Corus Entertainment Announces 2017/18 Specialty Lineup With a Dynamic Range of Powerhouse Programming and Perennial Favourites
Corus Specialty Leads in Blockbuster Entertainment with Premium New Dramas The Sinner, Absentia, Marvel's Runaways, Marvel's Cloak and Dagger, Valor, Knightfall, The Bold Type, and college-ish, Plus New Seasons of Highly-Acclaimed Series Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, Travelers, Supergirl, Mr. Robot, Outlander, and Vikings
Lifestyle Portfolio Boasts Hit Franchises The Bachelor Canada and Top Chef Canada Along with New and Returning Series From Network All-Stars Bryan Baeumler, Mike Holmes, Scott McGillivray, Sarah Richardson, and the Scott Brothers
Canada's Unrivaled Leader in Kids Content Unveils Family-Friendly Slate of Hit Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network Shows Fueling #1 Networks YTV, Treehouse, and Animation Station TELETOON, While Debuting More Disney Magic on its Exclusive Suite of Networks
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TORONTO, June 5, 2017 /CNW/ - Corus Entertainment announced today its spectacular slate of premium new programming and returning hits for the 2017/18 season across its powerful Specialty portfolio. Corus' expansive Specialty assets boast bold new series featuring Hollywood heavyweights, fascinating unscripted content from Canada's leading lifestyle experts, and an exceptional offering of original content across all genres that complement and fortify its suite of leading media brands.
Leading the industry in unscripted and scripted Specialty content, Corus is home to six of the Top 10 Specialty Entertainment networks* - HISTORY®, Showcase, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, and YTV – and remains the go-to destination for women's and kids' programming, with the Top 5 women's channels (W25-54) and the Top 5 kids' channels (K2-11)*.
"Corus is the undisputed leader in Specialty entertainment with a superior suite of brands, rich with original curated content, riveting unscripted series, captivating dramas, and outstanding kids' programs," said Barb Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Corus Entertainment. "Our diverse and compelling slate of hotly anticipated new series and returning hits further cement Corus' Specialty networks as premier destinations for ground-breaking and compelling content for all Canadians."
ENTERTAINMENT
Corus' impressive slate of programming includes new cutting-edge dramas and nail-biting thrillers, starring the hottest names in Hollywood, all debuting on HISTORY, Showcase, and W Network, the #1, #2, and #3 Specialty Entertainment networks (A25-54)*** this year, respectively.
Bolstering Showcase's outstanding lineup is the captivating new fall series, The Sinner. Executive produced by and starring Jessica Biel, the series follows a young mother (Biel) who is overcome by an inexplicable fit of rage and commits a startling act of violence, and to her horror has no idea why. Also debuting this fall, gripping new scripted drama Absentia stars Canadian Stana Katic (Castle) as an FBI agent who disappears without a trace and is declared dead, only to be found barely alive six years later with no memory of the years that have passed, and soon finds herself implicated in a new series of murders. Then, based on the comic book series, the all-new drama for 2018 is Marvel's Runaways, the story of six diverse teenagers who can barely stand each other but who must unite against a common foe – their parents. Also finding a home on the network is the fourth season of the Golden Globe®-winning series Transparent.
Signature hits returning to Showcase this fall include: season two of original time-travelling series and #1 new fall Specialty series**, Travelers, featuring an all-Canadian cast led by Eric McCormack and new this season, Enrico Colantoni; the third season of the suspenseful Golden Globe-winning hacker series Mr. Robot; and season three of Showcase's high-flying #1 show* Supergirl.
HISTORY celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with intriguing titles and the previously announced new, original series Bud Dynasty and Hunting Nazi Treasure. Executive produced by Oscar® and Golden Globe-nominee Jeremy Renner, new fall series Knightfall chronicles the mysterious but true accounts of the Knights Templar–the most powerful military order of the Middle Ages, entrusted with protecting the Holy Grail and harbouring secrets capable of destroying the Church. The corruption and bloodshed culminate later this year with the season five premiere of this year's #1 Specialty Entertainment program*** Vikings, in which Golden Globe-winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as warrior bishop, Heahmund.
