Designated Hits: CTV Lands TV's Biggest New Dramas for 2016/17 Primetime Lineup

– CTV secures L.A. Market's "must-get" political conspiracy thriller DESIGNATED SURVIVOR starring Kiefer Sutherland ­–
– CTV nabs relationship drama THIS IS US as trailer smashes record with 70 million views worldwide –
– Big-buzz dramas CONVICTION, NOTORIOUS, TRAINING DAY, THE EXORCIST, and TIME AFTER TIME come to CTV along with new comedy AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE –
– Award-winning and fan-favourite stars come to CTV including Geena Davis, Bill Paxton, Hayley Atwell, Shawn Ashmore, Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Piper Perabo, Alan Ruck, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Maggie Q, and breakout star Sterling K. Brown –
– New series come from hit-making producers with powerful pedigree including Mark Gordon, Jerry Bruckheimer, Kevin Williamson, and Dan Fogelman –
– CTV and CTV Two's 2016/17 primetime schedules to be revealed June 8 in Toronto –

To tweet this release: http://bmpr.ca/22umA2P

"DESIGNATED SURVIVOR is THE new broadcast show people are looking forward to most."– TV.com

 "…[THIS IS US] looks like nothing else on broadcast TV right now…" –  Entertainment Weekly  

 "[CONVICTION] looks pretty darn good."– USA Today

"… NOTORIOUS promises a dirty-sexy-cynical media industry satire from an insider's perspective…" – Entertainment Weekly

"TRAINING DAY…seems to be as gripping and brutal as the Oscar-winning film version." – Digital Spy 

 "THE EXORCIST looks as though it's going to play it for jump-out-of-your-seat scares." - Yahoo

"A time-travelling romp." – The Telegraph on TIME AFTER TIME

"…[S]harp writing that cuts deeper into parental struggles than the usual family sitcom." - Entertainment Weekly on AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE

TORONTO, May 30, 2016 /CNW/ - After delivering a clean sweep of five of the Top 5 most-watched new programs last season with total viewers and all key adult demos, and seven of the Top 10, CTV announced today it has landed the next round of most sought-after new dramas from this year's Los Angeles Screenings. Coming to CTV are Kiefer Sutherland-led and Toronto-shot political conspiracy thriller DESIGNATED SURVIVOR; heart-wrenching relationship drama THIS IS US; brilliant bad girl legal series CONVICTION, also shot in Toronto; NOTORIOUS, which brilliantly interplays criminal law and the media; TRAINING DAY, a reimagining of the ground-breaking film of the same name; reinvented psychological thriller THE EXORCIST; TIME AFTER TIME, an epic love story charged with danger, adventure, and time travel; and the not-so-perfect family comedy AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE. The new series were strategically selected from Entertainment One (eOne), Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros. International Television, and Disney ABC Domestic Television.

CTV and CTV Two's 2016/17 primetime schedules and original Canadian slate will be presented at the #CTVUpfront on Wednesday, June 8 in Toronto. CTV ended the 2015/16 season as Canada's most-watched television network among total viewers and A25-54 for the 15^th year in a row.

"Original, emotional, supercharged, and salacious, next season's lineup is without question a game-changing collection of titles," said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV™. "We can't wait to introduce this next wave of Hollywood hits to advertisers next week and millions of Canadians this fall."

**Media Note** Photography for CTV's newly acquired series are available online at BellMediaPR.ca

Getting set for a new turn on CTV primetime are some of the season's biggest names and brightest talents including: Golden Globe^® and Emmy Award^® winner Kiefer Sutherland (24), Oscar^® winner Geena Davis (The Accidental Tourist, Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own), four-time Golden Globe nominee Bill Paxton (BIG LOVE), actress and recording artist Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember), Golden Globe nominee Piper Perabo (COVERT AFFAIRS), MARVEL'S Cinematic Universe alum Hayley Atwell (MARVEL'S AGENT CARTER), X-Men vet Shawn Ashmore (THE FOLLOWING), former White House insider Kal Penn (HOUSE, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), critically acclaimed actor Kevin Zegers (GRACEPOINT, Transamerica), Oscar nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (BLINDSPOT, Secrets and Lies), GILMORE GIRLS alum Milo Ventimiglia (HEROES), Maggie Q (NIKITA), Alan Ruck (SPIN CITY), Eddie Cahill (CSI: NY), Justin Hartley (REVENGE, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Katy Mixon (MIKE & MOLLY), and Diedrich Bader (VEEP, THE DREW CAREY SHOW).

