BELL MEDIA specialty channels NEWS & SCHEDULES 2017

[mtlguy]

Same as my Corus thread this can be use for all news and schedules related to Bell Media specialty channels

[mtlguy]

Got something for Space, Stan Lee's Lucky Man season 2 starts on Monday March 6th at 10pm.

[lostjon]

Got something for Space, Stan Lee's Lucky Man season 2 starts on Monday March 6th at 10pm.

Thanks for the post - I noticed the news on Space's Facebook page.

On that note, they will be running a catch-up marathon of Season 1 with the first five episodes airing this Saturday (Feb 25) and the final five episodes next Saturday (March 4) starting at 3:00pm.

Season 2 premiered in the UK this evening on Sky 1 so we'll only be delayed by no more than two episodes this time around.

Suddenly, Monday evenings are so jam-packed with original programming! Gotta find a way to add this show to my PVR.

[sherds]

Wonderful. We enjoyed season 1 and i just finished watching Nesbitt on the 2016 version of Cold Feet on Vision TV.(Gotta run to find the wd40 to see if i can get this bracelet off)

[mtlguy]

Season 3 of US TV Land's Younger will start on E! on March 12th @ 10pm

[lostjon]

Season 3 of US TV Land's Younger will start on E! on March 12th @ 10pm

E! original series The Arrangement is scheduled to air in that timeslot for the U.S. That would partly explain the decision to move it over to Bravo. I previously thought Bravo had aired the third season of Younger at the same time as TV Land in the U.S. but I suppose they must have been reruns from the first or second seasons (which aired on M3 and E! in Canada respectively), serving nothing more than time fillers following the extended episodes of Project Runway (airing on Lifetime in the U.S.) last fall.

The Arrangement premieres on Bravo in Canada on Wednesday, March 8 at 10:00pm (three nights after the U.S. series premiere on E! airing Sunday, March 5 at 10:00pm).

[CDN Viewer]

The Arrangement premieres on Bravo in Canada on Wednesday, March 8 at 10:00pm (three nights after the U.S. series premiere on E! airing Sunday, March 5 at 10:00pm).

It also premieres March 14 @ 9pm on E! Canada- what's the point of airing it simultaneously on 2 channels?!

[sherds]

Season 3 of US TV Land's Younger will start on E! on March 12th @ 10pm

E! is also showing a marathon of season 2 on Sunday March 5.

[mtlguy]

Underground season 2 starts April 13th, Thursday @ 10pm

[mtlguy]

REELZ's The Kennedys After Camelot is slated for Bravo. Not info on date and time.

Edit: That's April 16 & 23rd at 9pm

[mtlguy]

Bravo (and Crave) will air Hulu's Than Handmaid's Tale from April 30th at 9pm

http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/bra...ely-in-canada/

[lostjon]

Wynonna Earp moves from CHCH to Space. Space will air all 13 episodes from Season 1 starting on Saturday, April 15 at 10:00pm following the season premiere of Doctor Who. For that night only, it will be back-to-back episodes. It is also available for streaming on Netflix as of April 1.

Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on Space later this summer. Variety is reporting the premiere date to be Friday, June 9 on Syfy in the U.S.

Source:
http://www.space.ca/wynonna-earp-space/
http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/...ll-1202018566/

Official Press Release: http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/can...ring-april-15/

[lostjon]

Several premiere dates and airtimes for Bravo:

Pretty Little Liars (season 7B) - Tuesday, April 18 at 8:00pm

Famous in Love (series premiere) - Tuesday, April 18 at 9:00pm

Underground (season 2) - Monday, April 24 at 9:00pm

Chance (Hulu original - series premiere) - Sunday, May 7 at 10:00pm

Source: http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/thi...after-camelot/

[lostjon]

Several premiere dates and airtimes for Space:

Dark Matter (season 3) - Friday, June 9 at 8:00pm (back-to-back episodes; regular timeslot June 16 at 9:00pm)

Blood Drive (series premiere) - Wednesday, June 14 at 10:00pm

Killjoys (season 3) - Friday, June 30 at 8:00pm

All series will air at the same time as Syfy.

