Canadians Get MOTIVE-ated: CTV Orders Second Season of Hit Drama

- Averaging 1.1 million viewers, MOTIVE is the #1 new Canadian series of 2012/13 -
- MOTIVE's gripping Season 1 finale airs next Thursday, May 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV -
- Encore episodes of MOTIVE set to air Thursdays this summer in simulcast with ABC -

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TORONTO, May 8, 2013 /CNW/ - In advance of its upcoming Upfront Presentation, CTV announced today its latest pick-up for the 2013/2014 broadcast season with a second season order of its original drama series MOTIVE (@MotiveTV). The #1 new Canadian series of the year, CTV has ordered an additional 13 episodes for the series' second season from Vancouver-based Foundation Features and Lark Productions. Production is set to begin this summer. The announcement comes with just one episode remaining before MOTIVE's first-season finale next Thursday, May 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV Mobile.

From Daniel Cerone (DEXTER, THE MENTALIST) and Executive Producers Louise Clark (CORNER GAS) and Rob Merilees (Capote), MOTIVE stars Kristin Lehman, Louis Ferreira, and Lauren Holly. After launching following the SUPER BOWL, and later moving to the prestigious Thursday at 10 p.m. timeslot, MOTIVE is averaging 1.1 million weekly and is this season's most-watched Canadian scripted series among all key selling demos. In January, it was announced that MOTIVE had been picked up by ABC for American broadcast. As announced earlier this week, CTV will schedule encore presentations of MOTIVE in simulcast with ABC, beginning Monday, May 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT before moving to its new Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT timeslot May 23.

**Media Note** Photography for MOTIVE is available online at BellMediaPR.ca

"MOTIVE has built a tremendous audience of viewers devoted to its intriguing storylines and recognizable characters," said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. "Hats off to the incredible production team, both in front of and behind the camera, that has made this series such a success - we look forward to seeing where they take viewers in a much-deserved second season. And we are pumped to schedule another opportunity this summer for new viewers to see what they've been missing."

"We are thrilled to partner with CTV again, and to have the opportunity to build on Season 1 with our exceptional cast and Vancouver crew. We are delighted that MOTIVE was able to find its audience and we look forward to engaging our fans with more riveting motives in Season 2," said Executive Producers Rob Merilees and Louise Clark.

On this week's all-new episode of MOTIVE entitled "Ruthless" (Thursday, May 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), an executive assistant is found dead in a hotel room during a corporate retreat. In their search, Flynn (Kristin Lehman) and Vega (Louis Ferreira) come across a suspect who clearly had the means and opportunity. But, as far as the motive goes, Flynn's stumped until she discovers an unexpected link between the killer and the victim.

It all leads up to MOTIVE's dramatic season finale "The One That Got Away" (Thursday, May 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), that sees Angie's (Kristin Lehman) home life about to change forever as she comes to grips with her son Manny (Cameron Bright) heading off to college. Although, there's little time to reflect on her new empty-nester status when a brutal crime focuses her attention on another young man. Navigating a maze of red herrings and investigative dead ends, it takes all of Angie's experience and training to right the wrongs of the past as she races against time to catch a killer before he kills again. 

Viewers can also catch up on full episodes of MOTIVE across CTV's digital platforms on CTV.ca, the CTV App, CTV Mobile available on Bell Mobile TV, and through video on demand partners.

MOTIVE stars Kristin Lehman (THE KILLING) as spirited Detective Angie Flynn, Louis Ferreira (SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE) as her thoughtful and patient partner, Detective Oscar Vega, and Lauren Holly (NCIS) as the team's lead medical examiner, Dr. Betty Rogers. The series also stars Roger Cross (ARROW) as Staff Sergeant Boyd Bloom, Brendan Penny (THE ASSISTANTS) as the team's eager young Detective Brian Lucas, and Cameron Bright (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2) as Angie's teenage son Manny Flynn.

MOTIVE is produced by Foundation Features and Lark Productions in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Daniel Cerone (DEXTER, THE MENTALIST), Louise Clark (CORNER GAS, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER), Rob Merilees (Capote, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus), Erin Haskett (GASTOWN GAMBLE, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER), Rob LaBelle (MENTAL), Lindsay Macadam (Battle in Seattle), James Thorpe (LOST GIRL), and Dennis Heaton ( CALL ME FITZ, Fido).  Showrunners for Season 2 are James Thorpe and Dennis Heaton. Daniel Cerone wrote the pilot. The series is distributed internationally by NBCUniversal. Trish Williams and Rebecca DiPasquale are the Production Executives from Bell Media, Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

WEB PAGE:
ctv.ca/Motive

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter:
@MotiveTV
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@kristinlehman1 -- Kristin Lehman
@LaurenHolly -- Lauren Holly
@therogercross -- Roger Cross
@BrendanJPenny -- Brendan Penny
@cameronbright -- Cameron Bright

Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned and co-produced some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, while working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, MOTIVE, and THE LISTENER, and the recently concluded game changer FLASHPOINT. New for 2013 on CTV are the drama series PLAYED, relationship comedy SATISFACTION, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series. Among the scripted series on Bell Media specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, ORPHAN BLACK, and upcoming drama BITTEN, as well as reality series PANIC BUTTON and BRAVE NEW GIRL. In total, Bell Media ordered 27 new original Canadian series in 2012, and put 35 scripted projects into development.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. 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.

SOURCE: CTV

Tonia Addison, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]
Allie Page, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.4596 or [email protected]