Following the successful launch of The Bachelorette Canada on W Network, the #1 Specialty Entertainment network for women this year (W25-54)***, Jasmine Lorimer passes the roses over to a charming new gent searching for love as The Bachelor Canada debuts this fall. Continuing to bring in massive audiences to the network is the addition of fan-favourite and new, female-skewing scripted content this fall. The "droughtlander" comes to an end as the long-awaited third season of the timeless Golden Globe-nominated love story, Outlander, finds a new home on W Network. New serialized military drama and conspiracy thriller Valor stars Matt Barr (Hatfields & McCoys) and Christina Ochoa (Animal Kingdom) as elite U.S. Army helicopter pilots who find themselves torn between duty, honour and desire. The fourth season of Mozart in the Jungle debuts this year, followed by powerful new seasons of hit dramas The Good Fight, Nashville, and Imposters.
This summer, ABC Spark, Corus' millennial-focused network and home to hit dramas The Fosters and BEYOND, debuts new series The Bold Type, inspired by the life of former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, where three friends in New York City discover their own identity and explore their sexuality, delve into complex relationships, and experiment with fashion. Also slated to premiere on the network in 2018 are Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, following two teenagers Olivia Holt (Kickin' It) and Aubrey Joseph (The Night Of) from very different backgrounds who find themselves burdened and awakened to newly acquired superpowers; and college-ish, the spin-off of award-winning hit series black-ish, following the Johnson's eldest daughter Zoey (Yara Shahidi) as she heads off to college and quickly discovers that not everything goes her way once she leaves the nest. Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishburne (black-ish) serve as executive producers for the series.
LIFESTYLE
Corus' extraordinary lineup of standout Lifestyle content is anchored by hugely successful franchises and proven formats, programming that reinforces the company's dominance with female audiences, and celebrated homegrown talent that resonate with loyal fans. Following a show-stopping All-Stars edition, Top Chef Canada returns in spring 2018 for a sixth season to Food Network Canada, as a new crop of the country's most talented chefs go knife-to-knife in demanding culinary challenges. It's all a piece of cake this fall with freshly-baked Canadian original content: new series The Baker Sisters takes viewers on a guilt-free road trip to sample mouth-watering sweets from some of the best bakeries in North America; the one-hour special Bake It Possible! crowns the champion of Pillsbury and Betty Crocker's epic baking contest; and Canadian Screen Award-nominated celebrity chef Anna Olson showcases her baking mastery in a new season of Bake with Anna Olson. Two brand new series this year feature iconic Guy Fieri and Duff Goldman, respectively: in Guy's Family Road Trip, Guy and his family load up their RV for a family road trip to dig into America's signature dishes, landscapes and experiences; and in Dessert Games, Guy hands the keys to his grocery store over to dessert master Duff Goldman to remodel the store, restock the shelves and reinvent his 'Grocery Games' for chefs who like to walk on the sweeter side. Also new this fall is Bakers vs. Fakers, where amateur bakers show off their sweet skills and compete against professional chefs, and a new season of Worst Cooks In America: Celebrity Edition.
HGTV Canada's heavy-hitting hosts Mike Holmes and Scott McGillivray bring inspiring new series to the schedule this year, joined by fresh content from new personalities sure to be a hit with audiences. In the new fall series Holmes: Buy It Right, Mike Holmes applies his construction expertise and creative vision to help people search for their dream home. Also coming this fall is the new, breakout hit series Home Town, which premiered to record audiences on HGTV this spring in the U.S. The series follows a Southern couple passionate about restoring classic old homes in their quaint Mississippi town. Debuting in spring 2018 is new series Buyers Bootcamp featuring Scott McGillivray as he offers real-life opportunities for aspiring real estate investors to partner with him.
