TORONTO – Canada’s LGBTQ network OUTtv is joining forces with Bell Media's streamer Crave on the Canadian adaptation of popular U.S. reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Produced by Blue Ant Studios in association with Crave, the 10 episode, one-hour series Drag Race Canada will be available on both Crave and OUTtv. Casting begins this summer and production is set to begin this fall in Ontario. The show’s host and judges will be announced at a later date.
OUTtv Network CEO Brad Danks told Cartt.ca that the partnership will expand the reach of RuPaul’s Drag Race plus give Canadian drag performers the platform to showcase their talent.
“Partnering with Crave will allow the show (RuPaul’s Drag Race) to tap into a much wider audience and reach the screens of those who may not otherwise see it,” he said. “At OUTtv we pride ourselves on being the home for drag content in Canada, with shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Boulet Brothers Dragula, House of Drag and many more new shows in development. We are excited to share our love of drag with a bigger mainstream audience through our partnership with Crave. We guarantee this new audience will be saying ‘Shantay you stay’ to RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Crave and OUTtv will also screen future seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race day-and-date with the U.S. broadcasts, new series RuPaul's Drag Race UK, as well as all past seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
“As Canada’s only homegrown major streaming service, Crave strives to represent all Canadians and we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the Canadian drag community and their contribution to LGBTQ2+ culture,” added Bell Media’s premium SVOD and OTT VP Justin Stockman. “This is an important franchise that has brought drag from niche to mainstream, and we can’t wait to extend the Drag Race runway all the way into Canada.”
