Tag Archives: Bell Media

Amazing Race Canada, Featured

The race continues as CTV orders Season 12 of The Amazing Race Canada

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From a media release:

As Canadians gear up for the Season 11 finale of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, airing Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, and streaming next day on Crave, the network announced today the early renewal of Canada’s favourite summertime adventure for Season 12. Hosted by Olympic gold medallist Jon Montgomery, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is set to welcome a new group of racers to the starting line when it returns in 2026, with casting details to be announced. 

“THE AMAZING RACE CANADA continues to be a powerhouse for CTV,” said Justin Stockman, Vice-President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. “Its unique ability to showcase the beauty of our country while also celebrating the resilience and diversity of Canadians makes it a standout series that resonates with viewers. Along with our incredible partners at Insight Productions, we’re ready to deliver another unforgettable journey across our extraordinary country.” 

Customized and wholly integrated brand partnership opportunities for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, including video, digital, social, radio, and OOH platforms with first in class data opportunities, are currently available for the upcoming season.  

On the Season 11 finale of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA (Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. in all markets on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app, and streaming next day on Crave), titled “Double Roadblock,” the final four teams head to the picturesque town of Collingwood, Ont. for a heart pounding showdown, where the ultimate test of agility, skill, and teamwork awaits. In a world-wide franchise-first Double Roadblock, racers must split up and push their limits like never before. With only their wits and instincts to guide them, this final leg of the race tests both physical endurance and nerves of steel, as speed and coordination determine which team crosses the finish line first.

The winning team of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA (Season 11) receives the grand prize of two 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, a trip around the world, a $250,000 cash prize courtesy of FUZE Iced Tea, and the coveted title of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA champions.  The final four teams competing on the Season 11 finale of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are: 

  • Jesse & Jonathon – Friends from Sherwood Park, Alta. and Woodlawn, Ont.
  • Grace & Joe – Siblings from Prince George, B.C. 
  • Skylene & Blair (a.k.a. Nipîy & Magoo) – Married couple from Edmonton
  • EB & Blake – Brothers from Toronto 

With final data of the full complete season yet to be reported, Season 11 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is the #1 summer series overall (P2+ and A25-54), with a current season average of 1.3 million viewers. The series is also set to close out its eleventh year as Canada’s most-watched summer series among A25-54. To date, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA has amassed a total of 46 Canadian Screen Award nominations and 28 wins.  

To coincide with the Season 11 finale, all previous seasons of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are available for streaming on Crave, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 16. Seasons 1-7 join those currently available, allowing viewers to relive the excitement of the race from the beginning. An encore presentation of THE AMAZING RACECANADA Season 11 finale airs Saturday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV2, as well as Sunday, Sept. 21 at 12 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app.   

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is produced by Insight Productions Ltd. (A Blue Ant Studios Company) in association with CTV. For Insight, John Brunton is Executive Producer and Mark Lysakowski is Executive Producer and Showrunner.

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Featured, The Trades

Authenticity, and laughs, return for Season 2 of The Trades

I grew up in a blue-collar town, where working in a factory was integral to the city’s survival. Heck, I even worked a summer in a factory, trucking boxes of shoes, polish, and other accessories around a maze of boxes and loading and unloading trucks. It didn’t take me long to get into the feel of the place—the razzing, the nicknames, the back-slapping and the hard work.

Needless to say, I immediately connected with The Trades when I first tuned in to Season 1 on Crave, recognizing how the staff at Imperial Valley refinery interacted as legitimate, something creator Ryan J. Lindsay strives for.

“In the current landscape of content, authenticity is paramount,” he says. “People are so distractible, the mission with this show was clear. We knew we wanted to target a blue-collar or blue-collar adjacent audience and make them laugh. In order to do so, we needed relatable characters and relatable experiences. They need to watch this show and say, ‘I know a guy like that,’ ‘I work with a guy like that,’ or ‘I know a girl who has done that.'”