Source: http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/spa...ing-this-june/

Additional note: Space will run two episodes of Wynonna Earp season 1 every Saturday beginning April 15 at 10:00pm. This will allow them to air Season 2 on the same day and date with Syfy. It was recently announced that the season premiere will be on Friday June 9 at 10:00pm.

[mtlguy]

Some dates for Bravo summer, highly subject to change if I base this on previous dates announce on their Media site.

19-2
Sunday July 30th 8pm

Claws
Wednesday July 12th 10pm

Daytime Divas
Monday June 5th 10pm

Queen of the South
Tuesday July 18th 9pm

Queen Sugar
Monday July 3rd 9pm

Shooter
Tuesday July 18th 10pm

Suits
Wednesday July 12th 9pm

A bit weird to have 19-2 on Sunday 8pm, a bit early...might be a typo ;)

[InMontreal]

Bell Media Secures Specialty Pick-Ups PHILIP K. DICK’S ELECTRIC DREAMS, KRYPTON, and LIFE SENTENCE at L.A. Screenings
http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/bel...-a-screenings/


Bell grabbed Channel 4/Amazon's Electric Dreams for Bravo, Syfy's Krypton for Space, and The CW's Life Sentence for Bravo. These are all expected to air winter 2018.

[lostjon]

Here are the full synopses of the new series:

PHILIP K. DICK’S ELECTRIC DREAMS (Fall, 10 x :60, Bravo)

PHILIP K. DICK’S ELECTRIC DREAMS is a 10-episode sci-fi anthology series featuring pointed, thrilling stand-alone episodes each inspired by Philip K. Dick’s renowned shorts stories as adapted by leading British and American writers including Ronald D. Moore, Michael Dinner (JUSTIFIED), Tony Grisoni (Red Riding, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Jack Thorne (NATIONAL TREASURE, SKINS, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Matthew Graham (Life on Mars, DOCTOR WHO), David Farr (THE NIGHT MANAGER), Dee Rees (Mudbound), and Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim). Talent featured in the series include Steve Buscemi, Richard Madden, Anna Paquin, Terrence Howard (EMPIRE), Greg Kinnear, Timothy Spall, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Mirelle Enos (World War Z), Anne Reid (CORONATION STREET), Tuppence Middleton (The Imitation Game), Holliday Grainger (THE BORGIAS), Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures) and Juno Temple (VINYL). Moore and Maril Davis of Tall Ship Productions and Michael Dinner of Rooney McP Productions are executive producing alongside Bryan Cranston and James Degus of Moonshot Entertainment, Isa Dick Hackett, Kalen Egan and Christopher Tricarico of Electric Shepherd Productions, David Kanter and Matt DeRoss of Anonymous Content Entertainment, Lila Rawlings and Marigo Kehoe of Left Bank Pictures, Don Kurt and Kate DiMento in association with Sony Pictures Television.


LIFE SENTENCE (2018, 13 x :60, Bravo)

