BEYOND BORDERS: GLOBAL PREMIERES OFF THE MAP THIS JANUARY

New Medical Drama from the Creators of Grey's Anatomy

Debuts Wednesday, January 12 - 10pm ET/PT

Starring Canadians Rachelle Lefevre (Barney's Version) and Caroline Dhavernas (Passchendaele)

For additional information and photography, please visit: www.shawmediatv.ca

TORONTO, Nov. 24 /CNW/ - This January, Global takes viewers into the heart of the South American jungle in the hot, new series, Off the Map premiering Wednesday, January 12 - 10pm ET/PT in simulcast with ABC. This compelling medical drama follows a group of young doctors struggling with the challenges of working in a remote clinic while trying to remember why they chose their profession in the first place.

Starring Canadians Caroline Dhavernas (Passchendaele) as Dr. Lily Brenner and Rachelle Lefevre (Barney's Version) as Dr. Ryan Clark, the series also features a diverse cast including: Martin Henderson (Battle in Seattle) as Dr. Ben Keeton; Jason George (Grey's Anatomy) as Dr. Otis Cole; Valerie Cruz (True Blood) as Dr. Zitajalehrena (Zita/Zee) Alvarez; Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights) as Dr. Tommy Fuller; Mamie Gummer (John Adams) as Dr. Mina Minard; and Jonathan Castellanos (Southland) as Charlie. Michael McKean (Curb Your Enthusiasm) guest stars as Ed in the premiere episode.

"Off the Map spins the medical genre on its axis with relatable characters trying to survive in an exotic yet unrelatable environment," said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice-President, Content, Shaw Media. "We're excited to launch Global's strong mid-season schedule with this uplifting series that will add a new energy to our primetime lineup."

From Shonda Rhimes and the creative team behind Grey's Anatomy, Off the Map follows three young ex-pats to "la ciudad de las estrellas" (the city of stars), a tiny town in the South American jungle which has one understaffed and under-stocked medical clinic. While these young doctors are running away from their own personal demons, they soon discover they aren't the only ones at the clinic with emotional baggage. As this group of physicians struggle to save lives in an unpredictable environment, they face professional and personal challenges while having the adventure of a lifetime.

In the series premiere, "Saved by the Great White Hope," (Wednesday, January 12 - 10pm ET/PT), idealistic Dr. Lily Brenner (Dhavernas) along with fellow doctors Mina Minard (Gummer) and Tommy Fuller (Gilford), arrive in South America to work in the only clinic serving a small town. They are introduced to legendary and enigmatic Dr. Ben Keeton (Henderson) - previously the youngest Chief of Surgery at UCLA but who walked away from it all to found the facility. Keeton's colleagues include his right-hand doctor, Otis Cole (George), the mysterious Ryan Clark (Lefevre) and local doctor, Zita Alvarez (Cruz). As the staff sets out to save lives in the jungle, they'll learn how far they have to go to truly heal their patients - and themselves.

Off the Map is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii. Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) are executive producers, and Jenna Bans (Grey's Anatomy) is the executive producer and series creator.

Fans can catch up on full episodes of Off the Map on GlobalTV.com following the broadcast.

About Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging  programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network.  Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, History Television and Showcase.  Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR).  For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

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Sónia Brum
Global Television
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Global Television
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