Director Warren P. Sonoda (left) and Ryan J. Lindsay on set

Now back for Season 2, with two episodes dropping every Friday on the Canadian streaming service, Lindsay’s creation centres around pipefitter Todd Stool (Robb Wells, Trailer Park Boys) as he navigates his blue-collar life at a refinery with help from his family and friends. The first two episodes of Season 2 are already up and running on Crave, and saw Todd and his buddy, Backwoods (Daniel Petronijevic, Letterkenny, 19-2), swapping their Imperial Valley refinery gigs for working the pipeline. Meanwhile, work at Imperial Valley was in disarray thanks to new foreman Danny (Pat Roach, Trailer Park Boys), necessitating Todd and Backwoods’ return to get the refinery and its ragtag staff (which includes a powerhouse cast in Anastasia Phillips, Jennifer Spence, Enrico Colantoni, Tom Green, Raoul Bhaneja, Jesse Camacho, Brandon Oakes and Susan Kent) back in shape.

The first of this week’s new instalments breaks new ground for The Trades with “Night Shift,” a bottle episode (the story is contained in one location, filming at night in Hamilton, Ont.) and the first to be directed by Lindsay.

“Directing is a different kind of hot seat from showrunning, writing or producing,” he says. “You’re ultimately the one who is watching the clock. In Season 1, I had the privilege of watching director Warren P. Sonoda for three months. It was the best director training ever.

“This episode is something I’m really proud of,” he continues. “It’s different from the rest of the season, has a horror theme, and is something we have never done before.”

The Trades drops two episodes every Friday on Crave.

Images courtesy of Kontent House Inc.

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Featured, Industry News

Bell Media and Tom Green partner to develop original Canadian content

From a media release:

Bell Media announced today a co-development agreement with Tom Green Productions Canada Inc., founded by beloved Canadian comedian, actor, and filmmaker Tom Green, to create original content for Crave and CTV. The pact expands Green’s long-standing relationship with Bell Media, which includes THE TOM GREEN SHOW and TOM GREEN’S HOUSE TONIGHT, and most recently, a co-starring role in the Crave Original comedy THE TRADES, which was the #1 Canadian series on Crave in 2024*, and returns for a second season, March 14.

The agreement covers both scripted and unscripted projects, reflecting Bell Media’s commitment to making great original content and collaborating with some of the industry’s biggest names. Specific project details will be announced at a later date.  Rory Rosegarten, Tom’s manager, will serve as Executive Producer on all projects.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Bell Media to develop some of my ideas,” said Green. “It’s great to be back living in Canada and working with one of the world’s premiere media companies.”

“Over the course of his legendary career, Tom has been a creative and comic visionary who has consistently seen around the corner to be ahead of his time,” said Stewart Johnston, Senior Vice President, Content & Sales, Bell Media. “We look forward to embarking on this new journey together as we develop dynamic projects and expand Bell Media’s mandate of making great original content that resonates at home, and abroad”.

With the new agreement, Bell Media continues to strengthen its position as a leader in creating premium original content, fostering a pipeline of innovative projects for Canadian audiences and beyond. Past commitments include a development deal with Point Grey Pictures, Lionsgate, and most recently, PAGEBOY Productions.

About Tom Green Productions Canada Inc.

Tom Green Productions Canada Inc., based in Ontario, is a full-service film and television production company founded by comedian, actor, director, and broadcaster Tom Green. With three new projects having recently launched, including THIS IS THE TOM GREEN DOCUMENTARY, TOM GREEN COUNTRY, and I GOT A MULE!, the company is rapidly establishing itself as a creative hub in the entertainment industry.

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Featured, The Trades

Crave’s hit original comedy The Trades heads back to work, March 14

From a media release:

Following a trailer reveal during TSN and CTV’s broadcast of SUPER BOWL LIX, Crave confirms that its smash-hit comedy series THE TRADES returns for an eight-episode second season, on Friday, March 14. After the first two episodes drop, THE TRADES follows a weekly release schedule with two new episodes streaming on subsequent Fridays.

