No one knew how many difficulties existed in the fictional town of Letterkenny when the show revolving around small-town hicks, hockey players and skids launched on Super Bowl Sunday 2016. As it turns out, there were enough “Letterkenny Problems” not only to change the lives of all those involved, but to transform the Canadian TV landscape.
When “Letterkenny” cracks open its final six-pack of episodes Dec. 25 on the Canadian streaming service Crave (and on Dec. 26 on Hulu), it ends an era that includes 74 episodes, seven specials, five live tours, branded clothing and booze, Canadian Screen Awards victories, and a spinoff, “Shoresy,” which wraps filming on its third season in Sudbury, Ont. this month.
The most impressive feat, however, may be in how a show with such specificity, from the vernacular to the sets, catapulted into mainstream pop culture and amassed loyal fanbases across Canada and the U.S.
“The more specific you get,...
When “Letterkenny” cracks open its final six-pack of episodes Dec. 25 on the Canadian streaming service Crave (and on Dec. 26 on Hulu), it ends an era that includes 74 episodes, seven specials, five live tours, branded clothing and booze, Canadian Screen Awards victories, and a spinoff, “Shoresy,” which wraps filming on its third season in Sudbury, Ont. this month.
The most impressive feat, however, may be in how a show with such specificity, from the vernacular to the sets, catapulted into mainstream pop culture and amassed loyal fanbases across Canada and the U.S.
“The more specific you get,...
- 12/23/2023
- by Amber Dowling
- Variety Film + TV
Home Reno Star Mike Holmes Seals Bell Media Partnership With Super Bowl ‘Holmes Family Effect’ Debut
Mike Holmes is making it right on his biggest scale yet.
The Canadian contractor and TV personality, whose personal motto promises to “make it right,” is preparing to unveil his latest renovation series, “Holmes Family Effect,” on Feb. 7 in the coveted post-Super Bowl timeslot. But it’s the platform his series is debuting on that has media watchers readjusting their own tool belts.
“Holmes Family Effect,” which debuts on Fox later this spring, marks Holmes’ debut on Canadian broadcaster CTV. Parent company Bell Media has been plotting Holmes’ splashy debut since 2019, when it announced the new partnership at its June upfront presentation. The alliance marked Holmes’ first break from HGTV Canada (owned by Bell Media competitor Corus Media) in 16 years. He first debuted on HGTV in 2003 with “Holmes on Homes.”
At HGTV Canada, Holmes starred in nine Canadian original series and specials, amassing more than 21 million Canadian viewers and solidifying...
The Canadian contractor and TV personality, whose personal motto promises to “make it right,” is preparing to unveil his latest renovation series, “Holmes Family Effect,” on Feb. 7 in the coveted post-Super Bowl timeslot. But it’s the platform his series is debuting on that has media watchers readjusting their own tool belts.
“Holmes Family Effect,” which debuts on Fox later this spring, marks Holmes’ debut on Canadian broadcaster CTV. Parent company Bell Media has been plotting Holmes’ splashy debut since 2019, when it announced the new partnership at its June upfront presentation. The alliance marked Holmes’ first break from HGTV Canada (owned by Bell Media competitor Corus Media) in 16 years. He first debuted on HGTV in 2003 with “Holmes on Homes.”
At HGTV Canada, Holmes starred in nine Canadian original series and specials, amassing more than 21 million Canadian viewers and solidifying...
- 2/5/2021
- by Amber Dowling
- Variety Film + TV
Top Canadian broadcaster Bell Media has launched a management restructuring to streamline its executive suite amid a pivot to its Crave streaming platform and the digital space, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
There’s no indication on the number of job losses. But the departure of long-time content and acquisition executives like Mike Cosentino, president of content and programming, and Tracey Pearce, president of distribution and pay, follows the exit on Jan. 4 of Bell Media president Randy Lennox.
“Our updated structure strengthens and simplifies our interactions with viewers and listeners, advertisers, content and technology partners and other stakeholders, while ...
