CTV's New Original Series MOTIVE gets SUPER BOWL Kick-Off Sunday, Feb. 3 on CTV

- Chilling new crime show to premiere in coveted post-Super Bowl spot -
- Special sneak peek promo to air during FLASHPOINT series finale, Dec. 13 -
- MOTIVE stars Kristin Lehman (THE KILLING), Louis Ferreira (SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE), and Lauren Holly (NCIS) -
- Beginning Feb. 10, MOTIVE airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/12nd6Yr

TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - CTV's newest original Canadian production has scored a touchdown with the announcement today that the thrilling new scripted dramatic series MOTIVE will premiere in the most coveted timeslot in prime time television - immediately following a hand-off from SUPER BOWL XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 3. The announcement comes just hours before CTV says goodbye to FLASHPOINT - the hit TV series that spawned a resurgence in quality Canadian television. Viewers get a special sneak peek promo of MOTIVE during the explosive series finale of FLASHPOINT, tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

Anchoring CTV's stellar mid-season schedule following its post-SUPER BOWL XLVII debut, the compelling new CTV Original Series joins the network's blockbuster Sunday night lineup in its regular timeslot of Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning February 10. Viewers can catch full episodes of MOTIVE across CTV's digital platforms following its television broadcast on CTV.ca, the CTV App, the CTV Mobile channel, and through video on demand partners.

"With the biggest night in TV as its lead-in, MOTIVE is poised to be sampled by a large of number of Canadian viewers looking for the next great drama," said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. "It's been a landmark year for Bell Media's independent productions and MOTIVE offers a winning play for Canadians with a wealth of action, drama and intrigue we are proud to continue our industry-leading commitment to Canadian content."

"Producing MOTIVE in Vancouver with an outstanding cast and crew has afforded us the opportunity to fully exploit its beauty, setting, and talent. The resulting quality and high production values exceed our vision for the show," said Executive Producers Rob Merilees and Louise Clark "We are thrilled that CTV is equally enthusiastic about the show and has demonstrated its excitement for the series by launching MOTIVE directly following the broadcast of the Super Bowl."

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. Set and shot in Vancouver, the "whydunit" stars Kristin Lehman (THE KILLING), Gemini Award-winning Louis Ferreira (SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE), and Lauren Holly (NCIS).

**Media Note** Download artwork for MOTIVE at BellMediaPR.ca

An unconventional way to watch a crime unfold, MOTIVE pieces together the clues of a murder as each episode begins by revealing not only the victim, but the killer as well. It's an intense cat-and-mouse game as the homicide team sets off to piece together clues from the crimes committed. How did they do it? How are the victim and killer connected? What's the motive? As the mystery unfolds, winding between revealing flashbacks and present time - viewers navigate the twisted and complicated maze of each murder, solving the puzzle alongside Detective Angie Flynn and her team.

In the premiere episode entitled "Creeping Tom" (Sunday, Feb. 3, immediately following SUPER BOWL XLVII on CTV), Detective Angie Flynn (Kristin Lehman) is introduced as a street-smart, intuitive homicide detective whose teenaged son, Manny (Cameron Bright), looks out for her as much as she takes care of him. MOTIVE's first victim is a well-liked, karaoke-singing, high school science teacher (Joey McIntyre, DANCING WITH THE STARS) who is found murdered in his bedroom. A home invasion gone wrong seems too perfect for Detective Flynn and her partner, Detective Oscar Vega (Louis Ferreira). They follow a plausible lead to an adulterous wife and the motive of a crime of passion, but Angie's second sense points her in the direction of one of the dead teacher's students, a serial thief known only as "The Creeper".

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 some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, while working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. CTV series include the trailblazing, multi award-winning hit series FLASHPOINT and ratings success stories SAVING HOPE and THE LISTENER. MOTIVE was one of the three scripted series that Bell Media ordered in 2012 along with the heart-warming, television holiday feature, THE HORSES OF MCBRIDE. New for 2013, CTV has ordered THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series, As well, Bell Media has also ordered pilots for two, half-hour comedy series, SATISFACTION and SPUN OUT In total, Bell Media has ordered 25 new original Canadian series in 2012, and put 35 scripted projects into development.

Bell Media's Canadian specialty series include two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, new game show comedy MATCH GAME, new documentary series ENGRAVED ON A NATION, pop culture series CELEBRITY STYLE STORY, and mythological/action series PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD. Specialty series currently in production are ORPHAN BLACK and PANIC BUTTON, joining orders for JUST FOR LAUGHS: ALL ACCESS and BITTEN, all for 2013.

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]