LIFE SENTENCE follows Lucy Hale (PRETTY LITTLE LIARS) as Stella, a girl who has spent the last eight years living like she was dying (because she was). Just like the “manic pixie dream girl” heroines in her favorite sappy cancer movies, Stella traveled the world, faced her darkest fears and found true love on a whirlwind trip to Paris. But when Stella finds out that her cancer has been cured, she is suddenly forced to face the long-term consequences of the “live in the moment” decisions she made, including marrying a total stranger. And if that’s not enough, she also finds out that her “perfect family” isn’t so perfect after all. Turns out, because she was dying, everyone in her life hid their problems from her. But, now that she’s well, all bets are off. Stella is shocked to learn that her parents, Dylan Walsh (NIP/TUCK) as Peter and Gillian Vigman (The Hangover) as Ida, have fallen out of love, partly because Peter spent their retirement helping Stella make the most of her final days, and partly because Ida has fallen in love with her best friend Claudia Rocafort (BURN NOTICE) as (Stella’s godmother), Poppy. Also, it turns out Stella may be responsible for the fact that her sister, Brooke Lyone (THE AFFAIR) as Elizabeth, gave up her own dreams to take care of Stella and start a family with her husband Carlos PenaVega (BIG TIME RUSH) as Diego, just to give her parents something positive to focus on. Then there’s Stella’s often overlooked brother, Jayson Blair (WHIPLASH) as Aiden, who’s pushing 30 and still lives above the garage, sells Adderall to soccer moms and uses Stella’s cancer to guilt them into sleeping with him. And, of course, there’s her husband Elliot Knight as (ONCE UPON A TIME) Wes, a handsome Londoner who she agreed to spend the rest of her life with, thinking that would only be six to eight months, tops. Now that their forever just got a whole lot longer than they were expecting, Wes begins to worry that he can’t continue to pretend to be her perfect husband for the rest of his life. With a real future suddenly in front of her, Stella’s cinematic life snaps into reality, and instead of living like she’s dying, she will have to learn to live like she’s living, and help her family and friends do the same. This multi-generational, coming-of-age story proves that we all end up living somewhere between our dreams and reality… and maybe that’s okay. From Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, with executive producers Erin Cardillo (FULLER HOUSE) Richard Keith (FULLER HOUSE), Bill Lawrence (SCRUBS), Jeff Ingold (GROUND FLOOR), Oliver Goldstick (PRETTY LITTLE LIARS) and Lee Toland Krieger (RIVERDALE).


KRYPTON (2018, 13 x :60, Space)

Set two generations before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel’s home planet, KRYPTON follows Superman’s grandfather (Cameron Cuffe, THE HALYCON, Florence Foster Jenkins) whose House of El was ostracized and shamed — as he fights to redeem his family’s honor and save his beloved world from chaos. Based on DC characters, KRYPTON is from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and is executive produced by David S. Goyer (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Dark Knight trilogy) through his Phantom Four banner. Damian Kindler (SLEEPY HOLLOW) will serve as executive producer and showrunner. In addition to Cuffe, KRYPTON stars Georgina Campbell (BROADCHURCH), Elliot Cowan (Da Vinci’s Demons), Ann Ogbomo (World War Z), Rasmus Hardiker (Your Highness), Wallis Day (WILL), Aaron Pierre (Tennison) with Ian McElhinney (GAME OF THRONES). The pilot teleplay was written by Goyer and Kindler, from a story by Ian Goldberg (ONCE UPON A TIME, TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES) & Goyer, with Colm McCarthy (PEAKY BLINDERS) serving as director and co-executive producer. KRYPTON is based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC.

The three series join Bell Media’s lineup of exclusive upcoming specialty programming including big buzz series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY starring Sonequa Martin-Green (Space); the upcoming post-THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH series, starring current DAILY SHOW correspondent, Jordan Klepper (Comedy); the next chapter in the Kardashian opus, LIFE OF KYLIE (E!), premiering Thursday, July 6 at 10 p.m. ET; and unscripted series SIESTA KEY coming to MTV later this year.

Bell Media also confirmed today the pick-up of post STAR TREK: DISCOVERY companion after-show, TALKING TREK for Space.

[lostjon]

Canada’s Best Original Content Lives Here: Bell Media Studios Announces 2017/18 Original Productions

- Bell Media delivers 39 new and returning original Canadian series and specials, plus six in-house productions for 2017/18 slate -

- Bell Media Original Programming series THE DETAIL, THE DISAPPEARANCE, and THE INDIAN DETECTIVE, join Bell Media Studios’ SHEMAR MOORE’S HOME INVASION and music series THE LAUNCH featuring mentors Fergie and Ryan Tedder on CTV -

- New social-media-first series SIDES* joins Bell Media Studios in-house production lineup, including ETALK, THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW, THE SOCIAL, YOUR MORNING, and INNERSPACE -

- Discovery announces the exclusive Season 2 premiere of FRONTIER on Oct. 18, joining flagship program DAILY PLANET to headline fall schedule; adds three new homegrown series for 2017/18: HELLFIRE HEROES, LAST STOP GARAGE, and ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD -

