Global had some holes to fill in its lineup and Rogers went out buying for the Citys for the first time, while CTV and CBC are sticking to what works. The most interesting battle this fall might be between the revamped A and E! Playback breaks down who's doing what

CTVGLOBEMEDIA

Upfront review: The broadcaster showed a little more restraint versus last year's glitzy, celeb-filled presentation. It focused much of the 90-minute show, held at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, on its Canadian programming, trotting out stars from The Listener, Flashpoint and So You Think You Can Dance Canada, including an appearance by guest judge Mary Murphy.

The most-talked about bit of the upfront was the rebranding of the former A-Channel as A, along with a sound schedule that includes the second season of rookie hit Private Practice.

The prize for most memorable moment goes to Brent Butt and the gang from Corner Gas, who took an emotional final bow on stage. The comedy is currently filming is sixth and final season.

Context: The number-one network still holds pole position in the fall battle for eyeballs, as it has most of the top 20 shows, including the perpetual CSI-franchise, reality heavy-hitter Dancing with the Stars and hit dramas Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. As such, its primetime schedule will remain intact, with only three new shows (The Listener, Flashpoint and Star Wars: The Clone Wars) joining the lineup.

"Frankly, you don't mess with success," said CTVglobemedia president and CEO Ivan Fecan, summing up the net's approach.

2008/09 primetime strategy: All eyes will be on A, and CTVgm's lofty aspirations to move the second-tier network into second place among Canadian broadcasters, right behind its main channel.

"You have to dream big," said CTV programming boss Susanne Boyce.

A's got the goods, boasting three of the season's most talked-about new series, including J.J. Abrams' latest The Fringe, drama Eleventh Hour and detective series The Mentalist, starring Aussie Simon Baker.

A's also got last year's breakout hit Private Practice and quirky comedy Pushing Daisies, further illustrating CTVgm's push to revamp the channel.

Media buyer's take: "There's no question [CTV] will be number one," says Michael Walker, president of The Walker Media Group, adding that the stability of the schedule is the net's biggest strength. Walker likes the chances of The Listener - about a mind-reading medic - in the plum post-Housewives slot. "It looks like it's got good female appeal," he says.

A's new lineup will give advertisers a different opportunity to run with top-flight programming, according to Walker, who says strong shows like Practice, Eli Stone and Two and a Half Men will draw out a wider demographic.

CANWEST

Upfront review: It took Fran Capo, the world's fastest-talking female, just two minutes to list 155 titles featured on Canwest's 22 conventional and specialty networks, in a rather unique opening for the upfront, held at Toronto's Elgin Theatre.