THE TRADES was a massive success for Crave when it originally premiered in 2024, ranking as the #1 Canadian show in 2024, and boasting the biggest first-week streaming numbers for any scripted Canadian series in Crave history.*

Produced by Trailer Park Boys Inc. and Kontent House Inc., THE TRADES continues to follow the blue-collar workers of Conch Industries refinery, including veteran pipefitter Todd (Robb Wells, TRAILER PARK BOYS), his sister Audrey (Anastasia Phillips, MOONSHINE), and site manager Chelsea (Jennifer Spence, YOU HEAR ME), as they deal with new company leadership and the shadiness that comes with it.

In Season 2, the workers face a new challenge as they encounter the company’s eccentric new owner (Jennifer Irwin, SUPERSTORE) and her unhinged policies. As chaos unfolds, they must band together to protect their livelihood and preserve their community.

Cast returning for Season 2 include Daniel Petronijevic (LETTERKENNY) as Backwoods; Enrico Colantoni (VERONICA MARS) as Jimi; Brandon Oakes (DIGGSTOWN) as Taser; Jesse Camacho (LOCKE & KEY) as Homer; Jason Daley (TRAILER PARK BOYS) as Dewey; Raoul Bhaneja (BLINDSPOT) as Medhi; Susan Kent (THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES) as Steph; Patrick McKenna (THE RED GREEN SHOW) as Rodd Stool; Aaron Poole (MOST DANGEROUS GAME) as Billy, and Tom Green (THE TOM GREEN SHOW) as Randy Bennett.

New cast joining this season, in addition to Irwin, are Dave Lawrence (Fubar) as the new burn-out permittee, Roach, Tara Spencer-Nairn (CORNER GAS) as Dewey’s sister, Daina, and Patrick Roach (TRAILER PARK BOYS) as new General Foreman, Danny McRules.

Filmed in Nova Scotia and Ontario, THE TRADES is co-produced by Trailer Park Boys Inc. and Kontent House Inc. in association with Bell Media’s Crave. Gary Howsam is executive producer; Ryan J. Lindsay is creator, writer, and executive producer, also directing one episode; Robb Wells is producer and writer, and Jonathan A. Walker is producer. Warren P. Sonoda is executive producer, directing seven episodes; Shelley Eriksen is executive producer; Andrew McMichael is co-executive producer and writer; Neha Kohli and Koumbie are associate producers and writers. John Morayniss and Virginia Rankin are executive producers for Blink49 Productions. The series is distributed by Rollercoaster Entertainment and Blink49 Distribution is the exclusive U.S. sales agent. The series is produced with the assistance of Canada Media Fund, Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund, Nova Scotia Content Creator Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and Ontario Creates

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Featured, Industry News

Bell Media and Pageboy Productions ink co-development deal for new series

From a media release:

Bell Media and PAGEBOY Productions, founded by acclaimed actor, producer, and advocate Elliot Page, announced today a new partnership to develop bold, original scripted series for Crave and CTV. Under this agreement, their collaboration will explore content opportunities, with a joint dedication to spotlighting untold stories.

“Canada holds a special place in our company’s story, and is an integral part of PAGEBOY’s identity,” said Matt Jordan Smith, Head of Development and Production. “Through our partnership with Bell Media, we look forward to deepening our roots here, while showcasing multifaceted stories that resonate globally. This collaboration marks an important step in our mission to create groundbreaking, authentic, and compelling content worldwide,” continued Smith. He is joined by Director of Development, Tuck Dowrey.

“Partnering with Bell Media feels like a natural evolution for PAGEBOY Productions,” added founder Elliot Page. “We’re excited to create captivating content that amplifies voices that deserve to be heard. This collaboration will allow us to tell powerful, genuine stories that challenge perspectives, and inspire audiences both at home and internationally.”

“PAGEBOY Productions brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to content creation,” said Sean Cohan, President of Bell Media. “This pact signifies a shared commitment to fostering Canadian creativity, telling stories from different perspectives, and delivering impactful storytelling to  audiences.”

With the new agreement, Bell Media continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in creating premium original content, fostering a pipeline of innovative projects for Canadian audiences and beyond. Past commitments include a development deal with Point Grey Pictures, and Lionsgate, as well as a licensing and distribution pact with FOX Entertainment Global.

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