Corus Entertainment Fortifies Its Specialty Portfolio Lineup With 43 Canadian Original Titles, premium Unscripted Series, Hit Dramas, And Family-friendly Programming 

CORUS ENTERTAINMENT FORTIFIES ITS SPECIALTY PORTFOLIO LINEUP WITH 43 CANADIAN ORIGINAL TITLES, PREMIUM UNSCRIPTED SERIES, HIT DRAMAS, AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING 

Corus Studios Announces 20 New and Returning Series Including
Bake or Break, Cheese: A Love Story, Family Home Overhaul, Big Timber and New Seasons of Smash-Hits Island of Bryan, Rust Valley Restorers, Great Chocolate Showdown and Many More

Nelvana Delivers Seven New and Returning Series Including The Hardy Boys, Miss Persona and Ranger Rob

Standout Scripted Drama and Comedy Series Include Devils, Intelligence, Tell Me A Story, No Activity, and Returning Seasons of The Good Fight, Absentia, Batwoman, Outlander and More

 Premium Unscripted Content Features New Series Help! I Wrecked My House, Selling the Big Easy, Chopped: Beat the Judge, The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, Beyond Oak Island, and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Corus’ Kids Networks Introduce The Not-Too-Late-Show with Elmo, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan, and Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years – a Spinoff of Beloved Hit Series, SpongeBob SquarePants

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For Immediate Release

TORONTO, June 23, 2020 – Corus Entertainment announced today its powerful 2020-2021 programming slate featuring riveting new series and long-standing hits, including 43 new and returning Canadian Original series and movies. As Canada’s leader in specialty entertainment programming, Corus held four of the Top 10 specialty networks this fall, where W Network remained the #1 entertainment specialty network for the third year in a row. A strong testament to Corus’ continued standout schedules, Corus also nabbed 16 of the Top 20 entertainment specialty programs in the fall, including Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty, HISTORY®’s The Curse of Oak Island, Showcase’s Batwoman, and many more. This spring, Corus boasts 10 of the Top 20 specialty networks, including Food Network Canada and HGTV Canada, more than any other broadcaster. As a pioneer in the kids’ space, the company continues to lead, consistently owning four of the Top 5 kids channels including YTV, TELETOON, Treehouse and Disney Junior.

Corus Entertainment reinforces its commitment to premium Canadian programming, while resonating on a global scale through Corus Studios and its industry-leading kids content company, Nelvana. Distributed globally in over 150 territories, Corus Studios content continues to capture audiences with sales of its broad library of formats and series delivering dynamic, informative and entertaining content. This year, Corus Studios greenlights seven new series and boasts 13 returning hits across Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada and HISTORY. As a world-leading producer and distributor of children’s content, Nelvana’s content is distributed in more than 160 countries worldwide and airs across Corus’ suite of leading kids’ networks. This broadcast season, Nelvana showcases three new series and four returning seasons of fan favourites on YTV and Treehouse.

“Corus is proud to be the leader in exceptional entertainment content across our powerful specialty portfolios, offering compelling unscripted series, charismatic dramas, perennial hits and brilliant family-friendly shows,” said Troy Reeb, Executive Vice President, Broadcast Networks, Corus Entertainment. “While the broader television industry has been hit with unprecedented challenges this year, Corus is in the enviable position of having fall schedules jam-packed with fresh, new content – rich with remarkable storytelling and characters that are set to entertain and inspire viewers across the country.”

“As a trailblazer in first-rate, home-grown entertainment, Corus Studios and industry-leading kids content producer, Nelvana, continues to grow and foster Corus’ collection of original programming, while supporting and collaborating with our accomplished production partners and talent,” said Colin Bohm, Executive Vice President, Content and Corporate Strategy, Corus Entertainment. “Our standout slate, highlighting original formats, charming personalities, and solid favourites, matched by Nelvana’s superb offering of premier children’s content, continue to garner international success year after year, bringing in massive audiences and global appeal.”

Corus Entertainment presents its 2020-2021 roster of new and returning series, including Canadian content, across its specialty networks below.

For more details on all specialty programming, please click here.

