Family Channel orders The Music Room from Temple Street Productions and the creator of the network's hit series The Next Step

TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2015 /CNW/ - After experiencing record-breaking success with the reality tween drama The Next Step, Family Channel is teaming up with Temple Street Productions and creator Frank van Keeken on a new half-hour show, The Music Room. A tween drama featuring an entirely original soundtrack, the series follows a group of young performers who are members of an elite music program. Family has ordered 26 episodes with production slated to start this Spring.  

"With the ongoing popularity of The Next Step, we're excited to be partnering once again with Frank and Temple Street to bring this unique series to our audience," said Michael Goldsmith, Director, Original Programming, DHX Television. "Music has always proven to be a powerful element that resonates with our fans and we've seen the real connection it sparks at our annual Big Ticket Summer Concert. In addition to the relatable storylines in development for this series, our viewers will also be able to bond with the characters through the original music and we're looking forward to offering fans this enhanced viewing experience."

The Music Room follows the lives of a group of musicians who are part of an exclusive after-school music program. Each year, in order to get in, students audition for the group's current members who select a small number of performers to join their ranks. Ultimately the group's leader, Mr. T., has the final say on new members, as well as who will have the opportunity to go on the annual live tour. He can't guarantee that the members will have a music career when they're finished at The Music Room, but the experience will help them become accomplished musicians.

"We're so thrilled to be teaming up again with Frank van Keeken who is an incredible and talented creator as well as continuing to expand our parternship with Family Channel," said David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, Executive Producers and Co-Presidents of Temple Street Productions. "The Music Room is an extension of The Next Step with a fresh take from the musical side incorporating compelling storylines, high-quality entertainment and of course brilliant performers."

Family has experienced great success with its production partners at Temple Street Productions. The popular series The Next Step, which returns for its third season on Monday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, has received national recognition with such notable honours as the 2013 Shaw Rocket Prize and both the 2013 Digi Award and 2014 Canadian Screen Award for Best Cross-Platform Project – Children's and Youth for The Next Step Interactive. The show is currently nominated for three 2015 Canadian Screen Awards: Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series, Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series, and Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series.

Created by Frank van Keeken (The Next Step, Wingin' It, Billable Hours), The Music Room is produced by Temple Street Productions and is executive produced by Frank van Keeken, Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Orphan Black, Being Erica, The Next Step).

About Temple Street Productions
Temple Street Productions is a leading producer of television, film and digital media content based in Toronto and Los Angeles. A selection of Temple Street's past and present projects include, Orphan Black (BBC AMERICA, Space), Being Erica (CBC, SOAPnet), The Next Step (Family Channel), Wingin' It (Family Channel), Say Yes to the Dress Canada (W), Million Dollar Critic (W, BBC America), Cook'd (YTV), Over the Rainbow (CBC), Recipe to Riches (Food Network, Global), Cover Me Canada (CBC), Billable Hours (Global, Showcase), Canada's Next Top Model (CTV), How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (CBC), Queer as Folk (Showtime, Showcase), and Darcy's Wild Life (NBC, Discovery Kids, Family Channel). For more company information www.templestreetproductions.com twitter @TempleStreet or connect with us on Facebook.

Family Channel is a premium, commercial-free network offering the best in family television entertainment in approximately 6 million homes across Canada. Dedicated to celebrating family life and providing a fun experience for all, Family airs a unique mix of series, movies and specials, with a large portion of programming supplied by Disney. Family Channel also offers Family OnDemand, a television-based Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service and Family OnLine, an internet-based, streaming service, these services, available at no additional cost, present hit Disney movies and series, plus top-rated Canadian series to subscribers when they want it, where they want it. Visit us at Family.ca. 

About DHX Television
DHX Television is comprised of Family Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior (English & French) and is part of DHX Media Ltd. (TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B), a leading creator, producer, marketer and broadcaster of family entertainment. DHX Media Ltd. markets and distributes its library of more than 11,000 half-hours of entertainment programming worldwide, and licenses its owned properties through its dedicated consumer products business. DHX Media Ltd.'s full-service international licensing agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd. (CPLG), represents numerous entertainment, sport and design brands. DHX Media Ltd. has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Halifax, London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Munich and Amsterdam.

SOURCE Family Channel

Joanna Landsberg, Publicist - DHX Television, [email protected], 416.977.7458