New Year. New Seasons. New Series - HBO Canada's January Lineup is Full of New and Returning Series That Will Have Viewers Buzzing All Year

- New HBO dramatic series TRUE DETECTIVE, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, premieres Sunday, Jan. 12 at 9 p.m. ET/MT -
- Season 3 of the Golden Globe^® Award-winning comedy series GIRLS premieres with two back-to-back episodes Sunday, Jan. 12 at 10 p.m. ET/MT -
- New HBO comedy series LOOKING premieres Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10:30 p.m. ET/MT -
- Subscribers can catch up on Season 2 of GIRLS, Season 11 of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER, and Season 1 of BANSHEE in High Definition via on-demand platforms

". . . breathtakingly sharp in writing, funny and graceful . . . wonderfully original, superior TV drama." - John Doyle, The Globe and Mail, on GIRLS

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/1gkkTzQ

TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - This January, HBO Canada delivers two new HBO watercooler series - the dark drama TRUE DETECTIVE and dramedy LOOKING - as well as the return of fan-favourites GIRLS, REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER and Cinemax's BANSHEE. HBO Canada is a multiplex channel of Bell Media's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada).

** Media Note ** - Download photos at http://mediacentre.corusent.com or bellmediaPR.ca/Network/HBO-Canada.  

TRUE DETECTIVE - premiering Sunday, Jan. 12 at 9 p.m. ET/MT
TRUE DETECTIVE is an eight-episode, one-hour anthology series starring A-listers Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as Louisiana detectives whose lives collide and entwine during a 17-year hunt for a killer. Rust Cohle (McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Harrelson) worked the macabre 1995 murder of a prostitute by a possible serial killer with disturbing occult leanings. In 2012, for reasons not immediately revealed, the two are interviewed separately by investigators about this notorious case. As they look back on the case, Hart and Cohle's personal backstories and often-strained relationship become a major focal point. Hart, an outgoing native Louisianan and family man whose marriage is being frayed by work stress and infidelity, is (at least on the surface) the polar opposite of Cohle, a lone-wolf pessimist and former narcotics detective from Texas. While the plot moves forward by their shared obsession to hunt down the ritual killer, the true drama centres around the mercurial nature of Hart and Cohle's relationship and personalities, and how they affect each other as detectives, friends, and men. Michelle Monaghan (Source Code) also stars as Hart's wife who struggles to keep her family together as the men in her life become locked in a cycle of violence and obsession. For a look at TRUE DETECTIVE click here.

LOOKING - premieres Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10:30 p.m. ET/MT
LOOKING offers up the unfiltered experiences of three close friends living - and loving - in modern-day San Francisco. Friendship may bind them, but each is at a distinctly different point in his journey: Patrick (Jonathan Groff, Frozen) is the 29-year-old video game designer getting back into the dating world in the wake of his ex's engagement; aspiring artist Agustín (Frankie J. Alvarez, SMASH), 31, is questioning the idea of monogamy amid a move to domesticate with his boyfriend; and the group's oldest member, long-time waiter Dom (Murray Bartlett, GUIDING LIGHT), 39, is facing middle age with romantic and professional dreams still unfulfilled. The trio's stories intertwine and unspool dramatically as they search for happiness and intimacy in an age of unparalleled choices and rights for gay men. Rounding out the LOOKING world are Dom's roommate Doris (Lauren Weedman, The Five-Year Engagement) Agustín's boyfriend Frank (O.T. Fagbenle, MATERIAL GIRL), and Patrick's co-worker Owen (Andrew Law, 30 ROCK), as well as love interests Kevin (Russell Tovey, HIM & HER), Lynn (Scott Bakula, BEHIND THE CANDELABRA), and Richie (Raúl Castillo, Cold Weather). For a look at LOOKING click here.

