SASKATOON – The JUNOs have played in a lot of regions, but never Saskatchewan. That will change in 2007.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), along with broadcast partner CTV, today announced that the ’07 JUNO Awards will be in Saskatchewan for the first time ever. Saskatoon will be the primary site for many of the events taking place over the course of the three-day music industry celebration weekend, March 30 – April 1, 2007.
"We’re thrilled to bring Canada’s largest annual celebration of music to the heartland of the country,” Melanie Berry, president of CARAS told a packed crowd at a press conference held here today. “We anticipate the spotlight will be shining brightly on the vibrant Saskatchewan artistic community in 2007.
"As we’ve moved The JUNO Awards across the country we’ve expanded many of the events and added new ones,” added Berry. “The JUNO Awards have become much more than an awards show attracting industry and international attention. The fans in each city truly connect with both the artists and the music — and the demand grows stronger every year.”
“Since 2002, CTV’s goal in showcasing The JUNO Awards has been to let viewers at home experience the energy of the live musical spectacle unique to each host city year after year,” said Susanne Boyce, CTV’s president of programming and chair of the CTV Media Group. “We know that Saskatoon will deliver a party on the Prairies, so we’ll make sure that The 2007 JUNO Awards broadcast captures the same Saskatchewan spirit in a way that Canadians everywhere can share in the excitement.”
In April 2005, 1.34 million viewers watched The 2005 JUNO Awards from Winnipeg on CTV. In all, more than 5.7 million Canadians tuned in to watch some part of the show – an increase of almost half a million viewers compared to the 2004 broadcast – making it once again the most-watched Canadian awards telecast.
CTV will broadcast the 2006 JUNO Awards from Halifax on April 2, 2006.
In 2007, as in the previous five years, CTV will utilize its entire slate of cross-promotional resources to support the broadcast, including a glittering red carpet pre-show. CTV also confirmed today that it plans to present The 2007 JUNO Awards in High Definition and 5.1 Surround Sound.
