January 29, 2008

CTV Series Flashpoint Picked Up by CBS for U.S. Broadcast

-- New CTV drama becomes first Canadian series since Due South to air on network television in both Canada and U.S.--
-- CBS Paramount Network Television Partners with CTV and Toronto-Based Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment --

Los Angeles, CA (January 29, 2008) – A new CTV original Canadian drama series currently in pre-production has been picked up by CBS for broadcast later this year in the United States. Flashpoint (working title, a.k.a. Sniper) is a new police drama about an elite, big city Strategic Response Unit (SRU). CBS has picked up 13 episodes of the one-hour drama series, which was green-lit by CTV in December. When it premieres later this year, Flashpoint will become the first Canadian series since CTV’s Due South in 1994 to air in network primetime in both Canada and the United States. Production begins in Toronto in April.

“Today’s announcement is a significant achievement for CTV’s development team and Canada’s independent production community,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

**Media Note: Download photos from Flashpoint at ctvmedia.ca.

Written and created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern, Flashpoint evolved from CTV’s Writer-Only development program in 2005 to a pilot (entitled Sniper) that was produced by Pink Sky Entertainment for CTV in July, 2007. The series is executive produced by multiple Gemini Award-winner Anne Marie La Traverse (Hunt for Justice: The Louise Arbour Story, Tripping the Wire) for Pink Sky Entertainment and Bill Mustos for Avamar Entertainment in association with CTV and CBS Paramount Network Television.

Starring Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars), Hugh Dillon (Durham County) and Whistler’s David Paetkau, Flashpoint is an emotional journey into the tough, risk-filled lives of a group of cops in the SRU (inspired by Toronto's Emergency Task Force). They’re unique cops that can do what ordinary cops can’t: rescue hostages, bust gangs, defuse bombs, climb the sides of buildings and talk down suicidal teens. Members of a highly-skilled tactical team, they’re also trained in negotiating, profiling and getting inside the suspect's head at the very emotional breaking point (the “flashpoint”) that triggered the crisis. They’ll do whatever it takes to diffuse the situation to try to save lives -- all in a day’s work.

“It’s an exciting privilege to be able to reach so many people, and we’re thrilled that we have a chance to do it with Flashpoint,” said La Traverse and Mustos. “It’s the brainchild of two brilliant creators, Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern, and showcases the superb visual work of director David Frazee, and the spellbinding talent of Hugh Dillon and Enrico Colantoni.”

Pink Sky Entertainment was founded in 2003 by Anne Marie La Traverse and has since produced a number of award-winning movies for television. Avamar Entertainment was founded by Bill Mustos in 2007. Flashpoint is the first co-venture between the two companies.

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV National News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. Bell Media Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other Bell Media investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca

- CTV -

For more information:
Scott Henderson, CTV Inc., 416.332.5305
or shenderson@ctv.ca

Phil Gonzales, CBS, 323.575.2028
or phil.gonzales@tvc.cbs.com

Lauri Metrose, CBS Paramount Network Television, 818.655.7223
or lauri.metrose@cbsparamount.com

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