LIFESTYLE

Food Network Canada

Canada’s destination for culinary excellence, exhilarating competitions, informative travelogues, and in-the-kitchen programming, Food Network Canada greenlights 11 new and returning Canadian Original series. This spring, the network makes its first foray into the documentary realm with Cheese: A Love Story (6×60), an exploration of one of the world’s most beloved foods as host and the world’s youngest Maître fromager (Cheese Master), Afrim Pristine travels the globe in search of extraordinary cheeses and the people who make them. The schedule also sees renowned pastry chef Steve Hodge (Great Chocolate Showdown) guide struggling bakery businesses, alongside HGTV Canada’s design guru Tiffany Pratt (Family Home Overhaul), in the new series Bake or Break (wt) (10×60). Top 10 programs on Food Network Canada this spring, return for new seasons including Wall of Chefs (10×60), Great Chocolate Showdown (8×60), Top Chef Canada (8×60), the #2 program on the network and growing significantly year over year, along with a second season of kids competition series Junior Chef Showdown (8×60), the best Canadian Original new series on the network this broadcast year among total viewers. Big Food Bucket List (26×30) with John Catucci, and Carnival Eats (13×30) with host Noah Cappe, both return with all new seasons this fall, while grilling competition series Fire Masters (15×60) and holiday baking competition series The Big Bake (18×60) join the schedule in winter/spring.

Food Network Canada also debuts new stunt series, Chopped: Beat the Judge, where fearless returning winners compete for a chance to face off against Chopped judges, as well as Bakeaway Camp with Martha Stewart and Big Time Bake, hosted by Buddy Valastro. This fall, returning series include Restaurant: Impossible with Robert Irvine, Duff Takes the Cake featuring cake-master Duff Goldman, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, The Great Food Truck Race, and new episodes of Beat Bobby Flay and Guy’s Grocery Games.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on Food Network Canada, please click here.

HGTV Canada

The nation’s destination for home renovation and design, real estate and DIY projects, HGTV Canada welcomes eight new and returning Canadian Original series. This fall, the network debuts Corus Studios Original series, Family Home Overhaul (8×60), where HGTV Canada’s top contractors and designers transform households for deserving families, as well as east coast renovation series Rock Solid Builds (10×60). The winter warms up with Farmhouse Facelift (10×60) revealing stunning vintage farmhouse transformations, and the #1 series on the network and #3 entertainment specialty program, Island of Bryan (13×60) returns for a third season to give viewers an all-access pass to Bryan and Sarah Baeumler’s continued journey as they open their boutique resort in the Bahamas. Additional Original series returning include Property Brothers: Forever Home (40×60) with Drew and Jonathan Scott as they turn couples’ houses into their forever homes, and the #3 program on the network this spring Scott’s Vacation House Rules (13×60) with Scott McGillivray, and DIY-inspired series $ave My Reno (14×30) and Backyard Builds (8×30).

The network’s fall schedule offers new series Help! I Wrecked My House featuring Jasmine Roth as she helps homeowners overhaul their do-it-yourself disasters, and based in New Orleans, Selling the Big Easy highlights the buying and selling of beautiful historic properties. Celebrity IOU, the #1 freshman series on the network this broadcast year and a Top 10 entertainment specialty program, returns for another star-studded season with hosts Drew and Jonathan Scott as they help award-winning celebrities with a special renovation. New seasons of hit series Home Town, Christina on the Coast and Love It or List It also return to the schedule this year.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on HGTV Canada, please click here.

HISTORY

HISTORY unveils seven new and returning Canadian Original series, including Big Timber (10×60) following the work of loggers on Vancouver Island debuting this fall, and docu-series Backroad Truckers (8×60) featuring the daring lifestyle of independent truckers in northern B.C., coming in winter 2021. The network also sees the final season of hit historical drama and consistent Top 20 entertainment specialty program*, Vikings (10×60), take its final bow later this year. Three Corus Studios Original series return including Rust Valley Restorers (12×60), following the Rocky Mountain-based restoration team, the fascinating documentary-series History Erased (6×60), and the family-owned demolition business is revisited in a new season of Salvage Kings (10×60). Additionally, Remembrance Day special Fight to the Finish (1×90) is a definitive account of Canada’s greatest war, set to debut this fall.

The highly-anticipated premiere of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch launches this fall, featuring a team of scientists as they conduct a search of one of the most secretive locations of paranormal activities. The juggernaut reality series, and the #1 fall program for all of specialty, The Curse of Oak Island, returns for its eighth season later this year as the Lagina brothers continue with their exploration. Companion series, Beyond Oak Island, chronicling the team’s greatest hunts is set to premiere this fall along with limited series Grant, executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, outlining the life of Ulysses S. Grant and spin-off series Swamp People: Serpent Invasion. New seasons of Mountain Men, Forged in Fire, Ancient Aliens, and Lost Gold of World War 2 also join the schedule.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on HISTORY, please click here.

National Geographic

The country’s destination for fascinating non-fiction and award-winning content, National Geographic debuts new series Barkskins, filmed in Quebec and starring Marcia Gay Harden (The Newsroom), high-octane competition survival series Race to the Centre of the Earth and Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller as the Award-winning journalist investigates the global underworld.

