Citytv launches fall schedule with Couric, Kimmel & ‘How I Met Your Mother’
Posted May 29, 2012 9:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Citytv has secured the rights to the future queen of daytime and has beefed up its late-night offering, bringing Katie Couric and Jimmy Kimmel to your television five days a week.
“Citytv’s prime-time schedule is the strongest – and most competitive – in network history,” said Scott Moore, president of broadcast at Rogers Media.
“With Citytv’s expanded footprint, we will be in nine million homes this fall, reaching more viewers in more homes than ever before. And we’re not done yet. Our goal of delivering our world-class content to a national audience is firmly within our grasp,” Moore said.
Couric’s show Katie, which will air at 4 p.m. coast-to-coast, was just one of many surprises unveiled Tuesday as Cityv revealed its fall schedule.
“I want to help people understand this crazy, complicated world we’re living in,” Couric said Tuesday at Citytv’s sales presentation for media buyers, held at Toronto’s Massey Hall about her new show.
“I want to treat the audience with the utmost respect and make this show smart and engaging,” she added.
As for late-night, Citytv has bolstered its lineup with Jimmy Kimmel Live!, airing weekdays at midnight.
The mornings will remain as constant as ever.
Kevin Frankish and Dina Pugliese were on to show off a sneak peek of Breakfast Television and CityLine’s new set – the sleek Yonge-Dundas space will be shown to viewers Monday.
The crowd was welcomed with performances from contestants from Canada’s Got Talent, including Toronto’s own Shale Wagman and Mississauga-based Bollywood troupe Broken Dance.
Then Hamilton rapper The Emsee (also known as Mathew Cathcart) took the stage with a high-octane verse highlighting Sportsnet, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the fall lineup itself.
“Canada’s Got Talent taught us a lot about multiple platforms…that show lived online,” Rogers Media president Keith Pelley said. “Media is consumed differently and we have to go with the times.”
Rogers Media is the parent of Citytv and CItyNews.ca.
Despite the rapid changes, “world-class content” is always a constant, Pelley said, and that’s what teams like the Toronto Blue Jays (which Rogers also owns) and shows like The Bachelor Canada deliver.
The ever-popular reality series The Bachelor returns with a northern twist: CFL free agent Brad Smith will be looking for love this fall on The Bachelor Canada.
Meanwhile, two new comedies – Partners and The Mindy Project – will join proven favourites from last season, including New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Suburgatory, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, and Last Man Standing.
“We’re so excited about comedies – we have more than the other two networks combined,” Pelley said.
The Mindy Project is the latest from The Office writer and actor Mindy Kaling. The Emmy-nominated producer and New York Times best-selling author writes and stars as a doctor trying to sort out her messy personal life.
Of all the fall shows introduced last year, more than two-thirds are returning, including How I Met Your Mother and Murdoch Mysteries.
“We have critically-acclaimed fan-favourites, proven winners from last season, and the most buzzed about new series with both big-name stars and fresh faces. Our schedule is better every day,” Moore said.
Citytv added two original comedies to its slate, bringing homegrown shows Package Deal and Seed to its mid-season lineup.
The two 13-episode series were commissioned by Citytv’s original content team and produced by Vancouver’s Thunderbird Films and Force Four Entertainment. Package Deal follows three overly-close brothers and the woman who comes between them, while Seed follows a bachelor who has made multiple donations to sperm banks – and now must confront his many, many children.
But it’s not all fun and games: Citytv is ushering in suspense with Revolution, 666 Park Avenue, Hannibal, and The Carrie Diaries.
They’ll join the ever-popular Revenge as well as Person of Interest and Scandal in Citytv’s dramatic lineup.