CTV's New 2016/17 Acquired Series:

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
Emmy and Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (24) returns to primetime in a conspiracy thriller as Tom Kirkman, a lower cabinet member who unexpectedly becomes president after a devastating attack on Washington. He will struggle to prevent the country and his own family from falling into chaos, as he is thrust into one of the most difficult presidencies in history. DESIGNATED SURVIVOR also stars Natascha McElhone (CALIFORNICATION) as Alex Kirkman, Maggie Q (NIKITA) as Hannah Wells, Kal Penn (HOUSE) as Seth Wright, Adan Canto (THE FOLLOWING) as Aaron Shore, Italia Ricci (SUPERGIRL) as Emily Rhodes, LaMonica Garrett (SONS OF ANARCHY) as Mike Ritter, and Tanner Buchanan (THE FOSTERS) as Leo Kirkman. DESIGNATED SURVIVOR joins the CTV lineup via Entertainment One (eOne). From eOne subsidiary The Mark Gordon Company as the lead studio, and ABC Studios, creator David Guggenheim (Safe House) is executive producer, alongside Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Kiefer Sutherland (24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY), Mark Gordon (GREY'S ANATOMY), Nick Pepper (QUANTICO), Suzan Bymel (TOUCH), and Aditya Sood (The Martian). Paul McGuigan (SCANDAL) directed the first episode.

THIS IS US
Sometimes life will surprise you. Refreshingly honest and provocative, THIS IS US follows a unique ensemble of characters whose paths cross and life stories intertwine in curious ways. We find several of them share the same birthday, and so much more than anyone would expect. From the writer and directors of Crazy, Stupid, Love comes a smart, modern dramedy that will challenge everyday presumptions about the people everyone thinks they know. THIS IS US stars Sterling K. Brown (THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY) as Randall, Milo Ventimiglia (HEROES, GILMORE GIRLS) as Jack, Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember) as Rebecca, Justin Hartley (THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) as Kevin, Chrissy Metz (AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW) as Kate, Chris Sullivan (THE KNICK) as Toby, Ron Cephas Jones (MR. ROBOT) as William, and Susan Kelechi Watson (THE BLACKLIST) as Beth. Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love) serves as writer and executive producer. Jess Rosenthal, Charlie Gogolak and directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra also executive produce. THIS IS US is produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Rhode Island Ave. Productions.

CONVICTION
Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Hayley Atwell, MARVEL'S AGENT CARTER) is about to accept a job offer from her sexy nemesis, NY District Attorney Connor Wallis (Eddie Cahill, CSI: NY), to avoid jail time for cocaine possession and avoid hurting her mother's Senate campaign. Working with his team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit will let her use her brilliant mind to turn over cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family. CONVICTION also stars Shawn Ashmore (X-Men) as Sam Spencer, Merrin Dungey (BROOKLYN NINE-NINE) as Maxine Bohen, Emily Kinney (THE WALKING DEAD) as Tess Larson, Manny Montana (GRACELAND) as Franklin "Frankie" Cruz, and Daniel DiTomasso (WITCHES OF EAST END) as Jackson Morrison. CONVICTION joins the CTV lineup via Entertainment One (eOne). From eOne subsidiary The Mark Gordon Company as the lead studio, and ABC Studios, CONVICTION is co-created by writer Liz Friedman (MARVEL'S JESSICA JONES) and director Liz Friedlander (THE FOLLOWING). Friedman and Friedlander executive produce with Mark Gordon (GREY'S ANATOMY) and Nick Pepper.

NOTORIOUS
NOTORIOUS is about control, ego, and power – how a charismatic attorney and a powerhouse TV producer attempt to control the media, the justice system, and ultimately each other. Julia George (Piper Perabo, COVERT AFFAIRS) is the executive producer of the country's #1 news program. She decides what people care about, creating heroes and monsters, victims and villains. Jake Gregorian (Daniel Sunjata, RESCUE ME) is the nation's top defense attorney. Handsome and charismatic, he boasts a roster of celebrity clients and will win at any cost. As respective leaders in their fields, Julia and Jake are in a unique position to trade information and "access to the airwaves" for better stories and the upper hand. At odds in public, behind the scenes they are in cahoots, using each other to advance their own agendas. Inspired by the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, NOTORIOUS explores the boundaries of professional integrity and how far media will go for ratings, notoriety, and the last word. NOTORIOUS also stars Sepideh Moafi (BLACK BOX) as Megan Byrd, Kate Jennings Grant, (Frost/Nixon) as Louise Herrick, Ryan Guzman (HEROES REBORN) as Ryan, Kevin Zegers (GRACEPOINT) as Oscar Keaton, J. August Richards (MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Bradley Gregorian, and Aimee Teegarden (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) as Ella Benjamin. Allie Hagan and Josh Berman (BLACKLIST) co-wrote the series and are executive producers alongside Michael Engler (DOWNTON ABBEY) who directed the pilot, Kenny Meiselas, Jeff Kwatinetz (Barbershop: The Next Cut), Josh Barry (SALEM), Mark Geragos, and Wendy Walker (LARRY KING LIVE). NOTORIOUS is from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios.