The network also sees the return of the hotly-anticipated scripted miniseries on the life of Aretha Franklin, Genius: Aretha, as well as popular travelogue series Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, seeing Ramsay venturing even more off grid to explore global cuisines. Additional returning series include Running Wild with Bear Grylls, The Incredible Dr. Pol, Dr.Oakley: Yukon Vet, and Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on National Geographic, please click here.

Slice

Known for big personalities, bold unscripted programming, and premium lifestyle content, Slice™ continues to be the exclusive broadcaster of The Real Housewives franchises, airing all series in tandem with the U.S. This year, the franchise has garnered over 5.5 million viewers to date,** and now welcomes the highly-anticipated new addition of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, coming soon.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on Slice, please click here.

DRAMA

W Network

For the third consecutive year, W Network remained the #1 entertainment specialty network in the fall, and this year delivers another unbeatable lineup of hit drama series and beloved made-for-television movies, strengthened by its partnership with Hallmark Channel. W Network bolsters its robust movie catalog with the exclusive worldwide premieres of My Birthday Boyfriend (1×120), Vintage Hearts (1×120) and Learning To Love Again, airing as part of Hallmark Channel’s Fall Harvest, and Starring Christmas and Inn for Christmas as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas. Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas helped rank W Network as the #1 specialty station overall with Women 25-54 and placed W Network above conventional networks with Women 25-54 on weekends during the run of the event last year***, and this year the celebrated annual event will be bigger than ever before with W Network delivering sleigh-fulls of non-stop holiday movies airing 24/7 in November and December. Plus, complementing the slate of original titles and theatrical movies every weekend, Global News Morning Toronto host Jennifer Valentyne will continue to welcome guests into her home with new episodes of the interstitial series W Network’s Movie Date.

In addition to being the home of Hallmark Channel in Canada, W Network is also home to compelling dramas. The network’s fall schedule sees the Season 4 return of The Good Fight and premieres of star-studded comedic drama Why Women Kill; sophisticated thriller, Devils; and workplace sitcom Intelligence starring David Schwimmer and Nick Mohammed. Additional returning series this year include Outlander, Nancy Drew and Charmed.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on W Network, please click here.

Showcase

This fall, escape the ordinary with Showcase, a Top 5 specialty network. Its dynamic fall lineup delivers more new hours in primetime than last season with new series including Tell Me A Story, a riveting anthology series; No Activity, a comedic series from Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Funny Or Die; Interrogation, a crime series with each episode structured around interrogations informed by real police case files; Bulletproof, an adrenalin-fueled action show which follows undercover cops as they chase down hardened criminals in London’s East End; and Strange Angel, inspired by the real-life story of rocket engineer Jack Parsons. This fall also sees the highly-anticipated Season 3 return of Absentia, starring Canadian Stana Katic as Emily Byrnes, who will stop at nothing to protect her family. Batwoman soared as the #2 overall entertainment specialty series last fall, and will be returning to Showcase in the 2020-2021 broadcast year along with new seasons of Supergirl, Pennyworth, The Sinner, Legacies, All American, and Roswell, New Mexico.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on Showcase, please click here.

ADULT SWIM

Celebrating the first anniversary of its launch in Canada this past April, Adult Swim has quickly grown into a powerhouse network, securing itself as a Top 20 specialty station and having more than doubled its audience****. This fall includes new seasons of Tigtone, Gemusetto Machu Picchu, Lazor Wulf, and the second half of Season 1 of prehistoric series, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal. Topping off the fall schedule are new seasons of fan favourites Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy. Fans can look forward to the Season 5 premiere of The Eric Andre Show in late 2020 and a brand new season of Archer will return this broadcast year.

For full descriptions of returning series on Adult Swim, please click here.

KIDS

YTV

YTV features a fun-filled family-friendly fall schedule with three new Nelvana-produced series, The Dog & Pony Show (26×30), Ollie’s Pack (26×30), and the live-action mystery drama, The Hardy Boys (13×60). Kids can prepare for another awesome year with Spencer, Tyra, Alex and Duhin from the YTV Dayparts crew on The Zone, The Zone Weekend, and Big Fun Movies. Plus, Spencer and Tyra become the hosts of PC Children’s Charity Presents Kid Food Nation (TBD) as they take viewers on a food tour to explore the science, ingredients and cultures of Canadian cuisine along with the help of KFN heroes and well-known Canadian chefs.

Additional buzzworthy series premiering this fall include Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, a brand-new animated spinoff of the beloved hit series, SpongeBob SquarePants and Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan, starring kid rapper and pint-sized powerhouse, Young Dylan. The non-stop fall action also includes new episodes of fan favourites including SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House, Danger Force, and All That. In addition, new seasons of The Casagrandes, Top Elf, and Are You Afraid of The Dark? return in 2020-2021.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on YTV, please click here.

