CBC ORDERS TWO NEW DRAMAS

More evidence that TV's traditional pilot season is going the way of well, newspapers…Just kidding, let’s say going the way of analog TV.

CBC announced today that it’s bought two new dramas, one called The Wild Roses, about a wealthy Alberta oil patch family, that just happens to be run by a bunch of feisty women. Its cast includes Sarah Power, Steve Byers and Michelle Harrison.

The second series dubbed The Session is set to be a starring vehicle for former Godiva’s leading lady Erin Karpluk. She’ll play a woman who time travels with the help of an oddball therapist, to be played by Michael Riley. No word on whether or not she’ll drive a DeLorean, but she’ll be going back to relive her past.

Both series are scheduled to premiere next January (2009). Rewind & replay: CBC’s 2008-09 season will feature: The Border, Sophie, Heartland, The Session and The Wild Roses. So far...

Meanwhile, the Fox network in America announced it will soon announce pick ups of another batch of pilot episodes, moving ever more towards a system of year-round, rather than seasonal, development.

Fox's goal is to present several completed episodes of a new series next spring, rather than just pilots, at next year’s up-fronts.

Broadcasting, everywhere, is in transition…Today in Ottawa, the Senate Banking Committee reviewing Bill C-10 heard testimony from arts leaders, including filmmaker Mark Leiren-Young (The Green Chain), while across the bridge, the CRTC continued hearings into Canada's cable broadcasting industry.