Following a successful international launch more cases in store for Murdoch
Mysteries fans

- Citytv Orders Season Four of Shaftesbury Films' Crime Drama

- UKTV's Crime Channel Alibi Picks Up Season Four

- ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment Sells Internationally

TORONTO, April 12 /CNW/ - Canadian producer Shaftesbury Films is thrilled to announce that season four of their international hit series Murdoch Mysteries has been renewed by Citytv in Canada and by UKTV's crime drama channel Alibi in the UK. ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment Ltd is excited to continue their co-production relationship with Shaftesbury Films and have acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the significant fourth season of the one-drama and will showcase the series at MIPTV. The highly anticipated fourth season is scheduled to begin production in Toronto, Canada later this year.

The series has proven to be a great success globally as illustrated by the opening numbers for the third season with an increase of 123% *(adults per episode) over the first 8 episodes in the UK on Alibi. The series also has received many glowing reviews, including "The superb period sleuthing drama is back for a third season," appearing in Britain's well-regarded Sky Magazine. Murdoch Mysteries is the thrilling murder-mystery primetime television drama set in 1890s Toronto, starring Yannick Bisson as Detective William Murdoch and has gained international recognition as a successful independently produced television series. New episodes from season three are currently airing on Citytv in Canada and on Alibi in the UK. The series (39 x60) is watched in over 80 territories around the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Italy and the UK.

Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO, Shaftesbury Films said, "Making great television with partners like Citytv, Alibi and ITV STUDIOS is hugely satisfying. Our cast, writers, directors and crew are superb and poised for success with season four."

"Citytv is proud to be a part of this highly successful Canadian production popular with audiences in Canada and around the world," said Alain Strati, Vice-President, OMNI Station Group, Specialty TV & Development.

Steve Hornsey, Channel Head, Alibi said, "As Alibi continues to assert itself as TV's home of crime drama, we are delighted to confirm that we are co-producing a fourth series of Murdoch Mysteries. The latest season has created real appointment to view opportunities for us, more than doubling Alibi's slot average rating and bringing a highly desirable ABC1 audience. I am looking forward to building on this success with the fourth season."

Noel Hedges, Senior Vice President, Sales and Acquisitions, the Americas at ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment Inc said "We are absolutely thrilled to be working with our friends at Shaftesbury on more Murdoch Mysteries. This fourth season is a real testament to the quality and individuality of the show, and we're confident the new instalments will be hugely successful with our millions of international viewers."

Based on Maureen Jennings's critically acclaimed Detective Murdoch Mystery novels, Murdoch Mysteries is set in 1895 Toronto, and explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a handsome young detective using radical forensic techniques to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders. Murdoch's small circle of confidantes includes pathologist Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy), a staunch ally who shares the detective's fascination with forensic science, and Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris), Murdoch's eager but inexperienced right-hand man. Though his unconventional approach elicits skepticism from his boss, Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), Murdoch is often the only one who can crack the case.

The series is executive produced by Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury Films, and Larry Lalonde and Phil Bedard. It is produced by Peter Meyboom and Laura Harbin for Shaftesbury Films. Production executives are Alain Strati (Vice-President, OMNI Station Group, Specialty TV & Development) and Patrice Baillargeon (Director, Develop & Production, Rogers Media Television) for Citytv, Noel Hedges (Exectutive Producer) for ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment and Alexandra Finlay (Acquisitions, UKTV) for UKTV.

Murdoch Mysteries is developed and produced by Shaftesbury Films, in association with Citytv, a division of Rogers Media Inc., ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment and UKTV, and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, the Canadian Television Fund and the Independent Production Fund. ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment has worldwide distribution rights (excluding Canada and UK TV rights).

About Shaftesbury Films:

Founded in 1987, Shaftesbury Films has established a reputation as one of Canada's leading producers of high quality film, television and multi-format programming. Recent productions include; Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures for HBO Canada based on the Giller Prize-Winning book by Dr. Vincent Lam; The Listener for CTV and Fox International Channels; the third season of the Murdoch Mysteries for Citytv and UKTV's Alibi; ReGenesis for The Movie Network, Movie Central and Showcase; the record breaking TV movies In God's Country and Eight Days to Live, starring Kelly Rowan for CTV; and The Robber Bride, the Emmy-nominated TV movie starring Gemini award-winner Mary-Louise Parker for CBC. Shaftesbury Films also produces a variety of kids' programming, including 70 episodes of the Gemini winning series Life with Derek, currently airing on Family Channel and broadcast in over 120 countries worldwide and the soon to be released movie based on the series and entitled Vacation with Derek. In late 2008 Shaftesbury acquired Smokebomb Entertainment, an award-winning developer of original multiplatform digital content and has embarked on the creation and production of original online production. Visit the Shaftesbury website at www.shaftesbury.ca.

About Citytv:

Citytv(TM) television stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg offer viewers intensely-local, urban-oriented, culturally-diverse television programming. A distinct alternative to other conventional television stations, Citytv engages its viewers with dynamic on-air personalities and delivers an entertaining mix of news, local-interactive formats such as: Breakfast Television and CityLine; as well as local Canadian and US acquired prime time entertainment programming. Citytv is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited, a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI) which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For more information on Citytv stations and programming, visit www.Citytv.com

About Alibi:

Alibi, TV's home of crime drama, features the world's best-known TV detectives in crime dramas and murder mysteries. The cutting edge crime teams of Silent Witness, New Tricks, Murdoch Mysteries and its latest US acquisition, Castle, are joined by familiar favourites such as Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher and Inspector Lynley. Where to find Alibi: Sky channel 132 and Virgin TV channel 130. www.theperfectalibi.co.uk

About ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment

ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment is one of the world's leading international TV distribution, home-entertainment, merchandising and licensing businesses. ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment proudly represents a world-class portfolio from ITV Studios, Granada and over 200 leading independent producers. Showcasing more than 35,000 hours of critically celebrated and hugely-popular original and formatted programming, including all new Hell's Kitchen, Come Dine with Me, Dancing on Ice, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Coronation Street, Agatha Christie's Marple and Poirot, Inspector Morse, Prime Suspect and The Prisoner.

* Measurement: BARB (Broadcasters Audience Research Board)

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: or photography please contact: Sue Baldaro, Communications Director, Shaftesbury Films, T: [phone] ext 154, Mob: [phone], Email: [email protected]; David Reiss, PR Manager ITV STUDIOS, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Debbie Lawrence, The Lippin Company, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Tamsyn Zietsman, Head of Publicity, UKTV, Telephone: + 44 (0) 20 7299 6272, Email: [email protected]