CANWEST PROGRAMMING GARNERS AN IMPRESSIVE 62 GEMINI AWARD NOMINATIONS

    
                 Alice leads the way with seven nominations

       Gala ceremony to be broadcast November 13 on Global and Showcase

                           www.canwesttvmedia.com
    

TORONTO, Aug. 31 /CNW/ - Canwest Broadcasting's original programming slate earned a remarkable 62 Gemini Awards Nominations as announced today by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Alice leads the pack with seven, including Best Dramatic Mini-Series, followed by Cra$h & Burn with six. Global National received five nominations, with News Hour-Global BC earning a nod for Best Local Newscast - Large Market. Canwest's outstanding collection of dramatic and factual originals received 40 Gemini Award nominations, while its robust lineup of engaging lifestyle series celebrates with 16 nominations.

"The recognition received today is a testament to our external partners and in-house creative team's steadfast commitment to producing quality Canadian programming," said Barb Williams, Executive Vice President, Content, Canwest Broadcasting. "Their talent, dedication and unabashed passion for their craft should be celebrated and we look forward to crowning their achievements in November."

Gemini Award Nominees across Global and Canwest's 19 specialty channels include:

    
    Alice                                7 nominations
    Cra$h & Burn                         6 nominations
    Global National                      5 nominations
    Pure Pwnage                          3 nominations
    Producing Parker                     3 nominations
    The Guard                            3 nominations
    Chuck's Day Off                      2 nominations
    Clubland                             2 nominations
    Family Renovation                    2 nominations
    French Food at Home                  2 nominations
    Holmes Inspection                    2 nominations
    Passage                              2 nominations
    Manson                               2 nominations
    Sarah's House                        2 nominations
    X-Weighted: Families                 2 nominations
    

A Dream for Kabul, Aftermath, Agent vs. Agent, Ancestors in the Attic, Convoy - War of the Atlantic, Dive Detectives: Edmund Fitzgerald, Glutton for Punishment, Hangman's Graveyard, History Bites - The Filthy Stinking Rich, Ice Pilots NWT, Kenny vs. Spenny, News Hour-Global BC, Paradise Falls, Pitchin' In, Til Debt Do Us Part, TotallyADD.com and Waterlife.nfb.ca each earned one nomination.

For the complete list of nominees, please visit: www.geminiawards.ca.

Global Television and Showcase broadcasts the 25th Annual Gemini Awards ceremony on Saturday, November 13, from the historic Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.

About Canwest Broadcasting

Canwest Broadcasting operates Global Television and 19 of the country's most popular specialty channels, including HGTV, Mystery TV, National Geographic Channel, Showcase, History Television, Food Network and TVtropolis. Canwest Broadcasting is a division of Canwest Media Inc.

About Canwest Originals

Canwest is the proud home of the most diverse slate of Canadian Original programs across the Dramatic, Lifestyle and Entertainment genres. As a steadfast supporter of the Canadian production community, Canwest is dedicated to bringing the best of the country to audiences nationwide - including shows such as: Rookie Blue, Pitchin' In, Holmes Inspection, Ice Pilots: NWT, Lost Girl, 16:9, The Opener, Princess, William Shatner's Weird or What? and Canada's most trusted entertainment news show Entertainment Tonight Canada.

About Canwest Media Inc.

Canwest Media Inc. is a subsidiary of Canwest Global Communications Corp. (www.canwest.com) (TSX-V; CGS and CGS.A), one of Canada's largest broadcasting companies. In addition to owning the Global Television Network, Canwest operates 19 industry-leading specialty channels and more than 20 online properties.

For further information: Grace Park, Publicity Manager, Global Television, 416.9672484, [email protected]; Jessica Gold, Senior Publicist, Canwest Dramatic Channels, 416.966.7543, [email protected]