Feds okay second TSN

The CRTC has approved TSN's bid to air separate regional programming in addition to its national signal following an application filed by the all-sports channel earlier this year.

The second, digital-only feed stands to give TSN greater flexibility with its programming, though the new signal may only use 10% of the original's quarterly broadcasting schedule. The regional feed also gives TSN and its sister CTV greater bargaining power over CBC in their bid for the NHL rights, which are up for grabs after the 2007/08 season.

CBC and CanWest Global opposed the changes.

Telefilm funds 13 features

Telefilm Canada has announced funding for 13 English-language movies through both its Canada Feature Film Fund and its low-budget assistance program.

Among the titles to win funding are the drama Emotional Arithmetic, shooting in Quebec under director Paolo Barzman, and the crime story All Hat, now underway in rural Ontario under Leonard Farlinger. Kari Skogland's adaptation of the Margaret Lawrence novel The Stone Angel, the comedy Young People F*!@king from director Martin Gero, and Carl Bessai's latest, Normal, also scored.

Telefilm's Low Budget Independent Feature Film Assistance Program backed Acts of Imagination, about the loves of Ukrainian immigrants, and Mark Leiren-Young's The Green Chain, about the conflict between loggers and environmentalists.

Cuppa Coffee expands

Cuppa Coffee is preparing to move into a new production facility, following the purchase of a 45,000-square-foot site in downtown Toronto formerly owned by The Partners' Film Company. The site houses 40 stop-motion studios, 50 compositing stations, seven editing suites, plus an HD suite, and will be used to turn out the toon shop's growing slate of animation series.

Cuppa Coffee's 250 staff are currently at work on a new run of Celebrity Deathmatch for MTV, the gay-themed comedy Rick and Steve for Logo, and the showbiz spoof Starveillance for E! Networks.

Owner Adam Shaheen says the move-in should be done by the end of the year.