TORONTO – The new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts played host to the fall 2007 launch of CTV’s programming lineup this afternoon.
"If it’s big, it’s on CTV," said Susanne Boyce, CTV president of programming and chair of the CTV Media Group. "With 16 returning Top 20 hits, we’ve taken a bulletproof schedule and made it stronger. We’ve strategically hand picked the most engaging new titles for the fall schedule, each delivering creative firepower both onscreen and off," she added. Boyce also confirmed that all of CTV’s fall prime-time schedule will be delivered in high definition.
In all, seven new programs (six dramas, one comedy) will join the CTV fall 2007 schedule. They are: Private Practice, the highly anticipated Grey’s Anatomy spin-off from Golden Globe winner Shonda Rhimes, starring Kate Walsh; Dirty Sexy Money, television’s hottest new prime-time soap starring Donald Sutherland, Peter Krause, William Baldwin and Jill Clayburgh; Big Shots, starring Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, Joshua Malina and Michael Vartan, about four businessmen on the make; Pushing Daisies, described by The New York Times as "the most talked-about new series of the fall for its striking look and unusual plotline"; Moonlight, a high concept drama about a vampire turned detective in modern society; Gossip Girl, a sexy new drama from acclaimed O.C. creator Josh Schwartz and billed as the most anticipated new series from the CW; and The Big Bang Theory, a new comedy about brainy best friends.
CTV has acquired the Canadian television rights to the riveting drama Without A Trace, starring Anthony Lapaglia and comedy Two And A Half Men, starring Charlie Sheen. Both programs had been on CanWest Global properties.
Together they join the CTV line-up that features: American Idol, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, Criminal Minds, CTV Evening News, Corner Gas, Desperate Housewives, Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, Medium, Law & Order SVU and more.
Boyce also announced that CTV has bought the Canadian broadcast rights to Live Earth, a worldwide event featuring nine concerts, over seven continents and airing around the world on July 7, 2007 with the BBC, NBC, Japan’s NHK, MSN and a host of other broadcasters.
Today’s announcement follows the latest BBM Nielsen audience data that said CTV will finish the 2006-2007 season "sweeping all three key advertiser demos (A18-34, A18-49 and A25-54) and total viewers in head-to-head national comparisons with all competitors," says its release.
Click here for the CTV releases and for more on the fall programming.
