Secret identities, special agents and shake ups on Family Channel this fall

Canadian original series Connor Undercover and Disney original series Fish Hooks among new shows coming to Family this fall

TORONTO, July 29 /CNW/ - Featuring Disney shows along with Canadian original programming, Astral's Family Channel unveils a fall lineup filled with new live action and animated shows alongside popular returning series. Complete descriptions, premiere dates, high-resolution images and contact information for this programming are available at: http://tv.astral.com/highlights

"We are excited to announce the new Family Channel fall lineup, a lineup that offers strong Canadian programming alongside great new titles from Disney," said Kevin Wright, Senior Vice President, Programming, Family Channel and Playhouse Disney. "This fall on Family promises to be a lot of fun with teen monarchs, secret agents, would-be dance stars and fishy high school students, along with new episodes from the channel's most popular series."

New Canadian series, Connor Undercover premieres on Family Channel on September 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Helicopters, double agents and triple crosses are all found in this spy series that follows 15-year-old Connor Heath, whose life is changed when a beautiful president's daughter is sent, for her own safety, to live with his family. Connor Undercover stars Max Morrow, Lola Tash and Jordan Francis and will air Friday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

New Disney shows on Family this fall include Fish Hooks, the inventive animated comedy series set inside a giant fish tank in the centre of a pet store. The show sneak peeks on September 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT and will air on weekends at 8 a.m. ET/PT from September 25. Bringing an interesting twist to the high school sitcom, Fish Hooks features the voices of Kyle Massey (Cory in the House) and Chelsea Staub (JONAS).

The live action Disney comedy, Pair of Kings, stars Mitchel Musso (Hannah Montana) and Doc Shaw (The Suite Life on Deck) as fraternal twins who discover they are the successors to the throne of the tropical island nation of Kinkou. Pair of Kings premieres on September 17 at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT with a special two-part episode and will air in its regular timeslot of weekend mornings at 11 a.m. ET/PT as of September 25.

In Disney's Shake it Up!, premiering later this fall, best friends and dance students CeCe Jones and Raquel "Rocky" Blue are on their way to new and fun adventures when they get their big break as background dancers on a local TV show.

Fifteen-year-old Becky Richards learns that high school politics are nothing compared to the real thing when she wins the election to become the new mayor of her hometown in Majority Rules. The show premieres on Family on September 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will continue to air at 9 p.m. ET/PT on weekday evenings, Monday to Thursday.

Season three of Disney's popular comedy, The Suite Life on Deck, will premiere on Family on September 6 at 6 p.m. ET/PT. New episodes will air on Friday evenings at 6 p.m. ET/PT from September 10.

A popular title with preschool audiences, the hit interactive series Special Agent Oso returns for a second season on September 17 at 9:37 a.m. ET/PT with new episodes airing Friday mornings at 9:37 a.m. ET/PT. Paying homage to special agent classics, season two of the Disney Channel Original Series sees guest star appearances from Mel Brooks, Brad Garrett and famed Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz.

Also for younger viewers, the fourth season of Canadian series The Secret World of Benjamin Bear premieres on Family Channel on September 24 at 5:20 a.m. ET/PT. Revealing the best-kept secret about teddy bears - that when no one is looking, these cuddly toys come alive and have amazing adventures - the series follows Benjamin Bear and his little teddy-in-training, Howie. New episodes are set to air on Friday mornings at 5:20 a.m. ET/PT.

Family Channel is a premium, commercial-free network offering the best in family television entertainment in over 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 in select areas, a Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service that features hit Disney movies and series, top-rated Canadian series and Playhouse Disney programming, and Family OnLine, a broadband service offered to Bell TV subscribers. Visit us at Family.ca.

Family Channel is a member of the Astral family. Astral is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates more than 100 of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

For further information: Media contact: Jaime Werby, Publicist, Family Channel and Playhouse Disney, 416.956.8547, [email protected]; Kate Dickson, Communications Manager, Family Channel and Playhouse Disney, 416.956.8584, [email protected]