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Children's Programming, Industry News

Family Channel gets Savvy with DHX Television

From a media release:

Family Channel has announced production will begin on Savvy, an empowering new pop culture series offering tweens a refreshing spin on the world around them. This sometimes cheeky and always stylish magazine-style show cleverly intertwines entertaining and aspirational segments from the worlds of music, fashion, DIY, and beyond. A new original series from B-Minors, Savvy showcases peer profiles, how-to videos, and feature segments, packaged into 20 x 30-minute episodes. Savvy begins shooting in Toronto in early October, and will debut on Family in Spring 2016.

Savvy is born when three very different girls, who feel like they’re drowning in a tidal wave of tutus, tiaras, and princess dresses, decide to take creative control of their situation. Despite their radically different backgrounds, music tastes and celebrity crushes, the girls put their fashion differences behind them and combine forces to create an online destination that reflects and celebrates their lives in an authentic way.

Savvy introduces three young newcomers as hosts of the series: Tehya Silbermann, whose perfect mix of intelligence and kindness will have fans wanting her as a best friend; Sarah Webber, a musically-inclined, skateboarding, “techy,” who is only comfortable when she stands out; and Spencer Barbosa, the up-for-anything, wide-eyed optimist, who brings a quirky small town perspective to the show. Together, they’ll deliver stories that cater to their cyber-sophisticated audience, and will inspire them to have active and fulfilling lives offline as well.

Commissioned by DHX Television, and with international distribution handled by DHX Media, Savvy is executive produced by Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen for Banger Films’ kids division, B-Minors (Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage), Big Ticket Summer Concert) and is led by series producers Jeni Besworth (Grizzly Cup, Big Ticket) and Adrienne Reid (Fashion Television). Banger Films is an award-winning film and television production company based in Toronto. In its first 10 years, Banger has produced feature documentaries, TV series, live concerts and kids’ programs, which have been broadcast worldwide.

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Children's Programming, Industry News

Family Jr. sets a Playdate for Oct. 3

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From a media release:

Make-believe comes to life on Family Jr. when the network’s newest show Playdate debuts on Saturday, October 3. A mix of live-action and skilled puppeteering, the new Canadian Original series features the unexpected adventures four stuffed animals encounter when their owners leave them unattended. With exciting escapades waiting at every turn, Family Jr. will premiere six new episodes over the course of the weekend – four on Saturday, October 3 and two on Sunday, October 4. Beginning at 9:55 a.m. ET on Saturday, Playdate will air before and after the brand-new special Thomas & Friends: Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure, as well as surrounding new episodes ofThe Save-Ums!, Topsy & Tim, Julius Jr. and leading into the network premiere of the animated film Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey. 

Playdate beautifully captures the magical idea that children believe their toys come to life when they’re not around. Meet Mac, Sammy, Priscilla and Buckie – the beloved stuffed animals of Jacob and his friends who venture out on their own playtime adventures when the children are away. They do their best to complete the kids’ playtime adventures but usually end up causing some kind of mess or chaos along the way. Since the kids can never know their toys come to life, Mac, Sammy, Priscilla and Buckie have to finish their escapades before the kids come back and make sure they’re exactly where they started off. Luckily, Norman, the family dog, makes the perfect fall guy for any of their hijinks.

Playdate stars newcomer Aidan Wojtak-Hissong as Jacob; Millie Davis (Odd Squad, Orphan Black) as Molly; Scarlett Dovey (This is Scarlett and Isaiah) as Gwen; and Nirvaan Kwan as Enzo. Naomi Snieckus (Mr. D) plays Jacob’s Mom; Second City alum Jayne Eastwood plays Grandma and Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyways?) plays the role of Grandpa.

Commissioned by DHX Television, Playdate was created by Dina and Frank Meschkuleit. Frank is one of Canada’s premier puppeteers with a wealth of knowledge having worked on popular kids programs including Fraggle Rock, Toopy and Binoo and The Mighty Jungle. The series was developed by J.J. Johnson and Christin Simms and is produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment.

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Featured, Heartland, Industry News, Murdoch Mysteries, Rick Mercer Report, Schitt's Creek

Audio: Talking Canadian fall television with CBC

Gloria2015.3-highresThe fall TV season is here, and who better to talk about the Canadian angle than, well, us? Thanks to CBC’s B.C. Almanac for having me on to chat about homegrown TV alongside Dave Itzkoff of The New York Times, who handled things from the U.S. angle.

Our chat with Gloria Macarenko begins at the 26-minute mark.

 

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Industry News

Link: CBC President Acknowledges that Public Broadcaster’s Very Existence is at Risk

From Broadcaster Magazine:

CBC President Acknowledges that Public Broadcaster’s Very Existence is at Risk
In a prepared speech, Lacroix admitted that public broadcasters “are at fault for not speaking loudly enough about the threats we face,” and “like the proverbial frog put in cold water that is slowly heated, we’ve resisted telling people that we risk being boiled to death.” Continue reading.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Strong Winds and Icy Conditions Hit CMT This Fall

From a media release:

Corus Entertainment’s CMT (Canada) delivers two thrilling original reality series this October. Viewers will get a first-hand look at the eye of North America’s fiercest storms as chasers Greg Johnson, Chris Chittick and Ricky Forbes battle high winds and big stakes on the series premiere of Tornado Hunters debuting Friday, October 16 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (repeat at 9:30 p.m. PT). The action continues with Ice Racer Showdown starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (repeat at 10:30 p.m. PT). Host Clayton Bellamy of Canadian country group, The Road Hammers, tests everyday drivers as they brave brutal arctic conditions through a variety of icy road obstacle courses in order to claim the title of Ice Racer Champion.

Tornado Hunters (10 x 30 minutes) picks up from last fall’s pilot broadcast premiere with epic footage from the twin tornados in Pilger, Nebraska. Greg Johnson, Chris Chittick and Ricky Forbes are looking to make 2015 a banner year for their storm-chasing team, loading their storm truck, Flash, with new camera gear to help capture more extreme weather imagery than ever before. This season features the Tornado Hunters tackling the most powerful and jaw-dropping tornados in North America, from massive rain-wrapped tornados to multiple twisters and the storm of the summer in Manitoba. Viewers can catch up on the two-part pilot episode Thursday, October 8 starting at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT in advance of the Season 1 premiere on Friday, October 16 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (repeat at 9:30 p.m. PT). Tornado Hunters is produced by Saloon Media in association with CMT and with the participation of the Bell Fund.

On Ice Racer Showdown (12 x 60 minutes), five drivers brave the frigid temperatures taking on two fun-filled elimination challenges, each jam-packed with icy obstacles and angry snowball throwing yetis. The three that survive the grueling tasks will go head-to-head in a thrilling ice race to claim the ultimate title. Hosted by The Road Hammers’ Clayton Bellamy, each hilarious adrenaline-fueled one hour episode has happy hockey moms and pizza delivery guys taking on tough talkin’ truckers and cab drivers to prove who’s the coolest driver on the ice. Guest judges include award-winning actor and comedian Donovan Workun, two-time Olympian skeleton racer Michelle Kelly and technical judge and rally racing champion, Jorge Dascollas. Ice Racer Showdown is produced by Corkscrew Media in association with CMT.

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