TORONTO – Canadians will be able to learn more about women with next month’s rebrand of Canadian Learning Television to Viva by channel owner Corus Entertainment.
Aimed at women in the 40-64 age bracket, the channel re-launches on Monday, November 3 with the exclusive Canadian premiere of the U.K. series Lost in Austen.
Viva joins the company’s portfolio of women’s specialty television channels, including Cosmopolitan TV and W Network. And, as an analog specialty channel, it has wide distribution across the country already with over 5.1 million subscribers. Corus acquired CLT from CTVglobemedia earlier this year for $73 million, as reported by Cartt.ca.
“We are excited about introducing Canadians to Viva, a service that will provide boomer women with the kind of programming that reflects who they are and where they are at this time in their lives. VIVA is going to be a unique television proposition for women who are exploring new passions, celebrating new freedoms and who have a thirst for life-long learning,” said Susan Ross, executive vice-president and general manager, specialty and pay television, Corus Entertainment, in the press release. “With the addition of VIVA to our portfolio of women’s specialty channels which include CosmoTV and W Network, Corus now has a comprehensive range of services for women of all ages and stages.”
The programming is to focus on intelligent dramas, critically-acclaimed films and contemporary lifestyle programming, added the release. Key to the launch schedule is Lost in Austen, a four-part tale of a woman who worships the novels of Jane Austen and is suddenly transported one day to the world of Pride and Prejudice, swapping places with Elizabeth Bennet. Each episode will be followed by a classic Jane Austen movie, starting with Sense and Sensibility, then Mansfield Park, Emma and Pride and Prejudice on the following Sundays.
The weeknight political drama strip is headed by Commander in Chief, the short-lived series which starred Geena Davis as the president of the United States, at 8 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays.
A slate of new Canadian original programming for VIVA is currently in production and will join the schedule in early 2009, said the company.
