In the news: CBC misleading on ratings?

Gayle MacDonald of the Globe and Mail reports on challenges to CBC’s claims:

CBC’s best season in five years? Expert says no
“One of Canada’s leading experts in television ratings is challenging CBC Television’s claim that it just posted its best prime-time season in five years. Barry Kiefl, president of Ottawa-based Canadian Media Research Inc. (CMRI), says the 2006-2007 overall season in audience terms was the public TV broadcaster’s worst in its 55-year history.”

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In the news: Canadian Idol ‘nicer’ than American version

Kate Taylor of the Globe and Mail compares the Canadian and American editions of Idol:

Kindler, gentler and bleep-free
“Are Canadians nicer than Americans? Television producer John Brunton has his suspicions. Brunton is the executive producer of Canadian Idol, the local franchise of the hugely popular reality show and singing contest, and he readily agrees his version is kinder to the contestants than the sometimes vicious American Idol.”

Tara Merrin of Sun Media talks to the country singer about his guest appearance on Trailer Park Boys:

George Canyon lands ‘Trailer Park’
The country music star will appear on two back-to-back episodes of Trailer Park Boys, starting tomorrow night, in the role of an American forest ranger who protects a colony of North American beavers. “It’s funny because the character takes this very seriously — it’s his whole world,” says Canyon, who is staying tight-lipped about the details of the story line.

Tara Merrin of Sun Media sees a promising start in Canada’s Next Top Model:

‘Top Model’ has hot Canuck start
“Executive producer and host Jay Manuel, who has brought his expertise from America’s Next Top Model, came through. The show has the look and feel of the U.S. version and most of the girls who made it into the Top 10 actually could be models. And, best of all, there was nudity. Male and female nudity.”

Tamsen Tillson of Playback points out that Canadian drama is alive and well … on channels not many Canadians get:

Scripted Cancon alive and well on TMN
“Of the series that have resulted – among them Slings & Arrows, G-Spot, Terminal City and ReGenesis – some have been more successful than others. The critics loved Slings & Arrows, which, in its third and final season, bagged three Geminis. ReGenesis airs in (count ’em) 110 countries (and is the highest-rated series on France’s ARTE, according to Marion) and recently won an International Interactive Emmy for its online version. Their latest offering, Durham County, premiered in early May to enthusiastic reviews.”