There’s no indication on the number of job losses. But the departure of long-time content and acquisition executives like Mike Cosentino, president of content and programming, and Tracey Pearce, president of distribution and pay, follows the exit on Jan. 4 of Bell Media president Randy Lennox.
“Our updated structure strengthens and simplifies our interactions with viewers and listeners, advertisers, content and technology partners and other stakeholders, while ...
Top Canadian broadcaster Bell Media has launched a management restructuring to streamline its executive suite amid a pivot to its Crave streaming platform and the digital space, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
There’s no indication on the number of job losses. But the departure of long-time content and acquisition executives like Mike Cosentino, president of content and programming, and Tracey Pearce, president of distribution and pay, follows the exit on Jan. 4 of Bell Media president Randy Lennox.
“Our updated structure strengthens and simplifies our interactions with viewers and listeners, advertisers, content and technology partners and other stakeholders, while ...
There’s no indication on the number of job losses. But the departure of long-time content and acquisition executives like Mike Cosentino, president of content and programming, and Tracey Pearce, president of distribution and pay, follows the exit on Jan. 4 of Bell Media president Randy Lennox.
“Our updated structure strengthens and simplifies our interactions with viewers and listeners, advertisers, content and technology partners and other stakeholders, while ...
Canada’s CTV has ordered a comedy from Modern Family and How I Met Your Mother exec producer Chuck Tatham and Schitt’s Creek writer Kurt Smeaton.
The broadcaster has commissioned Children Ruin Everything from Letterkenny producer New Metric Media. The series has been in development since 2016 and is set to start production in spring 2020. Casting is underway.
The half-hour comedy about living with children follows Astrid and James, who struggle to find a balance between being mom and dad to two kids and being who they were before offspring. It explores the ways kids can tear down your life and, if you’re lucky, replace it with something you have to admit is pretty okay, too.
Smeaton and Tatham will also serve as Executive Producers alongside New Metric Media founder Mark Montefiore. Beth Iley (Killjoys) serves as producer.
“When I first became a father, some people told me my...
The broadcaster has commissioned Children Ruin Everything from Letterkenny producer New Metric Media. The series has been in development since 2016 and is set to start production in spring 2020. Casting is underway.
The half-hour comedy about living with children follows Astrid and James, who struggle to find a balance between being mom and dad to two kids and being who they were before offspring. It explores the ways kids can tear down your life and, if you’re lucky, replace it with something you have to admit is pretty okay, too.
Smeaton and Tatham will also serve as Executive Producers alongside New Metric Media founder Mark Montefiore. Beth Iley (Killjoys) serves as producer.
“When I first became a father, some people told me my...
- 1/30/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
As the newly emerging Golden Age of Television continues, navigating the increasing amounts of content has become more than a full-time job for many in the industry. In Canada, however, there’s a larger picture to consider as network executives populate their schedules with a slew of acquisition programming and government-mandated content, pulling together lineups that include series from across all of the major U.S. production houses.
Simulcasting, renewals, licensing contracts and targeted audiences all play into the annual pickup announcements made in late May and early June in the weeks following U.S. upfronts, as the four broadcasters — Bell Media, Corus, Rogers Media and public broadcaster CBC—hold their own upfront presentations for advertisers.
In the case of the three privately held companies, presenting a robust network schedule is further complicated by their ever-evolving slate of specialty channels and Ott services, which are comprised of even more targeted audiences and specialized viewer needs.
Simulcasting, renewals, licensing contracts and targeted audiences all play into the annual pickup announcements made in late May and early June in the weeks following U.S. upfronts, as the four broadcasters — Bell Media, Corus, Rogers Media and public broadcaster CBC—hold their own upfront presentations for advertisers.
In the case of the three privately held companies, presenting a robust network schedule is further complicated by their ever-evolving slate of specialty channels and Ott services, which are comprised of even more targeted audiences and specialized viewer needs.
- 6/10/2019
- by Amber Dowling
- Variety Film + TV
Pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er.
Hulu announced that it has acquired the exclusive U.S. rights to the cult hit Canadian comedy series, meaning when the seventh season debuts on Oct. 14, it will do so as a Hulu original, as will all future seasons of the show. Hulu already had the rights to the show’s past seasons.
