Corus Entertainment Announces Premiere Dates For Showcase And W Network’s Fall 2019 Primetime Schedule

CORUS ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES PREMIERE DATES FOR SHOWCASE AND W NETWORK’S FALL 2019 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

DC’s Swamp Thing Debuts on Showcase with a Two-Night Premiere Event on September 2 and 3, Followed by Legendary DC Character’s Origin Story Pennyworth on September 4

The Notable Debut of Ruby Rose as Batwoman Premieres on Showcase on October 6

Iconic Detective Nancy Drew Makes Her W Network Premiere on October 9

Hallmark Channel’s Heart-Warming Year-Round Seasonal Stunts Continue on W Network with Fall Harvest Beginning September 21 and the Beloved Holiday Tradition Countdown to Christmas on November 1

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For Immediate Release

TORONTO, August 7, 2019 – Showcase and W Network announced today fall schedules jam-packed with coveted new series and returning favourites, including show-stopping thrillers, high-flying action, compelling stories and romance. Showcase is delivering audiences more of the rich world of DC as highly anticipated premieres of Swamp Thing, Pennyworth and Batwoman make their rousing debut, while the ultimate sleuth Nancy Drew and more exclusive Hallmark Channel movies join W Network’s robust roster of spellbinding magic, mystery and drama.

Showcase Premieres:

Rising from the realm of DC fame, Swamp Thing premieres on Showcase with a two-night event on Monday, September 2 and Tuesday, September 3 at 10 p.m. ET, with regular episodes rolling out on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET. The series follows Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) as she investigates what seems to be a deadly swamp-born virus in a small town in Louisiana, soon discovering that the swamp holds mystical and terrifying secrets. When unexplainable and chilling horrors emerge from the murky marsh, no one is safe.

From another comic book sensation comes Pennyworth, the origin story from the Batman universe that follows Bruce Wayne’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Formerly a British SAS soldier, Pennyworth (Jack Bannon) forms a security company and goes to work with young billionaire Thomas Wayne, who’s not yet Bruce’s billionaire father, in dangerous and exciting 1960s London. The new series is at your service Wednesday, September 4 at 9 p.m. ET on Showcase.

Then, buzzworthy Batwoman soars onto the Showcase schedule on Sunday, October 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Kate Kane (Ruby Rose) makes her debut in the city of Gotham as Batwoman, a highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence, but don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a saviour, Kate must overcome her own demons before becoming Gotham’s new symbol of hope.

Rounding out a two-hour super heroine programming block on Showcase are familiar faces Kara (Melissa Benoist) and Alex (Chyler Leigh) of Supergirl. Season 5 will continue to follow Kara as she struggles with battling a movement while she herself, an alien, represents one of the main things people are fearful of. Supergirl follows Batwoman on Sunday, October 6 at 9 p.m. ET. Also returning to Showcase this fall is more dark magic from the students of the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted in the second season of The Vampire Diaries spin-off Legacies, premiering on Thursday, October 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

W Network Premieres:

For the past two fall seasons, W Network has ranked as the #1 entertainment specialty network*, bringing in massive audiences with a mix of heart-warming content and immersive dramas. A new addition to W Network’s fall schedule is Nancy Drew (Kennedy McMann), with the titular character arriving on the scene on October 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, bringing an element of darkness to the whodunit series with a supernatural twist. The brilliant detective’s sense of self comes from solving mysteries in her hometown of Horseshoe Bay, Maine – until her mother’s untimely death derails Nancy’s college plans. Devastated by her mother’s passing, Nancy swears off crime-solving while crossing off the days until she can re-apply to college, but when a socialite is murdered Nancy finds herself a prime suspect in the crime, along with a group of other teens present at the scene.

With the continued success of Hallmark Channel content on W Network, audiences can celebrate beautiful autumn days, full of changing leaves and apple picking, with the debut of Hallmark Channel’s Fall Harvest, beginning on Saturday, September 21, featuring back-to-back movies every weekend. Succeeding the feel-good fall event is the beloved Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas, premiering on Friday, November 1. Countdown to Christmas is W Network’s biggest event of the year, with last year’s event cementing the channel as the #1 most watched network in Canada on weekends, surpassing conventional and sports.**

W Network is also delivering a second season of All American, the gripping high school football drama inspired by true events on Monday, October 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and a second season of the cult fantasy drama, Charmed premiering on Friday, October 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Based on the original series, Charmed continues to follow three sisters Mel (Melonie Diaz), Maggie (Sarah Jeffery) and Macy (Madeleine Mantock) as they embrace their new magical powers. The series returns after a popular first season, where it ranked in the Top 5 entertainment specialty programs in Fall 2018 for A25-54, Top 10 for A18-34 (young adults)***.

Showcase is available on National Free Preview from August 26 to September 30 and W Network is available on National Free Preview from October 1 to November 17.

*  Source: Numeris PPM Data, Total TV, W Network, FL’18 (Aug 27 – Dec 30/18) vs. FL17 (Aug 28 – Dec 31/17), station rank based on CDN COM ENG Spec + Dig excluding sports
** Source: Numeris PPM Data, Oct 29/18 – Dec 23/18, confirmed data, Ind. 2+, A25-54, F25-54, A18-49, F18-49 and A18-34, AMA(000), Sa-Su 2a-2a, CDN COM ENG Spec + Dig + National Conventional Networks, Total Canada, based on 8 week average.

*** Source: Numeris PPM Data. FL18 (8/27/2018 to 12/30/2018); confirmed data. Total Canada/AMA(000). A25-54, Ranker based on CDN SPEC DIG COM ENG, 3+airings and excludes sports

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SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@Showcasedotca
@W_Network
@CorusPR

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/showcasetv/
www.facebook.com/wnetwork

Instagram:
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@W_Network

Showcase and W Network are available through all major TV distributors, including: Shaw, Shaw Direct, Rogers, Bell, Videotron, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink, SaskTel and the new STACKTV, streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video Channels.

About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that develops and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. The company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 37 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a suite of digital assets, animation software, technology and media services. Corus is an established creator of globally distributed content through Nelvana animation studio, Corus Studios, and children’s book publishing house Kids Can Press. The company also owns innovative full-service social digital agency so.da, and lifestyle entertainment company Kin Canada. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, National Geographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV and Nickelodeon Canada, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX. Visit Corus at www.corusent.com.

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Stacey Grimshaw
Senior Publicity Manager
Corus Entertainment Inc.
416.479.7000 Ext 233196
stacey.grimshaw@corusent.com

Kelsey MacLeod
Publicity Coordinator, Drama
Corus Entertainment Inc.
416.479.6774
kelsey.macleod@corusent.com