- Comedy’s satirical news series THE BEAVERTON greenlit for Season 2; CORNER GAS ANIMATED coming to Comedy in 2018 -

- The Tragically Hip documentary to debut on CTV in Fall 2017 -

June 7, 2017

TORONTO (June 7, 2017) – In advance of the #CTVUpfront, Bell Media’s newly minted independent and in-house production arm Bell Media Studios confirmed today its slate of new and returning, English-language, original entertainment programming. With 19 new original programs to be produced in partnership with independent production companies or autonomously, Bell Media will introduce more new original series for the upcoming broadcast year than any year in recent memory. The company plans to spend nearly $900M overall on French and English programming in 2017/18.

“Through collaborations with Canada’s incredible independent production community or via our own production teams, Bell Media Studios proudly represents Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programs,” said Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media. “These productions are brand builders and often brand pillars for us, offering a Canadian perspective not only to Canadians, but also to the world.”

More Canadians make Bell Media original programs their choice for homegrown viewing than any other media company. As Canada’s most-watched network in primetime for 16 years in a row, CTV is home to:

• the country’s most-watched new Canadian program this year and a Top 10 new series among total viewers, CARDINAL;
• the Top 2 Canadian series among key viewing demos, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and MASTERCHEF CANADA, with THE AMAZING RACE CANADA reigning as the most-watched Canadian series overall for the fourth year in a row;
• MASTERCHEF CANADA, climbing in its 4^th season to become a Top 10 series in Canada, and growing 13% in the A18-34 demo;
• the top Canadian programs in daytime, Bell Media Studio’s THE SOCIAL and THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW;
• and the most-viewed Canadian entertainment news program, ETALK.

Making Bell Media the home of the most-watched scripted and unscripted Canadian series premieres for entertainment specialties this year, Discovery’s debut of HEAVY RESCUE: 401 in January was the #1 original Canadian series launch of the season on entertainment specialty, followed by Discovery’s debut of scripted series FRONTIER. Discovery is also home to the most-watched unscripted specialty series in Canada among A18-34 and A18-49, CANADA’S WORST DRIVER.


New Bell Media Original Series and Specials for 2017/18:

Drama

• Starring Shanae Grimes-Beech as street smart Detective Jacqueline ‘Jack’ Cooper, Angela Griffin as Detective Stevie Hall, a sharp quick-witted interrogator who is Jack’s mentor, and Wendy Crewson as Staff Inspector Fiona Currie, the homicide unit’s formidable boss, THE DETAIL (CTV) centers on three fiercely talented female homicide investigators who work tirelessly to solve crimes while navigating the complicated demands of their personal lives (ICF Films/eOne; 10 x :60).
• New six-part mystery series THE DISAPPEARANCE (CTV) follows the Sullivan family in the wake of a tragic event. As the fractured family bands together to solve the puzzle that has uprooted their lives, long-held secrets are uncovered. Starring Peter Coyote as retired judge and prosecutor Henry Sullivan; Aden Young as Luke Sullivan, Henry’s son, and a scruffy, soulful musician; Joanne Kelly as Catherine Sullivan, Henry’s daughter and Luke’s sister, and a funny, devoted palliative care nurse; Camille Sullivan as Helen Murphy Sullivan, Luke’s ex-wife, a microbiologist, and devoted mother; Micheline Lanctôt as Susan Bowden, a tough, experienced Lieutenant-Detective; and Kevin Parent as Sergeant-Detective Charles Cooper, and Susan’s partner (Productions Casablanca/NBCUniversal International Studios; 6 x :60).

Comedy

• Equal doses fish-out-of-water comedy and high-stakes drama, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE (CTV) stars comic Russell Peters as a suspended Toronto police officer drawn into solving a murder case in India (Big Light Productions/Blue Ice Pictures/Wonder Films; 4 x :60).
• Life in Dog River is about to get a lot more animated! Re-imagined by CORNER GAS creator and star Brent Butt and slated to premiere in 2018, the all-new CORNER GAS ANIMATED (Comedy) series delivers its revered brand of comedy, but this time in an animated Dog River where anything is possible (Prairie Pantoons/Moving Mountoons; 13 x :30).