Created by and starring Jared Keeso, the half-hour comedy revolves around the inhabitants of the fictional town of Letterkenny, Ontario. It focuses on the different groups who make up the town, namely the hicks, skids, Christians, and hockey players. In addition to Keeso, the series stars Nathan Dales, Michelle Mylett, K Trevor Wilson, Dylan Playfair, Andrew Herr, Tyler Johnston, Evan Stern, Mark Forward, and Tiio Horn. Jacob Tierney, who developed the show with Keeso and has directed much of the series, also stars.
“Letterkenny” is produced by New Metric Media,...
Hulu announced that it has acquired the exclusive U.S. rights to the cult hit Canadian comedy series, meaning when the seventh season debuts on Oct. 14, it will do so as a Hulu original, as will all future seasons of the show. Hulu already had the rights to the show’s past seasons.
Created by and starring Jared Keeso, the half-hour comedy revolves around the inhabitants of the fictional town of Letterkenny, Ontario. It focuses on the different groups who make up the town, namely the hicks, skids, Christians, and hockey players. In addition to Keeso, the series stars Nathan Dales, Michelle Mylett, K Trevor Wilson, Dylan Playfair, Andrew Herr, Tyler Johnston, Evan Stern, Mark Forward, and Tiio Horn. Jacob Tierney, who developed the show with Keeso and has directed much of the series, also stars.
“Letterkenny” is produced by New Metric Media,...
- 6/6/2019
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Canadian broadcaster Bell Media has acquired local rights to CBS All Acccess’ untitled Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard. It marks the first deal to come out of the La Screenings, which kicks off this week on the back of the network upfronts.
It comes after Amazon Prime Video picked up the global rights, excluding North America.
The deal for the Patrick Stewart-fronted show was struck with CBS Studios International and includes the exclusive linear television and Svod rights in English and French. It will launch day-and-date with the U.S on Bell’s cable networks Space and Z as well as digital platform Crave.
The new untitled Star Trek series, produced by CBS TV Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, will also star Alison Pill (The Newsroom), Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful), Isa Briones (American Crime Story: Versace), Santiago Cabrera (Salvation), Michelle Hurd (Blindspot) and newcomer Evan Evagora.
It comes after Amazon Prime Video picked up the global rights, excluding North America.
The deal for the Patrick Stewart-fronted show was struck with CBS Studios International and includes the exclusive linear television and Svod rights in English and French. It will launch day-and-date with the U.S on Bell’s cable networks Space and Z as well as digital platform Crave.
The new untitled Star Trek series, produced by CBS TV Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, will also star Alison Pill (The Newsroom), Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful), Isa Briones (American Crime Story: Versace), Santiago Cabrera (Salvation), Michelle Hurd (Blindspot) and newcomer Evan Evagora.
- 5/14/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
In a return to television, Avengers: Endgame‘s Evangeline Lilly is set to star in and executive produce Albedo, an eight-episode mystery drama series from Entertainment One, Rampage helmer Brad Peyton and Bell Media in Canada. Peyton is set to direct and executive produce with Jeff Fierson the straight-to-series project that will be internationally distributed by eOne.
Albedo has been in development at Bell Media since 2016 and is expected to begin pre-production in May. The series will be presented exclusively in Canada on Bell Media platforms and distributed in the U.S. by VOD service Vudu, a subsidiary of Walmart, marking Vudu’s first foray into content.
Co-created and executive produced by writing duo Max and Adam Reid (Sneaky Pete), Albedo is set 150 years in the future. Detective Vivien Coleman (Lilly) is dispatched to the edge of our solar system to investigate a scientist’s mysterious death on board an isolated space station.
Albedo has been in development at Bell Media since 2016 and is expected to begin pre-production in May. The series will be presented exclusively in Canada on Bell Media platforms and distributed in the U.S. by VOD service Vudu, a subsidiary of Walmart, marking Vudu’s first foray into content.
Co-created and executive produced by writing duo Max and Adam Reid (Sneaky Pete), Albedo is set 150 years in the future. Detective Vivien Coleman (Lilly) is dispatched to the edge of our solar system to investigate a scientist’s mysterious death on board an isolated space station.
