Citytv’s Homegrown Hits Take Centre Stage on its Canadian Originals 2022/23 Lineup

– Bachelor alum and franchise authority Sharleen Joynt joins Bachelor in Paradise Canada as new host alongside returning resident bartender Kevin Wendt in Season 2 –

– Citytv adds new crime-solving drama Wong & Winchester to its originals slate –

– Reaching more than 7.6M Canadians throughout the season*, Canada’s Got Talent returns to find the nation’s next big star –

– Beloved Hudson & Rex celebrates its fifth season with an action-packed 20-episode order and new Sunday night timeslot – 

– Fan-favourite Breakfast Television takes top spot as Ontario’s #1 morning show –

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TORONTO (June 7, 2022) – Building on a hugely successful season where its top Canadian series captured the hearts of the nation, Citytv’s 2022/23 original programming slate promises to bring even more jaw-dropping and inspiring moments, loads of suspense, and of course… double the drama!

“We just wrapped our best season yet for original programming on Citytv, and I’m excited to continue collaborating with our production partners to bring even more emotionally-driven stories, with nuanced and diverse perspectives that are uniquely Canadian,” said Nataline Rodrigues, Director of Original Programming, Citytv.

A new addition to Citytv’s strong original programming slate is Wong & Winchester, a female-driven buddy detective procedural, in partnership with Pixcom. Production starts this Summer in Montreal with the series premiering mid-season. Lionsgate will distribute the program throughout the world, outside of Canada.

Citytv doubles-down on its investment in global hit franchises Got Talent and Bachelor, with the return of Canada’s Got Talent in partnership with Fremantle, SYCO Entertainment, and McGillivray Entertainment Media Inc., along with Bachelor in Paradise Canada in partnership with Good Human Productions.

Having returned to Citytv after 10 years, Canada’s Got Talent reminded the world that this country is bursting with incredible performers from coast-to-coast-to-coast. As Citytv’s most-viewed original series in over a decade, Canada’s Got Talent reached 1.4M Canadians each episode throughout the season. Plus, #CGT proved to be a viral hit on social with its engaging content garnering 356M impressions across @CanGotTalent platforms and more than 1M hours of watch-time on YouTube. Canada’s Got Talent Season 2 begins production this Fall in Niagara Falls, ON, and premieres in Spring 2023. Auditions for Season 2 are now open on Citytv.com.

Joining as new host of Bachelor in Paradise Canada in Season 2 is Sharleen Joynt alongside returning resident bartender Kevin Wendt. Decorated Soprano by day, Bachelor alum and long-time franchise recapper by night, Joynt is the utmost authority on all things Bachelor. Joynt is famously known from The Bachelor (Juan Pablo, Season 18), where this charismatic, fan-favourite Canadian, made her initial mark on Bachelor Nation and then continued to cover the franchise thereafter, most recently on the podcast “Dear Shandy.”

“I think there’s a lot more to observe on The Bachelor than just people kissing, and I strive to uncover those exciting in-between moments,” said Joynt.

Returning mid-season to Citytv, Bachelor in Paradise Canada promises to bring another steamy season filled with OMG plot twists, juicy drama, and passionate romances.

Winning over the hearts of Canadians week after week, Citytv’s #1 original scripted hit series Hudson & Rex returns this Fall with a 20-episode order for its fifth season. Airing on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT, the beloved series is currently in production in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and will also feature a two-episode story arc set in Northern Ontario.

Returning this year is Level UP, a mentoring initiative between Reelworld and Rogers Sports & Media, that provides on-the-ground experience to emerging Canadian directors and writers who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour. Program sponsors for 2022 are Citytv and Hudson & Rex producers, Shaftesbury and Pope Productions. Applications are open now until June 21 at www.reelworld.ca.

Citytv’s homegrown success continues in daytime with its in-house productions – Breakfast Television and Cityline – which have both experienced tremendous audience growth in 2022**. Breakfast Television has risen to the top among its competitors, making it the #1 morning television show in Ontario. Hosted by Tracy Moore, Cityline grew national audiences by +32% in Q1’22***, while also expanding its roster of original digital content through YouTube series like Face it with Tracy P and Deepa Does It.

*Source: Numeris PPM, Total Canada A2+ (Mar 22nd – May 25th, 2022)

** Source: Numeris PPM, AMA (000), Ontario A25-54, M-F 6a-9a (Jan 1^st – Apr 29^th, 2022)

*** Source: Numeris PPM, AMA (000), Total Canada A25-54, M-F 10a-11a (Jan 1^st – Mar 31^st, 2022)

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Citytv’s New Series Description – Mid-Season

WONG & WINCHESTER

Wong & Winchester is a one-hour light and fun female-driven buddy detective procedural. It’s the story of the unlikely partnership between Marissa Wong (Grace Lynn Kung) – bitter ex-cop turned private investigator – and Sarah Winchester (Sofia Banzhaf) – former career student with the naivety to prove it. Working side-by-side, the mismatched duo, despite their generation gap and their vastly different approaches to work, life, food, fun, society and even their own gender, somehow manage to always get the job done of solving perplexing cases and odd mysteries.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Pixcom

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Nicola Merola & Charles Lafortune; Showrunner is Chris Pozzebon; Creator and Co-Showrunner is Hollis Ludlow-Carroll; Producer is Nathalie Cecyre

CAST: Grace Lynn Kung (Transplant, Fahrenheit 451), Sofia Banzhaf (Closet Monster, Splinters), Joe Cobden (The Sinner, This Life), and Anthony Lemke (The Hardy Boys) 

About Citytv

Citytv and Citytv.com offer viewers intensely-local and diverse content through its seven television stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, and Montreal, along with the award-winning Citytv app, which is available on iOS, Android, Samsung TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV Stick devices. Citytv live and video on-demand programming can also be watched on Citytv+ available with Prime Video. Citytv delivers an entertaining mix of Canadian and acquired prime-time programming, news, and lifestyle content from influential brands such as Breakfast Television, Cityline, and CityNews. Citytv is part of Rogers Sports & Media, which is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI).

Media Contacts

Alessia Staffieri, Citytv, Alessia.Staffieri@rci.rogers.com, 647.262.8412

Charmaine Khan, Citytv, Charmaine.Khan@rci.rogers.com, 416.277.0450

Sarah Grossman, Rogers Sports & Media, Sarah.Grossman@rci.rogers.com, 416.509.9694