DHX Media Ltd. and CTV Get SATISFACTION: New Canadian Comedy Starts Production

- New half-hour comedy from creator Tim McAuliffe begins shooting today in Toronto -
- Starring Ryan Belleville Luke Macfarlane and Leah Renee -
- Jason Priestley, Shawn Alex Thompson, Mike Clattenburg, Steve Wright, and Keith Samples set to direct episodes this season -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/ZXYAU8

TORONTO, April 29, 2013 /CNW/ - DHX Media Ltd., in association with CTV and Lionsgate, is pleased to announce that production is underway on its new half-hour original comedy series, SATISFACTION. From creator Tim McAuliffe (THE OFFICE, UP ALL NIGHT, LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON), SATISFACTION stars award-winning comic Ryan Belleville (GOING THE DISTANCE, THE L.A COMPLEX), Luke Macfarlane (BROTHERS & SISTERS, KINSEY, OVER THERE), and Leah Renee (THE PLAYBOY CLUB, BLUE MOUNTAIN STATE, M.V.P). The 13-episode, half-hour comedy series begins shooting in and around Toronto today (April 29) through July 2013.

**Media Note** - Download photos from SATISFACTION at BellMediaPR.ca.

"With the winning combination of creator Tim McAuliffe's comedic vision, the production strength of DHX Media Ltd., and a talented and funny all-Canadian cast, SATISFACTION is firing on all cylinders as it starts production," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media.

Set to premiere this summer on CTV, SATISFACTION takes a humorous look at a group of friends who are in a transitional phase in their lives and completely uninhibited, as they share their relationship woes and romantic wins, life crises, and personal ambitions. The comedy centres on three twenty-something friends who live together: Mark Movenpick (Ryan Belleville), the single guy, along with Jason Howell (Luke Macfarlane) and Maggie Bronson (Leah Renee), the couple. They are all pursuing their dreams to varying levels - in a world where $5 bank balances go head-to-head with lively social schedules. Based on real-life experiences, SATISFACTION contrasts the benefits and drawbacks of being both attached and unattached, where casual sex meets long dry spells, and where committed love meets long-term predictability.

Directors on the series this season include Shawn Alex Thompson (BILLABLE HOURS), Jason Priestley (CALL ME FITZ), Mike Clattenburg (TRAILER PARK BOYS), James Dunnison (LESS THAN KIND), Steve Wright (LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE), and Keith Samples (MR. D).

SATISFACTION is produced by DHX Media Ltd. Executive Producers are Michael Donovan (THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, Bowling For Columbine) and Tim McAuliffe (THE OFFICE, UP ALL NIGHT, LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON). Producers are Steven DeNure (THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES), Tracey Jardine (THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES) and Jim Corston (LIFE WITH BOYS). The series is written by Tim McAuliffe, Mark Critch (JUST FOR LAUGHS), Jason Belleville (LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE), Tim Polley (DAN FOR MAYOR), Jenn Engels (LESS THAN KIND), and Ryan Belleville (ALMOST HEROES). Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Comedy, 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

CTV:
Twitter
@CTV_Television
@CTV_PR

SATISFACTION:
Twitter:
@SatisfactionTV
Tim McAuliffe @TimMcAuliffeIII
Ryan Belleville @ryanbelleville
Leah Renee @leah__renee

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, MOTIVE, and THE LISTENER, and the recently concluded game changer FLASHPOINT. New for 2013 on CTV are the drama series PLAYED (working title), relationship comedy SATISFACTION, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series. Among the scripted series on Bell Media specialty channels are the two-time Emmy^®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, ORPHAN BLACK, and upcoming drama BITTEN, as well as reality series PANIC BUTTON. 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.

About DHX Media
DHX Media (www.dhxmedia.com) is a leader in the creation, production and licensing of family entertainment rights. DHX Media owns, markets and distributes over 8,500 half hours of entertainment content, and exploits owned properties through its consumer products licensing business.  DHX Media's full-service international licensing agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group, (CPLG), represents numerous entertainment, sport and design brands. DHX Media has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Halifax, London, Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon, Milan, Munich, Netherlands and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 26 shows on 19 networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning MAD MEN, WEEDS and NURSE JACKIE, the new comedy ANGER MANAGEMENT, the network series NASHVILLE, the syndication successes Tyler Perry's HOUSE OF PAYNE, its spinoff MEET THE BROWNS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW, ARE WE THERE YET? and the upcoming ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, an original series for Netflix. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

SOURCE: CTV

or to arrange an on-set interview, please contact: 

Jonathan Schwartz, Unit Publicist, SATISFACTION, 416.873.0096 or
[email protected]
Matthew Almeida, Publicist, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.2629 or
[email protected]
Allie Page, Sr. Manager, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.4596 or 
[email protected]