Two brand-new and several returning hit Canadian original series join the HGTV Canada schedule this year. Sarah Off the Grid delivers an unparalleled look into the life of famed interior designer Sarah Richardson this fall as she builds a dream home for her family on a remote property, and Worst to First introduces new talent to the network as forward-thinking contractors Mickey Fabbiano and Sebastian Sevallo help families transform diamond-in-the-rough houses into highly-coveted designer homes. New episodes of Property Brothers and Property Brothers: Buying and Selling also debut this fall, followed by brand new seasons of the network's #1 show (A25-54)* Bryan Inc. and Canadian Screen Award-nominated Masters of Flip later this year.
Coming soon to Lifetime, critically-acclaimed series UnREAL starring Shiri Appleby continues to push the limits with its highly anticipated season three premiere.
KIDS
As the #1 destination for kids' programming in Canada*, and home to the Top 20 programs for children, Corus is the undisputed leader in kids content year over year. At the helm of its powerful, family-friendly suite of children's networks is YTV, the #1 channel for K2-11* and home to the best animation and live-action series. The Zone, YTV's flagship after-school programming block kicks back weekdays from 4 p.m.– 6 p.m. ET/PT with countless new episodes of the most popular animated Nickelodeon series including SpongeBob SquarePants and The Loud House, followed by primetime family viewing with new episodes of Nickelodeon's best live-action series Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn, Henry Danger, Hunter Street, and Game Shakers. New original series added to YTV's 2017/18 schedule include Mysticons (Nelvana) and ReBoot: The Guardian Code. Read more about Corus' Canadian original slate HERE.
Treehouse, Canada's #1 preschool network (K2-6)*, ushers in fall with new episodes of the popular Nickelodeon series Rusty Rivets, and new episodes of the dynamic duo, Max & Ruby.
Animation domination continues on TELETOON with new seasons and episodes of beloved Cartoon Network series such as Ben 10, Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears, and Steven Universe. Plus, this fall, new series Hotel Transylvania: The Series, produced by Nelvana in association with Sony Pictures Animation, joins the action-packed weekend morning lineup on TELETOON.
Corus continues to bring the magic of Disney to families every day with its robust roster of new series and returning hits. The two fastest-growing kids networks in Canada*, Disney Channel and Disney Junior, set the stage with highly-anticipated premieres. Disney Channel kicks off summer with the premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants 2 and the return of everyone's favourite psychic in the new series, Raven's Home. Rounding out the schedule are new seasons from the coming-of-age series Andi Mack and brave new heroine, Elena of Avalor. Disney Junior welcomes an unusual but friendly face to its lineup with the new preschool series Vampirina. Then, the franchise-classic DuckTales returns to Disney XD in a new series starring David Tennant and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Sources:
* Numeris PPM data, Total Canada, SP'17 std (Jan2/17-May7/17) confirmed data, Canadian Commercial Specialty English channels ex.sports channels, Mo-Su 2a-2a, AMA (000), A25-54 unless otherwise noted, program rankers based on 3+ airings / kid rankers based on kids channels only (including non-commercial channels)
**Numeris PPM Data, Total Canada FL'16 (Aug29/16 – Jan1/17) – confirmed data, Mo-Su 2a-2a, AMA (000), Canadian Commercial Specialty English, ex.sports channels. A18-49 and A18-34, program rankers based on 3+ airings
***Numeris PPM Data, Total Canada, Broadcast YTD (8/29/2016 - 5/7/2017) – confirmed data, Mo-Su 2a-2a, AMA (000), Canadian Commercial Specialty English, ex.sports. A25-54 and A18-49 unless otherwise noted, program rankers based on 3+ airings
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About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that creates and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. The company's portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses 45 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a global content business, digital assets, live events, children's book publishing, animation software, technology and media services. Corus' roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Canada, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, National Geographic, Q107, CKNW, Fresh Radio, Disney Channel Canada, YTV and Nickelodeon Canada. Visit Corus at www.corusent.com.
SOURCE Corus Entertainment Inc.
please contact: Michelle McTeague, Publicity Manager, General Entertainment and Kids Content, Corus Entertainment, 416.966.7724, [email protected]; Catrina Jaricot, Publicity Manager, Women and Lifestyle Content, Corus Entertainment, 416.479.6397, [email protected]
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