CraveTV Enters into Comprehensive Multi-Year Partnership with New Metric Media to Build LETTERKENNY Brand Worldwide

− Comprehensive partnership includes unprecedented production commitment of more than 40 all-new episodes −
− Initiative includes extensive brand support on merchandise and the just-announced LETTERKENNY LIVE! tour –
− Series and format now being rolled out at International markets for global distribution –
− Next six-pack of the series, created by star Jared Keeso, to launch later this year –

TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2017 /CNW/ - CraveTV and LETTERKENNY producers New Metric Media announced today they are joining forces to build the small-town, smash hit comedy beyond the series itself into a worldwide entertainment brand. The initiative is a comprehensive multi-year partnership that includes an unprecedented production commitment, investment in the support of any existing and new ancillary brand extensions, and a partnership on the international sales and distribution of the series, alongside DHX Media. The deal was negotiated by Bell Media's Justin Stockman and Carlyn Klebuc, as well as Mark Montefiore of New Metric Media, and Jayme Alter, Denton's Canada LLP.

In the comprehensive agreement, CraveTV and New Metric Media will partner on the production of more than 40 new episodes. With seasons 1-3 currently streaming, the agreement commits to a total of at least 73 episodes of the award-winning original comedy.

CraveTV's commitment to brand support includes the continued cross-platform marketing campaigns for the series, as well its brand extensions including sought-after LETTERKENNY merchandise and the highly successful Puppers Premium Lager, in partnership with Stack Brewery in Sudbury.

As well, the partnership includes cross-promotional support for the just-announced, 26-city LETTERKENNY LIVE! tour, a 90-minute comedy experience starring Jared Keeso (Wayne), Nathan Dales (Daryl), K Trevor Wilson (Dan) and Mark Forward (Coach), kicking off in Halifax on February 28^th, with plans to extend into the U.S.

Finally, CraveTV and New Metric Media's multi-year commitment includes partnering on the sale and distribution of the series and its format, alongside DHX Media, to the international market. The series and format was officially rolled out to International buyers this week at MIPCOM in Cannes, France.

"Wth its devoted audience on CraveTV and buzzworthy appeal, LETTERKENNY is carving out a permanent place in Canadian pop culture," said Justin Stockman, Vice-President, Pay and OTT Services, Bell Media. "Alongside our partners at New Metric Media, we're committed to sharing LETTERKENNY with the world by bolstering all facets of the LETTERKENNY brand, both in Canada and internationally."

"Working with the CraveTV team has been solid from the get-go so, we're excited to crack open even more six-packs of LETTERKENNY with them," said Mark Montefiore, New Metric Media. "It's truly a pleasure to present this comedy to the international industry with a dedicated partner who really 'gets it'." 

Based on the internet sensation Letterkenny Problems, the half-hour comedy – and now bona fide cultural phenomenon – is currently a top performer and marquee program for the streaming service since it made it memorable launch on Super Bowl Sunday 2015.

As previously announced, a special Halloween episode of LETTERKENNY, "The Haunting of MoDean's II", began streaming last week exclusively on CraveTV. Another six-pack of new episodes is set to launch later this year.

Shot on location in and around Sudbury, ON, LETTERKENNY revolves around the dustups Wayne (Jared Keeso) and his buds get into with their small-town rivals. The Hicks, The Skids, and The Hockey Players get at each other about the most mundane things, often ending with someone getting their ass kicked. Season 1 of LETTERKENNY took home three 2017 Canadian Screen Awards: Best Comedy Series, Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series, and Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series. As well, series creator Jared Keeso and co-writer and director Jacob Tierney took home a Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award for TV Comedy. Seasons 1 - 3 are currently streaming on CraveTV and Season 1 is also available on iTunes and Google Play.

LETTERKENNY is produced by New Metric Media, in partnership with DHX Media and Playfun Games in association with Bell Media, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, OMDC Tax Credits and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and distributed by DHX Media. Jared Keeso is executive producer, co-writer, star, and creator, Jacob Tierney is executive producer, director, and co-writer. Mark Montefiore and Patrick O'Sullivan are executive producers for New Metric Media. Steven DeNure is  Co-Founder, President and COO of DHX Media. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Original Programming, Comedy, Bell Media. Production Executive for Bell Media is Bill Lundy. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media.

About Bell Media Original Programming
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include the hit drama CARDINAL, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and MASTERCHEF CANADA, new original series THE DISAPPEARANCE, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE, and THE DETAIL, and the upcoming international TV format THE LAUNCH. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are Space's KILLJOYS and WYNONNA EARP; CraveTV hit comedy LETTERKENNY; Discovery's first-ever drama FRONTIER; Comedy's satirical news series THE BEAVERTON as well as the upcoming CORNER GAS ANIMATED; and multiple series and specials for food and lifestyle channel Gusto, including ONE WORLD KITCHEN. Discovery is also home to Bell Media's hit factual franchise HIGHWAY THRU HELL, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. Bell Media is one of the first media companies in North America to commit to producing all new original scripted series in 4K.

About New Metric Media
New Metric Media is a film, television, and new media production company that works with top creative talent to produce outstanding content for domestic and international markets. New Metric Media's past and present projects include the CraveTV hit original comedy LETTERKENNY as well as the half-hour CraveTV comedy WHAT WOULD SAL DO? and the six episode, one hour CityTV/FX Canada limited series BAD BLOOD. For more information visit www.newmetricmedia.com. 

About DHX Media
DHX Media Ltd. (TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B; NASDAQ: DHXM) is a leading children's content and brands company, recognized globally for such high-profile properties as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Inspector Gadget, and the acclaimed Degrassi franchise. One of the world's foremost producers of children's shows, DHX Media owns the world's largest independent library of children's content, at 13,000 half-hours. It licenses its content to broadcasters and streaming services worldwide and generates royalties through its global consumer products program. Through its subsidiary, WildBrain, DHX Media operates one of the largest networks of children's channels on YouTube. Headquartered in Canada, DHX Media has 20 offices worldwide. Visit us at www.dhxmedia.com.

About CraveTV
Created for TV lovers and devoted to television, CraveTV is Canada's premium TV streaming service, providing the most robust lineup of superior television content in the country. From TV's most-acclaimed dramas and beloved comedies to documentaries, music, and factual programming, CraveTV features thousands of hours of premium non-kids TV programming, representing hundreds of unique titles including the entire off-air library of HBO's iconic programming catalogue and hundreds of hours of acclaimed SHOWTIME series and specials. CraveTV is available directly to all Canadians with access to the Internet, as well as to customers of Cogeco, Eastlink, TELUS Optik TV, Bell Fibe TV, Bell Satellite TV, Bell Aliant FibreOP TV, Access Communications, Northwestel, SaskTel, Cable Cable, Hay Communications, Mitchell Seaforth Cable TV, Tuckersmith Communications, Wightman Telecom subscribers, NRTC Communications, WTC Communications, Tbaytel, Execulink Telecom, and VMedia. Available through traditional set-top boxes, mobile apps on iOS, Android, and Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Xbox One, the web, Apple TV, Chromecast, and select Samsung Smart TVs. CraveTV is from Bell Media, Canada's premier multi-media company with more than a decade of leadership delivering Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed television programming across the Pay, Specialty, Digital, and Network TV landscapes. For more on CraveTV, visit www.CraveTV.ca .

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SOURCE CraveTV

For LETTERKENNY: Andrea Allen, Comedy & Drama, 416.384.5375 or [email protected]; Mary Costa, Comedy & Drama, 416.384.7702 or [email protected]; For CraveTV: Scott Campbell, Manager, Pay and CraveTV, 416.384.4235, [email protected]