TELETOON

Cartoon lovers rejoice! This fall, best-in-class animation station TELETOON is the hub for two new series that feature familiar characters from iconic shows The Flintstones and Looney Toons, Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs and Looney Tunes Cartoons. The network’s fall lineup is chock-full with new seasons including Total Dramarama (26×30), DC Superhero Girls and The Tom and Jerry Show and new episodes of Bakugan®: Armored Alliance™, ThunderCats Roar, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, and Teen Titans Go!

For full descriptions of new and returning series on TELETOON, please click here.

Treehouse

Treehouse is the place to be for preschoolers and parents with an array of enriching series rooted in teaching important lessons and skills – all while having fun! Nelvana-produced series Esme & Roy (26×30), Miss Persona (20×30), and Ranger Rob (26×30) all return for new seasons. Plus, following its massive success on YouTube, Nelvana’s Toon Bops will boogie its way onto the network, with Season 1 (21×1:50) joining the schedule this summer and Season 2 (20×2) airing in the fall. New bedtime routines will include tuning into the must-see spin-off series, The Not-Too-Late-Show with Elmo. Then, later this year Treehouse delivers a new series, Pikwik Pack (26×30), following four adorable animals as they deliver magical packages filled with love to the kind citizens of Pikwik. In addition, new seasons of preschooler-approved favourites including Sesame Street, Blue’s Clues & You!, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Bubble Guppies, Thomas & Friends, and new episodes of Ricky Zoom and Peppa Pig continue this fall.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on Treehouse, please click here.

Disney Channel Canada, Disney Junior and Disney XD

This 2020-2021 broadcast season, Disney Channel pumps up the fun with returning popular series Raven’s Home, Bunk’d, Gabby Duran and the Unsittables, Sydney to the Max, The Owl House, and Amphibia.

Disney Junior returning preschooler favourites for 2020-2021 include Puppy Dog Pals, PJ Masks, Mira, Royal Detective, Vampirina, Fancy Nancy, Gigantosaurus, and Muppet Babies.

On Disney XD, a new season of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom swings onto the schedule for 2020-2021.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on Disney Channel Canada, Disney Junior and Disney XD, please click here.

Télétoon La Nuit

This spring, Télétoon La Nuit, the #1 destination for A18-34 & A18-4 in Quebec*****, will see the premiere of two new series Les Frères Apocalypse/Doomsday Brothers (18×30) which is also set to debut in English on Adult Swim in September and Le Télétoon Show/The Teletoon Show (10×30), the network’s first original live-action/cast variety show. Then, join Professor Zarbi and his loyal assistant, Benjamin for more absurd and wacky adventures in a second season of Les histoires bizarres du professeur Zarbi/The Bizarre Stories of Professor Zarbi (10×30) returning this spring.

For full descriptions of new and returning series on Télétoon La Nuit, please click here.

Sources:

Numeris PPM Data, Total Canada, FL19 (Aug 26 – Dec 29/19), SP20 (Dec 30/19 – May 31/20), confirmed data, M-Su 2a-2a, 3+ airings, AMA(000), A25-54 unless otherwise noted, Total Viewers=Ind. 2+, CDN SPEC COM ENG, program rankers exclude sports//Kids Ranker based on K2-11, Kids Specialty Networks only

*Dec 31/12-May 31/20

**Aug 26/19 – May 31/20, Slice, Ind. 2+, CumeRch(000), all airings

***Nov 1/19 – Jan 1/20, F25-54//Rank on weekends based on Sa-Su 2a-2a CDN CONV COM ENG + SPEC

****Adult Swim (Apr 1/19 – Mar 31/20) vs. Action (Apr 1/18 – Mar 31/19), A25-54, A18-34

*****Numeris PPM Data, Québec Franco, SP20 (Dec 30/19 – May 31/20), confirmed data, market shares, Specialty commercial stations excluding news (M-Su 2a-2a), Télétoon la nuit (M-Su 9p-12a), A18-34, A18-49.

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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.  Engaging audiences since 1999, the company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 34 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, Adult Swim, National Geographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX. Visit Corus at www.corusent.com.

For more information, please contact:

Catrina Jaricot
Senior Publicity Manager, Lifestyle Content
Corus Entertainment
416.479.6397
catrina.jaricot@corusent.com

Stacey Grimshaw
Senior Publicity Manager, Drama, Kids and Nelvana
Corus Entertainment
416.479.6082
stacey.grimshaw@corusent.com