Canada's Longest Running Talent Competition Series, The Next Star Returns For Seventh Season

Six-city audition search begins Saturday, April 26 in Halifax

TORONTO, March 5, 2014 /CNW/ - Today Corus Entertainment's YTV and Tricon Films and Television are thrilled to announce that The Next Star will be returning for a seventh season set to air in July 2014. This will make the singing competition series Canada's longest running televised talent competition. Carlos Bustamante will return as host joined by returning judges Keshia Chanté, Tara Oram, and Mark Spicoluk, to usher The Next Star's new hopefuls from their first audition to finale.

"We were blown away by the level of talent on the last season of The Next Star, and the finale was a true television spectacle," said Jocelyn Hamilton, Vice President, Programming and Original Productions, Corus Kids. "We're excited to give Canada's young talented performers another opportunity to develop their skills, launch their careers and find a place in the national spotlight."

With its return for a seventh season, The Next Star's loyal audience will see incredible aspiring performers from coast to coast and follow the journey of the finalists as they develop into pop stars. Past Next Star finalists have included Victoria Duffield, Alyssa Reid and most recently, the winner of Season 6, Alicia Moffet, who is releasing her first single, "Why Do Boys Lie," with Sony Music Entertainment Canada on Tuesday, March 11.

Another exciting development on Tuesday, March 11, is the premiere of The Next Star: SuperGroup. The spin-off show is open to finalists up to the age of 18, appealing to fans who have grown up with the series and are now in their teens. Viewers will be glued to the journey of 30 finalists experiencing an intense, top-level talent showdown with the final goal to be part of a new mega boy or girl group.

"We feel extraordinarily lucky to have been making this fun, exciting, and unique show going on seven seasons," said Marc Kell Whitehead, Tricon's General Manager of Production. "With the addition of The Next Star: SuperGroup this year we have continued to expand Next Star Nation for the fans, and to give them access to the brightest future stars of Canadian music." 

As in previous seasons, The Next Star auditions for Season 7 will be taking place across Canada and will focus on finding Canada's next singing sensation. Open casting calls will be held in the following cities on these dates:

April 26 - Halifax, Nova Scotia

April 29 - Montreal, Quebec

May 3 - Winnipeg, Manitoba

May 6 - Edmonton, Alberta

May 10 - Vancouver, British Columbia

May 17 and May 18 - Toronto, Ontario

Additional information about open casting call locations will be announced by the end of March on www.nextstar.ytv.com and via the show's cross-platform digital destination, #NextStarNation.

The Next Star Season 7 will premiere July 2014 on YTV and will follow the young finalists on their once-in-a-lifetime journey as they master their sound, style and stage presence. R&B star and host of BET's 106 and Park, Keshia Chanté, Canada's country sweetheart Tara Oram, and music biz impresario Mark Spicoluk, will return to preside over the judges' table, ready to guide the finalists to find their best sound, and give the performances of a lifetime.  

About YTV
Celebrating 25 years in television, YTV is a leading cross platform entertainment brand for kids and families. The channel offers quality entertainment with hilarious animated and live-action comedy series, popular Nickelodeon series, blockbuster movies, top-rated original Canadian programming, music, celebrities and the channel's after-school block, The Zone. Through its multiple platforms and exclusive digital and interactive content, YTV is the voice of Canadian youth culture. YTV is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company that creates, broadcasts and licenses content across a variety of platforms for audiences around the world. The Company's portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing, children's animation and animation software. Corus' brands include YTV, TELETOON, ABC Spark, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), HBO Canada, Historia and Séries+, as well as Nelvana, Kids Can Press, Toon Boom and 39 radio stations including CKNW AM 980, 99.3 The FOX, Country 105, 630 CHED, Fresh FM London, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

About Tricon Films & Television
Tricon Films & Television is one of North America's leading producers and distributors. With offices in Toronto and Los Angeles, Tricon has quickly emerged as a prominent supplier of award-winning factual and scripted programming that continues to be successful around the world. Tricon's distribution arm features a broad catalogue of high quality, multi-platform content including primetime scripted drama and comedy, kids, lifestyle, factual and documentary series and specials. www.triconfilms.com.

For a high-resolution image, please visit: http://www.corusent.com/home/MediaCentre/Television/YTV/ProgramDetails/tabid/2113/Default.aspx?Bid=19&Pid=1378

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter @TheNextStar
Facebook Facebook.com/TheNextStarYTV
#NextStarNation
#TNS7
Follow Corus PR on Twitter @CorusPR
Follow YTV on Twitter @YTV

SOURCE: YTV Canada Inc.

Kate Calder, Corus Entertainment Inc., [email protected], 416.479.6319; OR Alina Duviner, Unit Publicist for The Next Star 7, [email protected], 416.574.1098; Emily Blake, Unit Publicist for The Next Star 7, [email protected], 647.291.6097