Canada's Best Original Content Lives Here: Bell Media Studios Announces 2017/18 Original Productions
Bell Media’s newly minted independent and in-house production arm
Bell Media Studios confirmed today its slate of new and returning, English-language, original entertainment programming. With 19 new original programs to be produced in partnership with independent production companies or autonomously, Bell Media will introduce more new original series for the upcoming broadcast year than any year in recent memory. The company plans to spend nearly $900M overall on original French and English production in 2017/18.
New Bell Media Original Series and Specials for 2017/18:
Drama
THE DETAIL (CTV) (ICF Films/eOne; 10 x :60).
THE DISAPPEARANCE (CTV) (Productions Casablanca/NBCUniversal International Studios; 6 x :60).
Comedy
THE INDIAN DETECTIVE (CTV) (Big Light Productions/Blue Ice Pictures/Wonder Films; 4 x :60).
CORNER GAS ANIMATED (Comedy) (Prairie Pantoons/Moving Mountoons; 13 x :30).
Reality
THE LAUNCH (CTV) (Bell Media Studios/Big Machine Label Group/Eureka/ Insight Productions; 6 x :60).
Factual
LAST STOP GARAGE (Discovery) (Proper Television, 12 x :30).
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD (Discovery) (Cineflix Productions, 8 x :60).
HELLFIRE HEROES (Discovery) (Pixcom, 10 x :60).
Documentaries
Coming this fall to CTV is the new Tragically Hip documentary (Banger Films).
SATURN: INSIDE THE RINGS (Discovery) one-hour special (Exploration Production Inc. (EPI)).
DRAIN ALCATRAZ (Discovery) (Northern Sky Entertainment).
Lifestyle
SHEMAR MOORE’S HOME INVASION (CTV/Bravo) (Bell Media Studios/Insight Productions).
MINOR RENOVATIONS (Bravo), (MGM Television/Highway Entertainment; 5 x :30).
FLOUR POWER (Gusto) (Gusto Worldwide Media; 13 x :30).
FRESH MARKET DINNERS (Gusto) (Gusto Worldwide Media; 10 x :30).
WATTS ON THE GRILL (Gusto) (Gusto Worldwide Media; 13 x :30).
Specials
THE INVICTUS GAMES 2017 OPENING CEREMONY (CTV) and THE INVICTUS GAMES 2017 CLOSING CEREMONY (CTV).
Returning Bell Media Original Series Confirmed To Date for 2017/18:
Drama
The fourth and final season of 19-2 (CTV/Bravo) (Sphère Media Plus/Echo Media).
Season 2 of CARDINAL (CTV) (eOne/Sienna Films).
Season 2 of FRONTIER (Discovery) (Take the Shot Productions/ASAP Entertainment).
Space’s KILLJOYS (Space) returns for a third season (Temple Street).
Season 2 of WYNONNA EARP (Space) (SEVEN24 Films).
Final season of ORPHAN BLACK (Space) (Temple Street).
Bell Media also welcomes Canadian series DARK MATTER for a third season to the 2017/18 slate (Space) (Prodigy Pictures).
Comedy
Half-hour satirical news sensation THE BEAVERTON (Comedy) has been greenlit for a second season (Pier 21 Films).
Season 5 of JFL: ALL ACCESS (Comedy). A sixth season goes into production this summer at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montréal (Just For Laughs Television).
LETTERKENNY (CraveTV) returns for a third season (New Metric Media/DHX Media).
Factual
DAILY PLANET (Discovery) returns for Season 23 (EPI).
HIGHWAY THRU HELL (Discovery) returns for Season 6 (Great Pacific Media).
Season 4 of MIGHTY PLANES (Discovery) (EPI).
HOW IT’S MADE (Discovery) returns for Season 30 (Productions Maj).
MAYDAY (Discovery) Season 17 and Season 18 (Cineflix Productions).
CANADA’S WORST DRIVER (Discovery) enters its 13th season (Proper Television).
Season 2 of TOUGHER THAN IT LOOKS (Discovery) (Proper Television).
Season 2 of HEAVY RESCUE: 401 (Discovery) (Great Pacific Media).
Season 4 of JADE FEVER (Discovery) (Omnifilm Entertainment).
Lifestyle
Season 3 of ONE WORLD KITCHEN (Gusto) (Gusto Worldwide Media).
Music Specials
IHEARTRADIO MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS (Much/CTV).
WE DAY 2017 (CTV/MTV).
Original Bell Media Studios Productions for 2017/18
This fall, Bell Media Studios presents SIDES*, the first-ever Canadian social-media-first series. The weekly live talk show will have its premiere exclusively on social media and the best of the week will then be curated into a one-hour television broadcast called SIDES*XL (Much).
Daytime & Entertainment News
YOUR MORNING (CTV).
THE SOCIAL (CTV).
THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW (CTV).
ETALK (CTV).
INNERSPACE (Space) and its series of after-shows.
See the press release for more detail.