ABC Spark to launch in Canada on Monday, March 26, 2012

Enjoy a sneak peek of hit series Switched at Birth and Melissa & Joey premiering in Canada on Monday, January 16 on YTV, W Network and CMT

Visit the network's official website www.abcspark.ca

TORONTO, Jan. 5, 2012 /CNW/ - Corus Entertainment announced today that its new television service, ABC Spark, will launch across Canada on Monday, March 26, 2012. ABC Spark, based on the successful U.S. brand ABC Family, will launch with breakout series including The Secret Life of the America Teenager (starring Golden Globe nominee Shailene Woodley and Molly Ringwald), Switched at Birth (ensemble cast including Katie LeClerc, Vanessa Marano, Lea Thompson, D.W. Moffett and Constance Marie), Melissa & Joey (starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence) and Make It or Break It (starring Candace Cameron Bure) as well as brand new series Jane By Design (starring Andie MacDowell and newcomer Erica Dasher).

"We are very excited to bring some of ABC Family's most compelling, critically acclaimed and hugely popular original series to Canada with the launch of ABC Spark," said Susan Schaefer, Vice President, Head of Networks and Marketing, Corus Entertainment. "Canadian viewers have been waiting for these series and they will not be disappointed. ABC Family has found tremendous success with a programming strategy committed to high-calibre productions featuring powerful storylines, memorable characters and a combination of new and established talent. We are confident that these shows will resonate with audiences across the country."

Starting Monday, January 16, YTV, W Network and CMT (Canada) will air nested blocks of the channel's exclusive programming to promote the debut of ABC Spark. Switched at Birth will air every Monday night at 9 p.m. on YTV starting January 16; W Network will also air the series every Saturday at 12 p.m. starting January 21. Melissa & Joey will air Monday to Friday at 8:30 p.m. starting January 16 on CMT.

Additional information, including programming schedule and channel details, will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.abcspark.ca for updates.

ABC Spark will be available in Canada based on a license agreement with Disney/ABC Television Group. Built on the foundation of the successful U.S. brand ABC Family, ABC Spark is a multiplatform offering featuring original series and movies, as well as general entertainment programming. The 24-hour channel will have the same values, look, tone, essence and feel of ABC Family in the U.S.

ABC Family is a top performing destination for millennials in the U.S. Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 98 million U.S. homes. ABC Family's programming is a combination of network defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals.

About Corus Entertainment

Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. The Company's multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, Nickelodeon (Canada), W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), CosmoTV, Sundance Channel (Canada), Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW AM 980, 99.3 The FOX, Country 105, 630 CHED, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

All YTV and W Network times are ET/PT.

All CMT (Canada) times are ET.

For high-resolution images, please visit http://mediacentre.corusent.com.

Follow Corus PR on Twitter @CorusPR

For more information, images or screeners, please contact:

Judy Lung
Corus Entertainment
Communications
416.479.6757
[email protected]