CTV's New Original Music Series THE LAUNCH Joins Forces with First Music Partner, iHeartRadio Canada

– iHeartRadio Canada stations and streaming service poised to throw the full weight of its expansive marketing and promotional power behind THE LAUNCH's new, original songs  immediately following the conclusion of each episode –
– CTV to announce the names of the 30 artists featured in the inaugural season of THE LAUNCH this month – 

To tweet this release: http://bmpr.ca/2z9wuBb

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - With the hotly anticipated inaugural season of CTV's original music series and international TV format THE LAUNCH approaching, CTV confirmed today its first official music partnership with iHeartRadio Canada. The partnership paves the way for each week's original song to debut on iHeartRadio's expansive footprint of Top 40, Hot AC, and AC stations, as well as its signature streaming service, immediately following the conclusion of each episode.

Each new, original song featured weekly in THE LAUNCH will secure regular rotation on iHeartRadio stations, with the newly launched artist behind the chosen song appearing on iHeartRadio morning shows across Canada. Leveraging the collective weight of its digital and social assets to introduce each week's new song to music fans throughout the country, the partnership furthers iHeartRadio's commitment to maximize the promotional campaign supporting each song and artist.

"There is no better place for music's next original, chart-topping songs to live than on iHeartRadio Canada," said Rob Farina, Head of Radio Content, Strategy, & iHeartRadio. "As the excitement intensifies leading up to the premiere of THE LAUNCH, we are thrilled to align with this amazing new series, and look forward to serving iHeartRadio's die-hard music and pop culture fans, listeners, and followers with the latest new music and behind-the-scenes movements of each newly launched artist."

Beginning in early November, Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast will be introduced over three days on CTV.ca/TheLaunch to the 30 aspiring artists selected to participate in the new six-part, hour-long series. The 30 talented artists slated to appear in THE LAUNCH were hand-picked from among more than 10,000 emerging performers following an international casting call and completion of an extensive A&R and review process.

Earlier this month, THE LAUNCH was successful in garnering extensive international attention at MIPCOM, showcasing the all-new international format from Bell Media and world-renowned music mogul Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of Big Machine Label Group. Reinventing the music competition series genre, THE LAUNCH debuts a new and unique format, documenting an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to break a new artist and bring a song to life.

Created for markets around the world, in each close-ended, hour-long episode of THE LAUNCH, five unsigned emerging artists audition for the opportunity to record and perform a new original song, mentored by a panel of internationally renowned music industry legends – from discovery to stardom in just 48 hours.

The inaugural edition of THE LAUNCH, created for CTV, Canada's #1 private broadcaster, recently wrapped production and will premiere on the network in early 2018.

THE LAUNCH was put into development in January 2016. The series was co-developed by and is produced by Bell Media in association with Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Label Group, Paul Franklin of Eureka (MASTERCHEF, THE BIGGEST LOSER), in partnership with John Brunton and Lindsay Cox of Insight Productions (THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, CANADIAN IDOL, THE JUNO AWARDS).

THE LAUNCH is executive produced by Scott Borchetta, Randy Lennox and John Brunton; Lindsay Cox and Paul Franklin are Showrunners and Executive Producers; Executive Producers for Bell Media are Robin Johnston and Corrie Coe, who is also Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media. Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming, Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Twitter:
@iHeartRadioCA 
@BellMediaPR 
@bigmachine 
@CTV_PR 
@CTV_Television
@insightprod
@TheLaunchCTV

Facebook:
iHeartRadio Canada 
www.facebook.com/CTV 
www.facebook.com/TheLaunchCTV

Instagram:
iHeartRadioCA 
@TheLaunchCTV 
@CTV_PR 
@ctv_television

Website:
www.ctv.ca/TheLaunch

About iHeartRadio Canada
iHeartRadio, a best-in-class customizable digital listening experience and live events brand, is now in Canada through a partnership between Bell Media and iHeartMedia. A leader in innovative radio programming throughout Canada, Bell Media features the country's most dynamic, popular, and respected radio brands, including Toronto's CHUM FM, Canada's #1 FM station for A18-54 and the ÉNERGIE group in Québec, as well as international brands like Virgin Radio. As of Fall 2017, the iHeartRadio Canada app is approaching 1.2 million downloads. Reaching 17.8 million Canadians each week (total radio audience), iHeartRadio Canada has 13 million hours streamed each month.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 16 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.

SOURCE CTV

For more information on iHeartRadio, please contact: Jesse Wanagas, 416.384.3193 or [email protected]; Adam Slinn, 416.384.2139 or [email protected]; Amanda Rinaldo, 416.384.5325 or [email protected]; For more information on THE LAUNCH, please contact: Natalie Cole, THE LAUNCH Unit Publicist, [email protected] or 416.580.7741; Matthew Almeida, CTV, [email protected] or 416.384.2629; Patricia Garcia, CTV, [email protected] or 416.384.2645