- 5/1/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Canadian broadcaster CTV has partnered with NBCUniversal International Studios on primetime medical procedural The Transplant.
The series is produced by 19-2 producer SphèreMédia Plus and NBCUniversal will hold international rights outside of Canada with a particular eye on a U.S. sale. The show will be part of CTV’s 2019/2020 broadcast season.
The 13-episode series kicks off when Bash, a struggling Syrian refugee saves multiple people when a truck plows into the busy street café, using his skills and warzone instincts from his former life as a doctor.It then follows Bash, a man with an elusive past as he joins a team of doctors, challenged to make a place for himself in a new hospital and country. The drama blends a modern immigrant tale with an ensemble medical procedural. Production begins in summer 2019.
The series is created and written by Joseph Kay (Frontier) and is exec produced by Jocelyn Deschenes,...
The series is produced by 19-2 producer SphèreMédia Plus and NBCUniversal will hold international rights outside of Canada with a particular eye on a U.S. sale. The show will be part of CTV’s 2019/2020 broadcast season.
The 13-episode series kicks off when Bash, a struggling Syrian refugee saves multiple people when a truck plows into the busy street café, using his skills and warzone instincts from his former life as a doctor.It then follows Bash, a man with an elusive past as he joins a team of doctors, challenged to make a place for himself in a new hospital and country. The drama blends a modern immigrant tale with an ensemble medical procedural. Production begins in summer 2019.
The series is created and written by Joseph Kay (Frontier) and is exec produced by Jocelyn Deschenes,...
- 1/31/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Canada’s Bell Media is set to air the U.S. reboot of classic reality series Temptation Island. The broadcaster will air the series on its CTV and E! Entertainment channels as well as Svod service Crave after striking a deal with distributor Banijay Rights.
The 11-episode U.S. series, which is produced by Banijay Studios North America, will air later this month on USA Network, hosted by Mark L. Walberg who hosted the original series that premiered in 2001. It will simulcast in Canada.
Temptation Island follows four dating couples at a pivotal time in their relationship, where they must mutually decide if they are ready to commit to one another for the rest of their lives — or should go their separate ways. Together, the couples travel to the tropical paradise of Maui, Hawaii, where they join 24 eligible men and women. There, they live the “single life,” in a test...
The 11-episode U.S. series, which is produced by Banijay Studios North America, will air later this month on USA Network, hosted by Mark L. Walberg who hosted the original series that premiered in 2001. It will simulcast in Canada.
Temptation Island follows four dating couples at a pivotal time in their relationship, where they must mutually decide if they are ready to commit to one another for the rest of their lives — or should go their separate ways. Together, the couples travel to the tropical paradise of Maui, Hawaii, where they join 24 eligible men and women. There, they live the “single life,” in a test...
- 1/7/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
CTV has acquired the new Roseanne spinoff comedy The Connors, which will anchor its Tuesday night lineup. The Conners will air on CTV at 8 Pm Et/9 Pm Mt.
“Were excited to deliver this exceptional spin-off to Canadians who made an appointment with the Conners family in record numbers earlier this year,” said Mike Cosentino, President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. “We’re confident this timely addition to the Tuesday night lineup will once again anchor a big comedy hour on the CTV schedule.”
The Conners family – Dan (John Goodman), Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), Darlene (Sara Gilbert), Becky (Lecy Gorason), and D.J. (Michael Fishman) – grapple with parenthood, dating, an unexpected pregnancy, financial pressures, aging, and in-laws in working-class America.
Tom Werner executive produces, along with Sara Gilbert, Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan, Bruce Rasmussen, and Tony Hernandez.
“Were excited to deliver this exceptional spin-off to Canadians who made an appointment with the Conners family in record numbers earlier this year,” said Mike Cosentino, President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. “We’re confident this timely addition to the Tuesday night lineup will once again anchor a big comedy hour on the CTV schedule.”
