A JANN ARDEN CHRISTMAS AT THE SOCIAL and First-Ever SAVING HOPE Holiday Episode Headline CTV's 2015 Holiday Programming

– CTV and CTV Two's holiday schedule is set to bring festive cheer with classic favourites including A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, as well asTHE SANTA CLAUS trilogy, and ELF –
– THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW kicks off its fifth annual "10 Days of Giveaways" this December on CTV, surprising audience members and viewers with more than $1,000,000 in prizes –
– Perennial year-end favourites THE SOCIAL: YEAR IN GOSSIP and ETALK's STARS AND SCANDALS 2015 return with round-ups of the year's most dish-worthy stories –
– Canadians can watch CTV holiday programs on demand at Holidays on CTV.ca and the
CTV GO app –

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TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2015 /CNW/ - May your days be merry and your screens be bright! Today, CTV gifts viewers with a 2015 holiday programming lineup that includes a shiny new standalone holiday-themed episode of SAVING HOPE (Dec. 10), as well as the holiday primetime special A JANN ARDEN CHRISTMAS AT THE SOCIAL (Dec. 13), featuring performances by acclaimed singer-songwriter Jann Arden. The month of December also has viewers getting in touch with their inner elf with the CTV premiere of the Will Ferrell-starring holiday comedy ELF (Dec. 16), while they can also enjoy blockbuster films, timeless classics, fan favourites, original specials, and a quartet of new Hallmark holiday movies. CTV's festive programming will be available on demand throughout the holiday season at Holidays on CTV.ca and on the CTV GO app.

**** For A COMPLETE LIST OF CTV's 2015 HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING LINEUP, including SYNOPSES and onDemand and CTV go availability, CLICK HERE ****

In a first-ever special holiday-themed episode of SAVING HOPE, titled "Shine A Light" (Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and the CTV GO app), an ice storm on Christmas Eve brings a good Samaritan to Hope Zion Hospital following a car crash, and Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) must use all her skills to attempt the Christmas miracle so desperately needed – even if it means calling in Chief Dr. Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden).

CTV's original daily talk series THE SOCIAL also gets into the holiday spirit as co-hosts Melissa Grelo, Cynthia Loyst, Lainey Lui, and Traci Melchor celebrate the festive season with A JANN ARDEN CHRISTMAS AT THE SOCIAL (Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV GO app). The one-hour, original, primetime special features the first-ever musical performances on THE SOCIAL, as JUNO Award-winning artist and favourite guest co-host Jann Arden performs two Christmas classics from her first holiday album, A Jann Arden Christmas. The fun continues as THE SOCIAL delivers its third annual year-end review, THE SOCIAL: YEAR IN GOSSIP (Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV).

One of the most-anticipated Canadian television events of the holiday season returns! Back bigger and better than ever, CTV's THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW kicks off its fifth annual "10 Days of Giveaways" this December on CTV. Randomly over three weeks in December, Host Marilyn Denis and MARILYN's team of lifestyle experts present a variety of gift-inspired ideas for the holidays, while randomly surprising its audience members with giveaways all month long. In total, more than 100 different gifts will be showcased throughout the 10 days, with the overall value of items given away totalling more than $1,000,000. The spirit of receiving continues online at Marilyn.ca, as Marilyn offers viewers at home a chance to win each of the daily prizes being awarded throughout the 10 days; visit Marilyn.ca for contest details. THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW airs live Weekdays at 10 a.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV GO app.

Canada's #1 entertainment show ETALK returns with new original specials over the holidays for showbiz enthusiasts and pop culture junkies, including the team's annual year-end specials: ETALK's HOLIDAY MOVIE GUIDE (Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV) and ETALK's STARS AND SCANDALS 2015 (Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV). From Caitlyn Jenner's inspirational transgender journey, to Donald Trump's presidential dreams, Justin Bieber's year of apologies, and Charlie Sheen's shocking HIV confession, no star is off limits in ETALK's year-end look of 2015's biggest celebrity stories and scandals. The hookups, the breakups, and everything in between -- ETALK hosts including Ben Mulroney, Danielle Graham, Lainey Lui, Traci Melchor, Devon Soltendieck, Liz Trinnear, and Jessi Cruickshank sound off on the year's biggest newsmakers. The one-hour primetime special also features interviews with Tom Cruise, Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Shawn Mendes. ETALK's lineup of specials also includes a look forward with ETALK: FAST FORWARD 2016 (Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV).

This December on CTV also unwraps blockbuster films including HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 (Dec. 26 and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), while holiday favourites and timeless classics come to CTV and CTV Two, including ELF (Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV); IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Dec. 5 and Dec. 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV); THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Dec. 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CTV); THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and the sing-along version airing Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV Two); A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV Two); THE SANTA CLAUS trilogy (Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV Two); and more.

With heartwarming made-for-TV movies, viewers can curl up on the couch and enjoy four new Hallmark films: THE CHRISTMAS SHEPHERD (Saturday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), starring Teri Polo (THE FOSTERS) and Martin Cummins (UNREAL); NORTH POLE (Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. ET on CTV Two), starring Tiffani Thiessen (WHITE COLLAR, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210); THE TREE THAT SAVED CHRISTMAS (Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), starring Lacey Chabert (MEAN GIRLS, PARTY OF FIVE), Josh Hopkins (QUANTICO), Jill St. John (Diamonds are Forever), and Robert Wagner (HART TO HART); and A CHRISTMAS DETOUR (Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), starring Candace Cameron Bure (THE VIEW, FULL HOUSE) and Paul Greene (BITTEN).

As previously announced, CTV empowers youth with the special premiere of WE DAY 2015 on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET. The one-hour special captures the most inspiring moments from the live WE Day event in Toronto this past October, which brought together 20,000 students from across Ontario to celebrate their commitment to make a difference in their local and international communities. Hosted by Demi Lovato, the high-energy special features performances by Nick Jonas, Shawn Mendes, Carly Rae Jepsen, Hedley, Hozier, and Kiesza. Additionally, actress Nina Dobrev and NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson deliver inspirational messages.

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CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 14 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.

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Matthew Almeida, CTV Networks, 416.384.2629 or [email protected]