CTV's Hit Original Series MOTIVE Makes for a Killer Thursday Night as Season 2 Begins March 6

- Last season's #1 new Canadian scripted drama returns to CTV's blockbuster Thursday night lineup following GREY'S ANATOMY -

- Warren Christie and Valerie Tian join ensemble cast led by Kristin Lehman, and including Gemini Award-winner Louis Ferreira, Brendan Penny, and Lauren Holly -

- Season 2 guest stars include Jennifer Beals, Corbin Bernsen, Martin Donovan, and Callum Keith Rennie -

- MOTIVE: The Game simultaneously launches on CTV.ca, testing viewers' knowledge and detective skills weekly -

- Season 1 available in its entirety on demand at CTV.ca and the CTV GO App beginning Feb. 20 -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/1fBloUh

TORONTO, Feb. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - New secrets. New cases. New boss. CTV's MOTIVE is back, uncovering new killers and victims during its thrilling second season, airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT following GREY'S ANATOMY beginning March 6 on CTV and CTV GO. When it debuted last year, MOTIVE instantly became the #1 new Canadian scripted drama. The second season continues with the program's winning "whydunit" format of revealing the killer and victim at the start of each of the 13 new episodes. When the season opens, viewers are introduced to new regular cast member, Mark Cross (Warren Christie, ALPHAS), who shakes things up for Detective Angie Flynn (Kristin Lehman, THE KILLING) as the team's confident and charismatic new commander. The two share a mysterious connection that Angie would prefer to leave in the past, but she must find a way to work with Cross, even if it means confronting the truth - and the secret that drove them apart years ago. Adding to the exciting, must-watch new season are featured guest stars, including Jennifer Beals (THE CHICAGO CODE), Corbin Bernsen (PSYCH), Martin Donovan (HOMELAND), and Callum Keith Rennie (CALIFORNICATION).

MOTIVE joins the crop of March premieres on CTV, with a fresh Thursday night line up on March 6 kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT with TWO AND A HALF MEN, followed by Canada's #1 most-watched program, THE BIG BANG THEORY, the series premiere of CTV's new original, can't-miss comedy, SPUN OUT, fan-favourite GREY'S ANATOMY, and MOTIVE in the coveted 10 p.m. ET/PT timeslot. In advance of the Season 2 premiere, viewers can catch up on the entire first season of MOTIVE on demand at CTV.ca and the CTV GO app beginning Thursday, Feb. 20. MOTIVE Season 2 episodes will also be available on demand following each broadcast at CTV.ca and the CTV GO app.

"Premiering as part of the strong Thursday night line-up and with established favourite GREY'S ANATOMY as its lead-in, MOTIVE is perfectly positioned for another hit season," said Phil King, President - CTV, Sports, an‎d Entertainment Programming. "A fan favourite during Season 1, MOTIVE will continue to keep viewers on the edge of their seats and guessing at every turn."

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

Viewers can also go further into the world of MOTIVE on CTV.ca with MOTIVE: THE GAME, launching in tandem with the new season on Thursday, March 6. Featuring interviews with the cast and creators, the interactive game puts Canadians' detective skills to the test. Each week a new case will be available on CTV.ca, ready to be solved following the episode broadcast. Armed with clues from watching the week's episode, viewers can then put themselves at the crime scene to crack the case, and get promoted up the ranks while sharing their progress on social media.

Season 2 of MOTIVE picks up with Homicide detective Angie Flynn (Lehman) as determined as ever, her pursuit for justice never faltering. Her partner, Detective Oscar Vega (Gemini Award-winner Louis Ferreira, SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE), continues to be her rock with his no-nonsense attitude and unconditional support. Detective Brian Lucas (Brendan Penny, THE ASSISTANTS) is no longer the rookie at the station, a role he's happy to hand over to the very keen and ambitious Officer Wendy Sung (new cast member, Valerie Tian, ARROW). While Lucas maintains his sincere and earnest attitude, he finds himself challenged as his personal and professional lives start to collide.

Shaking up the station with his hands-on approach, the bullpen's new sergeant Mark Cross (Christie) has a strained connection with Angie - a connection she would prefer to leave in the past. As Angie attempts to keep the details of their relationship out of her professional life, she jeopardizes the trust she shares, and relies on, with Vega, and finds herself leaning on medical examiner Dr. Betty Rogers (Lauren Holly, NCIS), as she tries to find a way to work with Cross, even if it means confronting the truth.

In the Season 2 premiere, entitled "Raw Deal", (Thursday, March 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV) Detectives Angie Flynn (Lehman) and Oscar Vega (Ferreira) investigate a suspected suicide victim who may have had some unwelcome help ending his life. The victim had been methodically looking for someone before his death, and finding out for whom he was searching will lead the detectives to the motive. But Angie's focus is compromised when Cross (Christie) joins the team as the new commander.

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 (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER), Rob LaBelle (MENTAL), Lindsay Macadam (Battle in Seattle), James Thorpe (LOST GIRL), and Dennis Heaton (CALL ME FITZ, Fido). Showrunners for Season 2 are James Thorpe and Dennis Heaton. Daniel Cerone is the series creator. MOTIVE is distributed internationally by NBC Universal International.

Trish Williams and Rebecca DiPasquale are Production Executives, 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, Sports, an‎d Entertainment Programming.

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, MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian scripted series of the 2012/13 season, MASTERCHEF CANADA, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced complementary version of the hit international series. Also coming to CTV in early 2014 is multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed and internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, BITTEN, 19-2, and TRANSPORTER: THE SERIES, and upcoming dramas SENSITIVE SKIN and KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series such as BRAVE NEW GIRLS, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. In 2013, Bell Media ordered 27 original Canadian series and currently has 84 projects in various stages of 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 12 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@MotiveTV
@LarkTV
@kristinlehman1 - Kristin Lehman
@TheLuigi_F - Louis Ferreira
@HWarrenChristie - Warren Christie
@LaurenHolly - Lauren Holly
@BrendanJPenny - Brendan Penny

Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv

Source: BBM Canada, Sep. 24, 2012 - Sep. 15, 2013

SOURCE: CTV

Tonia Addison, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]
Christy Sullivan, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]