CTV Original Drama MOTIVE Picked Up by ABC for U.S. Broadcast

- Canadian cop drama to air Summer 2013 on ABC -
- MOTIVE premieres this Sunday, Feb.3, immediately following Super Bowl XLVII on CTV -

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MIAMI, Jan. 30, 2013 /CNW/ - Just five days before CTV's newest Original Series MOTIVE is set to premiere in Canada, Phil King, President of CTV Programming and Sports, confirmed today from NATPE that the series has been picked up by ABC for broadcast in the United States. The thrilling, 13-episode Canadian scripted series, originally green-lit by CTV last May, is scheduled to air in Summer 2013 on the ABC Television Network. Set and shot in Vancouver, the one-hour crime procedural is distributed by NBC Universal.

MOTIVE receives its world premiere in the most coveted timeslot in prime time television - immediately following a hand-off from SUPER BOWL XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 3 on CTV, before settling into its regular Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT timeslot beginning February 10.

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

"We are very happy to have ABC on board and thrilled that this fantastic new Canadian drama will have a North American audience," said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. "CTV is very proud of our track record in developing and co-producing original Canadian content that continues to be seen around the world. Today's announcement is a testament to the talent of Canada's independent production community, Vancouver's film and television community, and of, course Bell Media's Independent Production team."

From acclaimed Executive Producer Daniel Cerone (THE MENTALIST, DEXTER), MOTIVE is a captivating one-hour crime drama that follows spirited female homicide detective Angie Flynn on a backwards chase for clues to a killer that has already been revealed to viewers. An unconventional way to watch a crime unfold, the "whydunit" stars Kristin Lehman (THE KILLING), Gemini Award-winning Louis Ferreira (SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE), and Lauren Holly (NCIS).

In addition to Joey MacIntyre's guest-starring turn in the series premiere, MOTIVE features a dynamic lineup of guest appearances throughout the season, including Molly Parker (THE FIRM, DEXTER) and Liane Balaban (SUPERNATURAL), and acclaimed directors including David Frazee (FLASHPOINT) and Oscar-nominated Sturla Gunnarsson (Rare Birds, Beowulf & Grendel).

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), and James Thorpe (LOST GIRL). Showrunner is James Thorpe. 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. 

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 and THE LISTENER, and the recently concluded game changer FLASHPOINT. In addition to MOTIVE, new for 2013 on CTV is the drama series PLAYED (working title), relationship comedy SATISFACTION, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series, and a pilot for the half-hour comedy SPUN OUT. Scripted series on Bell Media specialty channels include two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, mythological/action series PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD, and the upcoming dramas ORPHAN BLACK and BITTEN. In total, Bell Media ordered 26 new original Canadian series in 2012, and put 35 scripted projects into development.

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 10 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.

WEB PAGE:
ctv.ca/Motive

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@MotiveTV
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television

Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv

SOURCE: CTV

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