CTV Orders Fifth Season of Hit Original Series THE LISTENER

- Production on 13 new episodes from Shaftesbury to commence in early 2014 -
- Season 4 ranked among the Top 15 most-watched programs in Canada -

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CANNES, France, Oct. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - CTV announced today a 13-episode fifth season order for its hit original drama series THE LISTENER, bringing the series total to 65 episodes. Produced for CTV by Shaftesbury in association with Fox International Channels, and distributed by Shine International, the one-hour drama stars Craig Olejnik as mind-reading crime-solver Toby Logan. The announcement was made at MIPCOM, the world's annual entertainment content market in France, with cast members Craig Olejnik and Lauren Lee Smith in attendance.

During its fourth season on CTV, THE LISTENER continued to drive million-plus audiences, including a series-high 1.4 million viewers, and ranked among the Top 15 most-watched programs in Canada this past summer. Season 4 also saw A25-54 growth in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary over Season 3.

"Millions of Canadians spoke throughout the Season 4 broadcast this summer on CTV, and we've listened" said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. "THE LISTENER resonates with viewers across the country and we're very happy to work with Shaftesbury on another season."

"THE LISTENER offers a compelling mix of investigation, heart, and humour that continues to draw impressive audiences in Canada and around the world," said Christina Jennings, Chairman & CEO, Shaftesbury. "We are thrilled that CTV has ordered another season, and that Fox International and Shine are also on board once again."

** Media Note ** Download photos from THE LISTENER at www.BellMediaPR.ca

Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik) is "The Listener", a telepath who works as a special consultant with the elite Integrated Investigative Bureau (IIB), facing both professional and personal challenges as he uses his mind-reading skills to solve a variety of difficult and dangerous crimes alongside Sergeant Michelle McCluskey (Lauren Lee Smith, CSI; THE L WORD). Now a more seasoned investigator, and faced with a hostile boss, Toby will become more proactive and eventually come into conflict with the goals and procedures of the IIB organization. Meanwhile, Michelle is determined to have it all, working to balance her demanding career and the challenges of first-time parenthood with husband Adam (Kris Holden-Reid; LOST GIRL). And Toby's investigative journalist girlfriend, Tia Tremblay (Melanie Scrofano; HAVEN) will begin to delve into the secrets of Toby's past, eventually exposing truths which might threaten to turn his world upside down. The ensemble cast of THE LISTENER includes Craig Olejnik as Toby Logan; Lauren Lee Smith as IIB Sergeant Michelle McCluskey; Ennis Esmer (DIRTY SINGLES) as Toby's best friend and director of emergency services Oz Bey; Rainbow Sun Francks (STARGATE ATLANTIS) as IIB security and technical expert Corporal Dev Clark; Peter Stebbings (THE BORGIAS) as IIB head Alvin Klein; and Tara Spencer-Nairn (CORNER GAS) as Sandy, Oz's girlfriend and St. Luke Hospital triage nurse. One of Canada's top-rated homegrown dramas, THE LISTENER is broadcast on CTV and Bravo in Canada and on Fox International Channels internationally, and distributed by Shine International. The series has been licensed in 120 countries and 33 languages worldwide.

THE LISTENER is produced by Shaftesbury in association with CTV and Fox International Channels. The series is executive produced by Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury, and Peter Mohan (LOST GIRL, THE BRIDGE), who serves as showrunner. Sharon Tal Yguado is Executive Producer for Fox International Channels. Tom Hastings and Rebecca DiPasquale are production executives for Bell Media. Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media and Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks, Bell Media. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports. THE LISTENER is produced with the financial participation of The Canada Media Fund, The Canadian Film or Video Tax Credit and The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit.

About Bell Media Independent Production

Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, and MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian series of the 2012/13 season. Recent original productions include relationship comedy SATISFACTION; THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series, and new cop drama PLAYED. To premiere in the 2013/14 season are multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed ORPHAN BLACK, CSA-winning CALL ME FITZ, upcoming dramas BITTEN and 19-2, and new dramedy series SENSITIVE SKIN. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series PANIC BUTTON and BRAVE NEW GIRLS, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. So far in 2013, Bell Media has ordered 23 original Canadian series and put 52 projects into development.

About Shaftesbury

With offices in Toronto and Los Angeles, Shaftesbury is an award-winning producer and distributor of original content for television and multiple platforms in more than 120 countries. Shaftesbury's slate includes four seasons of The Listener for CTV and Fox International Channels; seven seasons of Murdoch Mysteries for Citytv, UKTV, ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment and CBC; the global hit kids' series Life with Derek; and compelling documentaries including Why Men Cheat. Shaftesbury's groundbreaking digital media division, Smokebomb Entertainment, creates convergent experiences for television and original digital content including the comedy series Backpackers for CTV and CW Seed; tween series Totally Amp'd and Unlikely Heroes for YTV.com; 3D science fiction series State of Syn and the International Emmy-nominated Murdoch Mysteries: The Curse of the Lost Pharaohs. Visit us online at http://www.shaftesbury.ca and http://www.smokebomb.ca.

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 12 years in a row. 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@CTV_Television
@CTV_PR

THE LISTENER:
Twitter:
@listenertv
Craig Olejnik: @craigolejnik
Ennis Esmer: @heyennisshutup
Lauren Lee Smith: @L_L_S
Rainbow Sun Francks: @RainbowFrancks
Tara Spencer-Nairn: @TSpencerNairn

SOURCE: CTV

For more information:
Jessica Charbonneau, Bell Media 416.384.2018 or [email protected]
Carolyn Fell, Bell Media, 416.384.2817 or [email protected]
Katherine Wolfgang, Shaftesbury, 416.669.2823, [email protected], MIPCOM Stand R27.12