The Conners family – Dan (John Goodman), Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), Darlene (Sara Gilbert), Becky (Lecy Gorason), and D.J. (Michael Fishman) – grapple with parenthood, dating, an unexpected pregnancy, financial pressures, aging, and in-laws in working-class America.
Tom Werner executive produces, along with Sara Gilbert, Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan, Bruce Rasmussen, and Tony Hernandez.
- 8/8/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Canada's CTV network and parent Bell Media have acquired ABC's The Conners, the spinoff of TV's current No. 1 series, without controversial star Roseanne Barr.
CTV will start airing The Conners on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. from Oct. 16, just before The Kids Are Alright at 8:30 p.m. "We're excited to deliver this exceptional spinoff to Canadians who made an appointment with the Conners family in record numbers earlier this year,” said Mike Cosentino, president, content and programming at Bell Media in a statement.
CTV earlier yanked reruns and scrubbed all evidence ...
CTV will start airing The Conners on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. from Oct. 16, just before The Kids Are Alright at 8:30 p.m. "We're excited to deliver this exceptional spinoff to Canadians who made an appointment with the Conners family in record numbers earlier this year,” said Mike Cosentino, president, content and programming at Bell Media in a statement.
CTV earlier yanked reruns and scrubbed all evidence ...
La’s Finest is go! Canadian broadcaster Bell Media has revealed that it has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Television for the Jessica Alba and Gabrielle Union-fronted spin-off of the Bad Boys film franchise. It will air the 13-episode series on one of its specialty entertainment channels.
As Deadline reported yesterday, Sony is in serious negotiations with Charter Communications to become the U.S. home for the series after NBC passed on the $12M pilot.
The series stars Union as Syd Burnett, last seen in Miami taking down a drug cartel, having left her complicated past behind to become an Lapd detective and pursue all the fun La offers. But things get a little crazy when her new partner, Nancy McKenna, played by Alba, a working mom with an equally complex past, learns that Syd’s unapologetic lifestyle might be masking a greater personal secret. These two have...
As Deadline reported yesterday, Sony is in serious negotiations with Charter Communications to become the U.S. home for the series after NBC passed on the $12M pilot.
The series stars Union as Syd Burnett, last seen in Miami taking down a drug cartel, having left her complicated past behind to become an Lapd detective and pursue all the fun La offers. But things get a little crazy when her new partner, Nancy McKenna, played by Alba, a working mom with an equally complex past, learns that Syd’s unapologetic lifestyle might be masking a greater personal secret. These two have...
- 6/1/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Canadian broadcaster CTV has become the first international network to open the contents of its La Screenings’ shopping spree, picking up U.S. series including The Rookie, Magnum P.I., and Grand Hotel.
The broadcaster has picked seven new dramas, two dramedies, one comedy and a talk show from the Hollywood studios ahead of its own Upfronts event on June 7 in Toronto.
It bought Nathan Fillion cop drama The Rookie from Entertainment One, Jay Hernandez’s reboot of private eye thriller Magnum P.I. from NBC Universal International Distribution and Eva Longoria’s Miami-set remake of Spanish soap Grand Hotel from Disney Media Distribution.
Elsewhere, it has acquired Brandon Michael Hall’s God Friended Me from Warner Bros International Television Distribution, where it also scored Scott Foley and Lauren Cohen’s buddy cop drama Whiskey Cavalier and Noah Wyle-fronted race drama The Red Line from Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti.
Also over at NBCU,...
The broadcaster has picked seven new dramas, two dramedies, one comedy and a talk show from the Hollywood studios ahead of its own Upfronts event on June 7 in Toronto.
It bought Nathan Fillion cop drama The Rookie from Entertainment One, Jay Hernandez’s reboot of private eye thriller Magnum P.I. from NBC Universal International Distribution and Eva Longoria’s Miami-set remake of Spanish soap Grand Hotel from Disney Media Distribution.
Elsewhere, it has acquired Brandon Michael Hall’s God Friended Me from Warner Bros International Television Distribution, where it also scored Scott Foley and Lauren Cohen’s buddy cop drama Whiskey Cavalier and Noah Wyle-fronted race drama The Red Line from Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti.
Also over at NBCU,...
- 5/31/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.