GIRLS - premiering on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 10 p.m. ET/MT, featuring a special presentation of two back-to-back episodes
In Season 3 of the Golden Globe^® Award-winning comedy series, Hannah (Lena Dunham) is now in a committed relationship with Adam (Adam Driver, Lincoln), and the two are settling into a newfound domesticity in Hannah's apartment. Hannah is also working on rehabilitating her writing career and concentrating on delivering her eBook to her eccentric publisher. Meanwhile, Marnie (Allison Williams) is adjusting to life after a sudden and traumatic breakup with Charlie and meticulously working to achieve the life she feels she deserves. Nearing graduation, newly single Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) masterminds a plan to create a healthy balance between partying and her studies. And, continuing her streak of disrupting the lives of those around her, Jessa (Jemima Kirke) resurfaces and strikes up an ambiguous friendship with a flamboyant father figure. Over this season's 12 episodes, the friendships between the girls are more volatile than ever, proving that female friendships have their own kind of romance. For a look at GIRLS' third season click here.

In advance of the premiere, subscribers can catch up on Season 2 of GIRLS in High Definition via on-demand platforms.

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER - premiering Friday, Jan. 10 at 10 p.m. ET/MT
Season 12 of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER sees Bill Maher continuing to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues. The series includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with special in-studio and satellite guests. REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER has long been a favourite of subscribers whose comedy specials for HBO include BILL MAHER…BUT I'M NOT WRONG, THE DECIDER, I'M SWISS, VICTORY BEGINS AT HOME, BE MORE CYNICAL, THE GOLDEN GOOSE SPECIAL, and STUFF THAT STRUCK ME FUNNY.

In advance of the premiere, subscribers can catch up on Season 11 of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER in High Definition via on-demand platforms.

BANSHEE - premiering Friday, Jan. 10 at 11 p.m. ET/MT
From executive producer Alan Ball (TRUE BLOOD, SIX FEET UNDER), this Cinemax action drama series charts the continuing twists and turns that follow Lucas Hood (Antony Starr, LOWDOWN), an ex-convict who improbably assumes the identity of sheriff of the rural, Amish-area town of Banshee, where his former lover and partner-in-crime (Ivana Milicevic, Casino Royale) lives under her own alias, Carrie Hopewell. Season 2 picks up when Carrie's father, gang kingpin Rabbit (Ben Cross, Star Trek ) was left for dead after a climactic warehouse shootout. Carrie, now exposed and estranged from her husband and kids, is torn between her devotion to her family and her connection to Lucas, who years earlier had given himself up in order to save her. The new season finds Lucas, having escaped detection after being interrogated by FBI agent Jim Racine (Zeljko Ivanek, Argo), with his hands fuller than ever as sheriff, dealing with the murder of a Kinaho tribe girl, the continuing escalation of tensions between Amish overlord Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen, Those Who Kill ) and Kinaho tribe leader Alex Longshadow (Anthony Ruivivar, SOUTHLAND ), and the unwelcome appearance of a surprise visitor. For a look at BANSHEE Season 2 click here.

In advance of the premiere, subscribers can catch up on Season 1 of BANSHEE in High Definition via on-demand platforms.

All new HBO programming premieres day-and-date with HBO in the U.S.

In Eastern Canada, episodes are available in High Definition on TMN GO and HBO Canada OnDemand.

In Western Canada, episodes will be available in High Definition on HBO Canada HD, on the go with the Shaw Go Movie Central app, Telus Optik TV and Bell TV Online and HBO Canada On Demand.

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About HBO Canada
HBO Canada brings Canadians HBO's current slate of signature dramatic and comedic programs, together with new and never-before-seen programming including comedy series, live specials, sporting events, behind-the-scenes content and titles from HBO's extensive library - all in an uncut and commercial-free environment. HBO Canada is offered in high definition on HBO Canada HD and programming is accessible on TMN GO and HBO Canada OnDemand. For more information, please visit www.hbocanada.com. In Eastern Canada, HBO Canada is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. In Western Canada, HBO Canada is offered by Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada).

About Movie Central
Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B), a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

SOURCE: HBO CANADA

For The Movie Network (Eastern Canada)
Jessica Charbonneau, 416.956.8638 or [email protected]

For Movie Central (Western Canada):
Owen McCorquodale, 416.479.6068 or [email protected]