Reality

• Reinventing the music genre, new original series and format THE LAUNCH (CTV) delivers an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a series of hit songs as a group of unsigned musicians are mentored in the process by a panel of international hit makers. The series showcases a mix of vibrant voices and mic-drop moments during the creation of the next chart-topping song. Featuring world-renowned record executive Scott Borchetta, Bell Media confirmed today that international recording artists Fergie and Ryan Tedder will join the series as mentors (Bell Media Studios/Big Machine Label Group/Eureka/ Insight Productions; 6 x :60).

Factual

• LAST STOP GARAGE (Discovery) follows the often hilarious antics of CRB Automotive, the sole auto repair shop at the end of the only road left before hitting the most remote North American wilderness (Proper Television, 12 x :30) .
• ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD (Discovery) takes viewers on an action-packed journey to discover an extraordinary Canadian way of life, meeting anyone from off-gridders whose sole source of resupply is the rail, to the hardy crews who do whatever it takes to keep these extreme railroads running (Cineflix Productions, 8 x :60).
• Character-driven docuseries HELLFIRE HEROES (Discovery) gets up-close-and-personal with firefighters who’ll do just about anything to keep their community safe in the bullseye of forest fire danger zone, the remote Slave Lake, Alta. (Pixcom, 10 x :60).

Documentaries

• Coming this fall to CTV is the new Tragically Hip documentary, about Canada’s beloved band, their challenging year, and their momentous cross-Canada Man Machine Poem tour.This highly anticipated CTV Feature Presentation chronicles the emotional and epic lead up to the iconic group’s now-legendary 2016 tour that captured the heart of the nation (Banger Films).
• As its final act, Cassini – the largest interplanetary spacecraft NASA has ever built – will dive into Saturn’s atmosphere, collecting unprecedented science to end its 13-year mission at the ringed jewel of the solar system. SATURN: INSIDE THE RINGS (Discovery) unveils the engineering of the mammoth spacecraft, and shines a light on the team that has made incredible discoveries at Saturn during the one-hour special (Exploration Production Inc. (EPI)).
• The world’s most infamous prison was also its most inescapable. But why? Many have tried to solve this mystery, but none have searched beneath the waves, until now. DRAIN ALCATRAZ (Discovery) uses cutting-edge CGI and sophisticated technology to “drain” the seas and scrub the sediments, revealing once and for all why Alcatraz was so difficult to escape (Northern Sky Entertainment).

Lifestyle

• Not the typical design series, SHEMAR MOORE’S HOME INVASION (CTV/Bravo) is a passion project for the star who loves to give back to those who have supported him. Each week, a lucky fan will be selected from Moore’s fan base to meet and spend time with their idol, and be surprised with a very special room make-over for a powerful, positive impact on their life. With his signature fun, flirty vibe, Moore works with his hand-picked team of designers and contractors to create a new environment to reflect not only the fan’s current style, but also help bring out new possibilities for them (Bell Media Studios/Insight Productions).
• In MINOR RENOVATIONS (Bravo), two young designers lead a team of contractors and trades to makeover one space in their clients’ home. The twist is the home owners have no idea that the designers are all tweens with an eye for design. Renovations include a master bedroom, backyard, and media room. (MGM Television/Highway Entertainment; 5 x :30).
• Original concept, retro-themed baking series FLOUR POWER (Gusto) helmed by newcomer Jessica McGovern, is a fun, playful, and super-stylish baking show that is all about sharing the love and joy of baking. From sweet cream pies to tiramisu, McGovern shows viewers just how easy it is to make these recipes at home (Gusto Worldwide Media; 13 x :30).
• FRESH MARKET DINNERS (Gusto) takes viewers on a fun road-trip to farmer’s markets across Ontario to discover local food products, before heading to a fabulous “glamping” site, where the audience is shown how to make irresistible, using the fresh ingredients (Gusto Worldwide Media; 10 x :30).
• Mouthwatering barbecue cookout series WATTS ON THE GRILL (Gusto) celebrates all things grilled. Beloved Gusto host Spencer Watts (FISH THE DISH) shows viewers how to barbecue like a pro, from sizzling steak, smoked chicken, and steamy seafood, to even flavourful fruit, veg, and breads (Gusto Worldwide Media; 13 x :30).