TRAINING DAY
Gritty, emotional, darkly humorous and terrifically intense, TRAINING DAY is a reimagining of the ground-breaking film of the same name, beginning 15 years later, and exploring modern-day Los Angeles in all its guts and glory. The LAPD's Kyle Craig (Justin Cornwell, EMPIRE) is one of the good guys. A rookie cop bumped up to detective in the elite and elusive Special Investigation Section (S.I.S.), a unit that goes after the worst of the worst, he's been tasked by Deputy Chief Lockhart (Marianne Jean-Baptiste, BLINDSPOT) to expose the corruption of veteran cop Frank Rourke (Bill Paxton, BIG LOVE), a charming but crooked detective – and the head of S.I.S. The morally ambiguous Frank lives by the law of the jungle and he's willing to do whatever it takes to bring down the bad guys, and to continue the chase where the law won't. When Kyle learns that Frank was his father's partner and may be able to help him solve his father's murder, he keeps his judgment at bay. Having Kyle, a politically correct poster boy for the new police order, as his trainee could be beneficial for Frank as they maneuver the streets and track the city's most dangerous offenders. As the bullets fly in the undercover world of S.I.S. with these partners who don't trust each other, the question becomes who's training who? TRAINING DAY also stars Lex Scott Davis (TONI BRAXTON: UNBREAK MY HEART) as Alyse Arredondo, Katrina Law (ARROW) as Rebecca Lee, Drew Van Acker (PRETTY LITTLE LIARS) as Tommy Campbell, and Julie Benz (DEXTER) as Holly Butler. Executive producers are Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI), Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), and Jonathan Littman (CSI), alongside writer Will Beall (CASTLE). Barry Schindel (CASTLE) is executive producer and showrunner, Danny Cannon (GOTHAM) is director and executive producer, and KristieAnne Reed (LUCIFER) is co-executive producer. TRAINING DAY is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Fuqua Films in association with Warner Bros. Television.

THE EXORCIST
Widely regarded as the greatest horror movie ever made, The Exorcist broke box office records and terrified audiences around the world. Now, more than four decades after the Oscar^®-nominated film premiered, The Exorcist returns as a TV series. A modern reinvention inspired by William Peter Blatty's original 1971 book, THE EXORCIST is a propulsive, serialized, psychological thriller. The series follows two very different men, who tackle one family's case of horrifying demonic possession and find themselves confronted by the face of true evil. THE EXORCIST stars Alfonso Herrera (SENSE8) as Tomas Ortega, Ben Daniels (HOUSE OF CARDS) as Marcus Brennan, Hannah Kasulka (THE FOSTERS) as Casey Rance, Brianne Howey (SCREAM QUEENS) as Katherine Rance, Kurt Egyiawan (Skyfall) as Brother Bennett, and Geena Davis (COMMANDER IN CHIEF) as Angela Rance. Alan Ruck (SPIN CITY) guest stars as Henry Rance. Writer Jeremy Slater (Fantastic Four) is an executive producer alongside Rolin Jones (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS), James Robinson (Two for the Money), David Robinson (The Good Shepherd), Roy Lee (The Departed), Barbara Wall (The Colony), and Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) who also directed the pilot. THE EXORCIST is produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Morgan Creek Productions.

TIME AFTER TIME
Based on the novel and movie Time After Time, executive producer/writer Kevin Williamson (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, Scream franchise, DAWSON'S CREEK) delivers a fantastical cat-and-mouse adventure through time when famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. Once H.G. arrives in New York City, he finds a world he never thought possible and a young woman who captivates him. TIME AFTER TIME stars Freddie Stroma (UNREAL) as H.G. Wells, Josh Bowman (REVENGE) as John Stevenson, aka Jack the Ripper, Genesis Rodriguez (Big Hero 6) as Jane Walker, and Regina Taylor (DIG) as Vanessa Anders. Executive producer Kevin Williamson (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), wrote the pilot, and executive producer Marcos Siega (BLINDSPOT, THE FOLLOWING) served as its director. TIME AFTER TIME is from Outerbanks Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television.

AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE
Katie Otto (Katy Mixon, MIKE & MOLLY) a confident, unapologetic, plump wife and mother of three, raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut, filled with "perfect" mommies and their "perfect" offspring. She lets viewers in on her deepest, most unfiltered thoughts through voiceover as she lives her life as the second fattest housewife in Westport. AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE also stars Diedrich Bader (VEEP) as Jeff Otto, Johnny Sequoyah (BELIEVE) as Taylor, Daniel DiMaggio (SUPERGIRL) as Harrison, Julia Butters (TRANSPARENT) as Anna-Kat, Carly Hughes as Angela, and Ali Wong (INSIDE AMY SCHUMER) as Doris. Written by Sarah Dunn (SPIN CITY), executive producers are Aaron Kaplan (THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA), Rick Weiner (AMERICAN DAD!) and Kenny Schwartz (MODERN FAMILY), along with executive producer and director Ruben Fleischer (SUPERSTORE). AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE is produced by Kapital Entertainment and ABC Studios.

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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 15 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 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.

Source: Numeris, Sep 21, 2015 – May 1, 2016 and weeks 4-39 in previous years.
Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 are based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

– CTV –

SOURCE CTV

Image with caption: "L to R: Kiefer Sutherland in DESIGNATED SURVIVOR, Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia in THIS IS US, Hayley Atwell in CONVICTION, and Piper Perabo and Daniel Sunjata in NOTORIOUS (CNW Group/CTV)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160530_C8188_PHOTO_EN_701932.jpg

Tonia Addison, CTV Networks, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]; Laura Heath Potter, Communications Director, CTV Networks, 416.384.4633 or [email protected]