The CBC has picked up the lion's share of industry prizes at the Gemini Awards honouring the best in homegrown television.
While it was a banner night for the CBC, the public broadcaster didn't face any organized competition from CTV News, the country's top-rated newscast, which removed itself from this year's Geminis.
CTV president Robert Hurst announced earlier this year that CTV News would not participate in the awards because the time involved in preparing entries was not worth the effort. Other CTV departments and specialty channels were eligible to vie for the awards, as were any CTV News employees who wished to submit entries on an individual basis.
Here are the winners of Gemini documentary, news and sports awards, announced Monday night in Toronto. Winners in other categories will be announced Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Gemini Awards gala will be broadcast by Global on Nov. 4.
Best News Information Series: "The Fifth Estate," CBC Television; David Studer, Jane Mingay, Sally Reardon, Jim Williamson.
Best History Documentary Program: "Breaking Point," CBC Television; Jacqueline Corkery.
Best Biography Documentary Program: "Braindamadj'd, Take II," Apartment 11 Productions, CBC Newsworld; Jonathan Finkelstein, Allan Joli-Cur.
Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program: "Being Caribou," National Film Board of Canada. Tracey Friesen, Rina Fraticelli.
Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series: "Prisoners of Age," the Eyes Project Development Corp.; Stan Feingold.
Best Documentary Series: "China Rises," CBC Television. Kelly Crichton, Susan Dando, Mark Starowicz.
Best Sports Program or Series: "Hockey Brawl: Battle on Thin Ice," Ocular Productions Inc., Behind the Brawl Inc., Numan Films, Ocular Productions; Jeff Newman, Robert Sauvey, Shawn Watson.
Best Live Sporting Event: "2006 World Junior Hockey Championship: Gold Medal Game," TSN; Mark Milliere, Jon Hynes.
Best Newscast: "CBC News: The National." Jonathan Whitten, Mark Harrison, Fred Parker, Greg Reaume.
Best News Special Event Coverage: "CBC News: 60th Anniversary of V-E Day." Mark Bulgutch, Tom Dinsmore, Fred Parker.
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series: Michael Gruzuk, "CBC News: Marketplace - Chasing the Cancer Answer."
Best Direction in a Documentary Program: Paul Nadler, "Braindamadj'd, Take II."
Best Direction in a Documentary Series: David Rabinovitch, "Secret Files of the Inquisition - Tears of Spain."
Best Direction in a Live Sporting Event: Paul Hemming, "2006 World Junior Hockey Championship: Gold Medal Game."
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series: Linden MacIntyre, "The Fifth Estate - Hail of Bullets."
Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series: Neil Docherty, "China Rises - Party Games."
Best Photography in an Information Program or Series: J.P. Locherer C.S.C., Damir Chytil C.S.C. - "Forensic Factor, Betrayed."
Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Series: Francois Dagenais C.S.C. - "No More Tears Sister."
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series: Aileen McBride - "CBC News: Marketplace, Chasing the Cancer Answer."
Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series: Howard Goldberg - "How William Shatner Changed the World."
Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series: Steve Cupani - "Extreme Weather: Wind and Water."
Best Original Music Score for a Documentary Program or Series: Bertrand Chenier - "Perreault Dancer."
Best News Magazine Segment: "CBC News: The National, Suzanne." Paul Kennedy, Eric Foss, Catherine McIsaac, Alex Shprintsen.
Best Reportage: "CBC News: The National," Patrick Brown.
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series: Peter Mansbridge, "CBC News: The National - Canada Votes: Your Turn With the Leaders."
Best Sports Play-by-Play or Analyst: Chris Cuthbert, Glen Suitor, "CFL on TSN: Wendy's CFL Live: Calgary at Saskatchewan."
Gemini Humanitarian Award: Beverly Thomson, CTV.
Academy Achievement Award: Bob Culbert, CTV.
Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism: Hana Gartner, CBC.
Outstanding Technical Achievement Award: OpenGear Multi-Definition/Multi-Function Terminal Equipment Platform.