Specials

• Spectacular live events THE INVICTUS GAMES 2017 OPENING CEREMONY (CTV) and THE INVICTUS GAMES 2017 CLOSING CEREMONY (CTV) feature Canadian music superstars in celebration of Prince Harry’s movement to commemorate and honour ill, wounded, and injured soldiers.

Returning Bell Media Original Series Confirmed To Date for 2017/18:

Drama

• The fourth and final season of multiple award-winning, Montréal-based cop drama 19-2 (CTV/Bravo) (Sphère Media Plus/Echo Media).
• Based on best-selling crime novel Blackfly Season, Season 2 of critically acclaimed murder-mystery CARDINAL (CTV) is back with stars Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse (eOne/Sienna Films).
• Season 2 of international dramatic series FRONTIER (Discovery), starring Jason Momoa (Take the Shot Productions/ASAP Entertainment).
• Space’s most-watched original series of all time, the sci-fi adventure series KILLJOYS (Space) returns for a third season (Temple Street).
• Season 2 of supernatural, demon-hunting sensation WYNONNA EARP (Space) (SEVEN24 Films).
• Final season of highly acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK (Space) (Temple Street).

Bell Media also welcomes Canadian series DARK MATTER for a third season to the 2017/18 slate (Space) (Prodigy Pictures).

Comedy

• Half-hour satirical news sensation THE BEAVERTON (Comedy) has been greenlit for a second season (Pier 21 Films).
• Featuring the hottest names in comedy this fall is Season 5 of JFL: ALL ACCESS (Comedy). A sixth season of the original stand-up series goes into production this summer at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montréal (Just For Laughs Television).
• Cult hit LETTERKENNY (CraveTV) returns for a third season (New Metric Media/DHX Media).

Factual

• Internationally recognized winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best News or Information Series, DAILY PLANET (Discovery) returns for Season 23 (EPI).
• Entertaining and educational hit series, HIGHWAY THRU HELL (Discovery) returns for Season 6 (Great Pacific Media).
• Season 4 of MIGHTY PLANES (Discovery) (EPI).
• Long-time international favourite, HOW IT’S MADE (Discovery) returns for Season 30 (Productions Maj).
• Investigating the stories and science behind recent major crashes is MAYDAY (Discovery) Season 17 and Season 18 (Cineflix Productions).
• Discovery’s most-watched original series among key adult demos, CANADA’S WORST DRIVER (Discovery) enters its 13th season (Proper Television).
• Season 2 of TOUGHER THAN IT LOOKS (Discovery) starring CANADA’S WORST DRIVER’s Andrew Younghusband (Proper Television).
• Season 2 of this year’s most-watched Canadian program debut, HEAVY RESCUE: 401 (Discovery) (Great Pacific Media).
• Following the adventures of the jade-mining Bunce Family in northern B.C. is Season 4 of JADE FEVER (Discovery) (Omnifilm Entertainment).

Lifestyle

• Season 3 of original Canadian series and marquee production ONE WORLD KITCHEN (Gusto) (Gusto Worldwide Media).

Music Specials

• IHEARTRADIO MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS (Much/CTV)
• WE DAY 2017 (CTV/MTV)

Original Bell Media Studios Productions for 2017/18

SIDES*

• This fall, Bell Media Studios presents SIDES*, the first-ever Canadian social-media-first series. Created for youth by youth, as a place to explore all sides of topics and ideas that teens deem important, the weekly live talk show will have its premiere exclusively on social media, keeping the feed fresh all week long with a mix of produced and user-generated content across all social media channels. Positioned to be everywhere the SIDES* audience is – including TV – the best of the week will then be curated into a one-hour television broadcast called SIDES*XL (Much), mixing the unfiltered discussion from SIDES* with audience reactions and rants from social media. SIDES* passes the mic to the next generation, and lets them lead the conversation.

