TORONTO – On a programming roll, CTV revealed its plans for the 2005-2006 television season today at the Network’s Upfront Presentation.
Held at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, the announcement was led by Ivan Fecan, president and CEO of Bell Globemedia and CEO of CTV Inc., who revisited the past year in television – the most successful year yet under Fecan’s leadership, crows the press release.
Fecan presented a list of achievements for CTV: a year that saw CTV not just keep, but grow its lead over all competitors finishing No. 1 in prime-time in total viewers and three key selling demographics (Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54); a year that saw CTV win all seven nights (up from five last year); a year that saw CTV capture 18 of Canada’s Top 20 most-watched programs (up from 14 last year), including. There were several others, too.
One year ago, Fecan announced CTV had claimed a new ratings beachhead, becoming the No. 1 broadcaster in the A18-34 demo in addition to its established leads in total viewers, A18-49 and A25-54. He went on to promise to widen the gulf between itself and its competitors.
“Confirmation came today that CTV had done just that as Fecan revealed that the past 52 weeks shows audience growth in all demos for CTV while its major competitor’s audience continued to decline. The result: CTV’s total prime-time audience levels (AMA, 2+, 1.4M) finished a staggering 79 per cent higher than its closest competitor (Global, 779,000). In A18-34, CTV audiences finished 50 per cent better; In A18-49, CTV audience finished 63 per cent ahead; and in A25-54 CTV audiences finished a staggering 71 per cent higher than Global,” says the CTV release.
Following Fecan, CTV president of programming and chair of the CTV Media Group Susanne Boyce unveiled the next chapter in CTV’s story – the fall 2005 TV lineup.
The schedule includes five key acquisitions. They are: CLOSE TO HOME, the Bruckheimer legal drama starring Canadian Jennifer Finnigan; the chilling INVASION from famed writer/executive producer Shaun Cassidy and multiple Emmy Award-winning director Thomas Schlamme starring
Eddie Cibrian (Third Watch), William Fichtner (Black Hawk Down) and Canadian Kari Matchett (Plague City, SARS in Toronto); GHOST WHISPERER starring Jennifer Love Hewitt; INCONCEIVABLE, starring Ming Na (ER) and Jonathan Cake; and TWINS, from Emmy Award-winning producers David Kohan & Max Mutchnick (Will & Grace) starring Sara Gilbert (Roseanne) and Melanie Griffith (Working Girl).
CTV also announced today eight titles for its midseason line-up (5 U.S. pick-ups, 3 New Canadian series). From the U.S.: CRUMBS, starring Fred Savage; IN JUSTICE, starring Jason O’Mara (The Agency) and Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Sex and the City), reality series THE MIRACLE WORKERS; THE EVIDENCE, a character-based drama from John Wells (The West Wing, ER); and WHAT ABOUT BRIAN from acclaimed executive producer JJ Abrams (Lost, Alias). The three new Canadian scripted midseason series are WHISTLER, a one-hour drama set on the breathtaking slopes of Whistler, BC; ALICE I THINK, based on the wildly popular, critically acclaimed books by Susan Juby about a quirky teenager, and her equally unique and dysfunctional family; and JEFF LTD., starring Gemini winning Best Actor Jeff Seymour as a megalomaniac marketing "genius" whose hilariously warped touch turns everything to gold, except for the world of women.
The new additions join a championship line-up for CTV that features returning Top 20 series like American Idol, Desperate Housewives, Corner Gas, Cold Case, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Medium, the Law and Order franchise, The Amazing Race, The O.C., The Simple Life and more
