CTV Orders New Seasons of Hit Canadian Dramas THE LISTENER and SAVING HOPE

- THE LISTENER grows audience year-to-year since debut -
- Freshman series SAVING HOPE is Canada's #1 drama and #1 new series of the summer -

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TORONTO, July 25, 2012 /CNW/ - CTV announced today full-season orders of its hit original dramas THE LISTENER and SAVING HOPE as both series break mid-season for London 2012 this week. The network ordered a 13-episode fourth season of international hit THE LISTENER from Shaftesbury, and a 13-episode second season of this summer's #1 drama SAVING HOPE from ICF Films/Entertainment One. Both CTV original series have been attracting impressive audiences this summer. The third season of fan favourite THE LISTENER is delivering its best performance yet with an average audience of 1.14 million viewers, up 14% over last season and up 28% over Season 1. Meanwhile, SAVING HOPE reigns as Canada's #1 new series this summer with a season-to-date average of 1.6 million viewers.

The announcement comes following CTV's order of the new original drama series MOTIVE (working title), as well as the pilot orders for new original comedies SATISFACTION and SPUN OUT.

"With new season orders of veteran hit THE LISTENER and the summer's breakout hit SAVING HOPE, both currently on air, we are committed to continuing to build on the strength of these fan favourite shows," said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports.

** Media Note ** Download new photos from THE LISTENER and SAVING HOPE at BellMediaPR.ca

"We are thrilled to be coming back for a fourth season of THE LISTENER after our strongest season yet, and thank everyone at CTV for their commitment to the series," said Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO, Shaftesbury. "The enduring success of THE LISTENER is a testament to the dedicated team of actors, writers, producers, directors and crew who bring this show to life, and we look forward to working closely with CTV to continue to grow our fan base across all platforms."

"We're excited that Canadian audiences have responded to SAVING HOPE with such enthusiasm," said executive producer Ilana Frank, Ilana C Frank Films (ICF Films). "We're grateful for CTV's commitment and proud to have this opportunity to bring a second season to viewers." 

In Season 3, THE LISTENER's Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik) dramatically steps away from his role as a paramedic to work more closely with the Integrated Investigative Bureau (IIB). At the IIB, Toby works in tandem with Sgt. Michelle McCluskey (Gemini Award-nominee Lauren Lee Smith, CSI) and Dev Clark (Rainbow Sun Francks, STARGATE ATLANTIS), as part of an elite special ops unit tasked with handling the most difficult cases. Although the new role gives Toby a renewed focus, it also puts undue pressure on him to prove to his peers - and to himself - that he belongs. While his new job means cutting back on some of his EMS duties, Toby is not far from his best friend and paramedic partner Oz (Ennis Esmer, THE L.A. COMPLEX), after Oz moves in next door. 

In SAVING HOPE, Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks, STARGATE SG1), the charismatic Chief of Surgery of Toronto's Hope-Zion Hospital ends up in a coma, leaving the hospital in chaos - and his fiancée and fellow surgeon, Alex Reid (Erica Durance, SMALLVILLE), in a state of shock. Along with newly-arrived star surgeon, Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), Alex races to save Harris' life. As the action unfolds, comatose Dr. Harris explores the hospital halls in "spirit" form, not sure if he's a ghost or a figment of his own imagination. Reid, along with her fellow doctors, press on to save his life and those of their other patients, as they deal with the complicated and courageous decisions that are made in their daily struggle to keep hope alive.

SAVING HOPE also stars Wendy Crewson (Away From Her), Huse Madhavji (COMBAT HOSPITAL, CALL ME FITZ), Julia Taylor-Ross (ROOKIE BLUE), and Kristopher Turner (ROOKIE BLUE, THE LISTENER).

Episodes of THE LISTENER and SAVING HOPE are also available across CTV's digital platforms following their television broadcast on CTV.ca, the CTV App, CTV Mobile on Bell Mobile TV, and through video on demand partners, such as Bell Fibe TV.

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 Karen Troubetzkoy (18 TO LIFE) and Peter Mohan (LOST GIRL, THE BRIDGE), who serves as Season 3 showrunner. Robin Johnston and Rebecca Dipasquale are Production Executives for Bell Media. 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. Sharon Tal Yguado is Executive Producer for Fox International Channels. 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. THE LISTENER is available in 120 countries and 33 languages worldwide via Fox International Channels and Shine International, which distributes the series internationally. The series has also been licensed to ION Television in the United States.

SAVING HOPE is produced by Ilana C Frank Films (ICF Films) with Entertainment One, in association with CTV and NBC. The series is executive produced by Ilana Frank and David Wellington for ICF Films, John Morayniss (THE FIRM, HAVEN) for Entertainment One and Lesley Harrison. Executive Producers and Showrunners are Morwyn Brebner (ROOKIE BLUE) and Aaron Martin (BEING ERICA). The series was created by Malcolm MacRury (CRASH AND BURN, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE) and Morwyn Brebner. David Wellington directed the pilot. For Bell Media, Trish Williams is Director, Drama, Independent Production; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production; Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

About CTV
CTV, Canada's Olympic Network, is also 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 and lead broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games. 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:

CTV:
Twitter:
@CTV_Television
@CTV_PR
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ctv

THE LISTENER:

Twitter:
@listenertv
Ennis Esmer: @heyennisshutup
Lauren Lee Smith: @L_L_S
Rainbow Sun Francks: @RainbowFrancks
Mylène Dinh-Robic: @MyleneDinhRobic
Tara Spencer-Narin: @TSpencerNairn
Arnold Pinnock: @ARNOLDPINNOCK

Facebook:
facebook.com/CTV.TheListener

SAVING HOPE:
Twitter:
@SavingHopeTV
@ReycraftMD
Michael Shanks: @MichaelShanks
Daniel Gillies: @danieljgillies
Kristopher Turner: @kristopherturn
Huse Madhavji: @HuseM
Julia Taylor-Ross: @juliataylorross

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SavingHopeTV

Tumblr:
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/saving+hope

Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/CTVTelevision/saving-hope/

Source:
BBM Canada, Summer 2012: May 28 - July 15, 2012.
BBM Canada, Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

SOURCE: CTV

Jacqui VanSickle, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.5091 or [email protected]
Allie Page, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.4596 or [email protected]
Jim Quan, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.5311 or [email protected]