Daytime & Entertainment News

Producing some of Canada’s most-watched daily programs in-house, Bell Media Studios continues to offer a robust and unrivaled lineup of flagship programs, including:

• Kicking off CTV’s leading original daytime lineup, YOUR MORNING (CTV).
• The country’s #1 and #2 Canadian daytime series, THE SOCIAL (CTV) and THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW (CTV).
• Canada’s most-watched entertainment news program, ETALK (CTV).
• Genre entertainment series, INNERSPACE (Space) and its series of after-shows.

Source: http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/can...l-productions/

[lostjon]

New strategic partnership will see Bell Media sell a channel

Wow Unlimited Media and Bell announce kids and youth tie-up

TORONTO and VANCOUVER - Wow Unlimited Media and Bell Media announced late Wednesday they have entered into a term sheet where Wow will buy a Category B specialty service from Bell Media in exchange for equity in Wow.

The release didn’t name the channel in question and Wow declined to say which one it will be taking when asked by Cartt.ca, but the only two English language Category B channels Bell 100% owns are Comedy Gold and Investigation Discovery. (Its other cat Bs: ESPN Classic, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, Discovery Velocity, and LeafsTV are all co-owned with other partners)

"This strategic partnership will drive our planned multi-platform rollout of a new paradigm in entertainment for kids and youth across North America,” said Michael Hirsh, chairman and CEO of Wow, in a press release. “In addition, the support and collaborative efforts of Canada's leading media and telecommunication company will provide strong momentum to Wow's global expansion plans.”

"We are very excited about our strategic partnership with Wow and the opportunity to work with them in realizing their strategy of becoming a best in class international producer of kids and youth content," said Randy Lennox, president, Bell Media, in the release. "As part of our partnership, Bell Media will leverage Wow's programming for use across all of our platforms including linear television, CraveTV, and SnackableTV."

The transaction, says the release will be structured as an asset purchase and the companies have agreed that, as consideration for the acquisition of the CRTC broadcasting license relating to the Category B specialty service from Bell Media, Wow will issue 3,433,446 common voting shares in the capital of Wow to Bell Media at a deemed price of $2.00 per share for an aggregate acquisition price of $6,866,892, reads the release.

The agreement also says that after closing, Wow and Bell Media will partner on “the ongoing carriage of a Wow branded channel to replace the current branding of the Category B specialty service on Bell TV and related platforms, transitional services whereby Bell Media will provide various operational, transmission, studio and technology services to Wow, the supply of children's and other programming controlled by Wow for use by Bell Media on CraveTV and Snackable TV, and have agreed to collaborate and to jointly develop and produce content for the development and production of future programming,” adds the press release.

Wow, formerly Rainmaker Entertainment Inc., is a kids and youth animation business focusing on digital platforms and content. Its key assets include digital animation network, Frederator Networks, which consists of an animation production company Frederator Studios, as well as VOD channels on digital platforms; Hispanic animation network, Atomo Network, and Canadian animation production studios, Rainmaker Entertainment.

Source:
https://cartt.ca/article/new-strateg...a-sell-channel
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases...627083401.html

*****

I can't imagine Bell selling off any one of the Discovery specialty channels or Animal Planet at this time, given that their schedules are still updated on a routine basis with new programs and they are also available in HD. So it could come down to either ESPN Classic Canada or Comedy Gold, neither of which are broadcasting in HD and have essentially become channels that have run their course. It's been more than a year since ESPN Classic Canada was dropped from Bell Satellite TV - they could possibly keep it on the air until a point is reached to convert it to another feed for TSN.

[mtlguy]

Funny that they went through the trouble of doing everything not to name the channel. So maybe Comedy Gold? Investigation Discovery is too popular channel.

TSN just grabbed the English Canadians rights so they will need a new channel as they own the Senators local rights also and both would need to be on TSN eastern feed at the same time some nights