our wildest dreams!”

With a tight production schedule and 48 episodes to shoot, the RED digital camera has been a welcome addition on Degrassi’s Toronto set for director of photography Alwyn J Kumst.

“Because of the volume of footage we shoot each day – the equivalent of maybe 24 to 30 rolls of 16mm – the RED has meant less loading time and waste and not generating short ends,” said Kumst. “PS has been very helpful and knowledgeable with the RED technology we have on set. They have served me very well in the past on other productions so it was comforting to take on Degrassi with its challenging shooting schedule knowing that PS could back up all our camera needs.”

PS has been proud to support this iconic Canadian series since its inception over 30 years ago. The Degrassi brand has since become a worldwide phenomenon. Degrassi is now licensed in over 150 countries around the world and is the top-rated show on TeenNick in the United States.

“I can still remember loading the gear for The Kids of Degrassi Street into a VW van,” recalled Doug Dales, founder and chairman of PS Production Services. “To see the show evolve from where it began three decades ago has been remarkable, and to have helped them take the next step to digital has been a great honour for our company.”

The new “shot on RED” season of Degrassi premiered Monday, July 19 at 9 p.m. ET and won its 9-9:30 p.m. timeslot for teens amongst all Canadian and US specialty networks. The series airs Monday-Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on MuchMusic with a two-hour marathon repeating on Fridays from 6-8 p.m. ET.