Winter is Coming: CTV to Broadcast GAME OF THRONES Season 1 in Historic Network Marathon Beginning August 8

– CTV unlocks 10-episode first season; episodes to air intact, unedited, and with reduced commercial time. Viewer discretion is advised. –

– To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/29t3OGx – 

TORONTO, July 7, 2016 /CNW/ - CTV unveiled today the centrepiece of its Summer 2016 programming strategy, announcing in a network first, plans to air HBO's GAME OF THRONES Season 1 in a 10-episode programming marathon this August. The broadcast on CTV marks the first time the worldwide phenomenon has aired on network television in North America.

The most-watched series in HBO Canada history makes its broadcast debut on CTV and the CTV GO app beginning Monday, August 8 at 10 p.m. in all markets. Each weeknight for 10 straight episodes, the season unfolds until its chilling season finale on Friday, August 19 (see schedule below). The announcement, made by CTV in partnership with HBO Canada, which is the exclusive home of GAME OF THRONES in Canada, confirmed all 10 episodes are set to air intact, unedited, and with reduced commercial time to further enhance the viewer experience.

As the fantasy series portrays a world with violence, sexuality, and nudity, it is therefore not a program for children, and some adults may also find it too strong for their taste. With strict adherence to CBSC standards, CTV will ensure the program airs with the appropriate viewer disclaimers and AGVOT rating throughout each episode.

"GAME OF THRONES has never been more popular and now it's time to make Season 1 available to every Canadian viewer," said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV™. "A Season 1 marathon is not just timely, but the perfect summer alternative in 2016 and we are excited to offer all 10 episodes in this unaltered format."

"Bringing our biggest show ever to CTV's massive audience is also a fantastic opportunity to showcase both the series and HBO Canada," said Tracey Pearce, Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay. "We're excited to engage Canadians who will discover the series for the first time and to let them know that all episodes and seasons of current HBO programming is available to subscribers on-demand, 24/7, via TMN GO."

GAME OF THRONES Season 1 is set in a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime, and trouble is brewing. From the scheming south and the savage eastern lands, to the frozen north and the ancient Wall that protects the realm from the darkness beyond, two powerful families are engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As betrayal, lust, intrigue, and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdoms, their bloody struggle for the Iron Throne will have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences. Winter is coming.

GAME OF THRONES Season 1 Marathon Schedule:

Monday, Aug. 8: Episode 1 – Winter is Coming
Tuesday, Aug. 9: Episode 2 – The Kingsroad
Wednesday, Aug. 10: Episode 3 – Lord Snow
Thursday, Aug. 11: Episode 4 – Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things
Friday, Aug. 12: Episode 5 – The Wolf and the Lion
Monday, Aug. 15: Episode 6 – A Golden Crown
Tuesday, Aug. 16: Episode 7 – You Win or You Die
Wednesday, Aug. 17: Episode 8 – The Pointy End
Thursday, Aug. 18: Episode 9 – Baelor
Friday, Aug. 19: Episode 10 – Fire and Blood

About GAME OF THRONES:
Emmy^® and Golden Globe^®-winning HBO Series GAME OF THRONES is a juggernaut runaway hit for HBO Canada, with the recently concluded Season 6 garnering record-breaking average audiences of more than 1.5 million viewers, making Season 6 the most-watched season ever of a show in Canadian Entertainment Specialty and Pay history.

Now, all TV lovers across Canada have the chance to see where it all began on CTV. Based on the bestselling fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, GAME OF THRONES is a 10-part epic fantasy series that follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen as they vie for power in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom.

The ensemble cast includes Mark Addy, Sean Bean, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Lena Headey, Kit Harington, Conleth Hill, and Aidan Gillen. GAME OF THRONES was created by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss; executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss; co-executive producers, Carolyn Strauss, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, Ralph Vicinanza, and George R.R. Martin; producers, Mark Huffam and Frank Doelger.

GAME OF THRONES has received a mind-boggling 86 Emmy Award^® nominations since 2011, including five consecutive "Outstanding Drama Series" nominations, and has won a total of 26 Emmys^®. The show won a record-shattering 12 Emmys in 2015, including awards for "Outstanding Drama Series," "Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series" (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss), "Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series" (David Nutter), and "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" (Peter Dinklage).

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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 15 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. 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 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 available in high definition on HBO Canada HD, and on HBO Canada OnDemand, a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) service. Throughout Canada HBO Canada programming is accessible on TMN GO, as well as on demand and online where available by service provider. For more information, please visit www.hbocanada.com. HBO Canada is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.

 – CTV –

Source: Numeris, audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

SOURCE CTV

Christy Sullivan, CTV Networks, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]; Scott Campbell, Pay and CraveTV, 416.384.4235 or [email protected]