CTV Acquires New VERONICA MARS Digital Spinoff Series Exclusively for CTV EXTEND

- Digital hub adds the highly-anticipated VERONICA MARS spinoff for Fall, 2014 -

- Digital Companion Series THE LISTENER: THE TOBY LOGAN FILES available starting today -

- Canadian commissions GUIDESTONES: SUNFLOWER NOIR and JOKE OR CHOKE from Executive Producer Howie Mandel and Insight Productions set to premiere July 15 -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/SrUl5R

BANFF, AB, June 9, 2014 /CNW/ - CTV today announced the second wave of exclusive content launching on CTV EXTEND led by the highly anticipated Veronica Mars Digital Spinoff Series, coming Fall 2014. From acclaimed series creator Rob Thomas, the spinoff series is just one of several new commissions and acquisitions being programmed as part of the free-to-consumer digital hub's ever expanding program lineup. In all, four new series are slated to join the lineup beginning as soon as today, in addition to the 11 digital series already available.

CTV's original network drama THE LISTENER has spun off a third companion series, THE TOBY LOGAN FILES, available starting today on CTV EXTEND. The sequel to the EMMY^® Award-winning Canadian series GUIDESTONES, called GUIDESTONES: SUNFLOWER NOIR and comedy JOKE OR CHOKE will launch July 15. See all series descriptions and premiere information below.

CTV EXTEND is an ad-supported online hub, attached to CTV.ca and available on the CTV GO app with exclusive, stand-alone original content, acquisitions, specially commissioned digital programs, online extensions of popular CTV shows, and more. Launched on April 29, 2014 with 11 digital series, this ambitious initiative, a first for a private Canadian broadcaster, is completely free to viewers. The new slate of programming joins current CTV EXTEND series including BACKPACKERS from Smokebomb Entertainment, and SPACE RIDERS: DIVISION EARTH from iThentic, both commissioned exclusively for the digital hub; WOLFPACK OF RESEDA from Fox Digital Studios; as well as CTV spin-offs ARROW: BLOOD RUSH, SAVING HOPE: LAST CALL, MOTIVE: DARK CORNER, and THE LISTENER: DOUBLE DATE WITH DEATH.

**Media Note** Photography for CTV EXTEND series are available online at BellMediaPR.ca

"After the successful launch of CTV EXTEND, we are committed to building our momentum by aggressively acquiring, commissioning and producing the most engaging and compelling content for our viewers and our advertising partners," said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks.

"We are confident that the value of these titles and this second wave of programming will fuel viewer engagement with the CTV EXTEND brand," said Chris Skinner, Executive Producer, CTV.ca. "This new content is guaranteed to resonate with viewers and keep them coming back for more."

New CTV EXTEND Programming:

PLAY IT AGAIN, DICK (VERONICA MARS spinoff)
Premieres Fall, 2014

PLAY IT AGAIN, DICK stars Ryan Hansen (VERONICA MARS, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) as himself, as he begs, cajoles, and pleads with his former VERONICA MARS castmates and friends to help him get his character, Dick Casablancas, his own spin-off show. Produced by Warner Bros.

THE LISTENER: THE TOBY LOGAN FILES (6 x 4 min.)
Available starting today - First five episodes available
June 16 - Final episode available

This Season 5 digital extension of CTV hit original series THE LISTENER follows newly-installed Supervising Inspector Brian Becker (Anthony Lemke, LOST GIRL) of the Integrated Investigative Bureau (IIB) as he interrogates key characters from special consultant Toby Logan's (Craig Olejnik) past, in an effort to dig deeper into Toby's suspicious crime-solving "face-reading abilities." Produced by Smokebomb Entertainment.

GUIDESTONES: SUNFLOWER NOIR (18 episodes)
Premieres July 15 - All episodes available

GUIDESTONES: SUNFLOWER NOIR picks up where the Emmy-winning GUIDESTONES left off. Sandy Rai is on the run, from her past and from a global organization intent on culling the human population by whatever means necessary. So begins a journey that takes her through London, Wales, France, New York, Toronto, Greece, Ukraine, and into a conspiracy involving priceless art forgeries, clandestine CIA experiments, and a secret so devastating it will change the course of humanity. Starring Sandy Rai (Supinder Wraich, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION) and Trevor Shale (Dan Fox, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION). Produced by iThentic/3'oclock.tv in association with Bell Media, the Independent Production Fund (IPF), the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), and the Canada Media Fund (CMF).

JOKE OR CHOKE (1 x 30 min.)
Premieres July 15

From Executive Producers Howie Mandel, John Brunton, and Barbara Bowlby, and commissioned exclusively for CTV EXTEND, this series sees four of Canada's funniest comedians go head-to-head in stand-up elimination while writing and performing brand new material based on topics chosen for them. To win, contestants must impress judge Mark Forward (MR. D). Produced by Insight Production Company Ltd. and HDI Productions Inc. in association with Bell Media.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 13 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is part of 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.

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Christy Sullivan, CTV Networks, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]
Renee Dupuis, CTV Networks, 416.384.3154 or [email protected]