Tag Archives: Featured

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

T+E’s new original documentary series, My Haunted Hometown, takes viewers inside North America’s most terrifying locations

From a media release:

What happens when the place you call home… wants you to leave? T+E’s all-new original documentary series My Haunted Hometown (8×60’; HD) offers an unsettling and immersive look inside homes, bars, stores and other eerie locations across Canada and the U.S. plagued by vengeful spirits. The series goes beyond typical ghost stories by taking viewers inside real-life haunted venues, with its residents serving as the tour guides. Room-by-room, residents share their vivid and harrowing encounters with the paranormal. From unexplained noises and apparitions to shapeshifters and poltergeist activity, terrifying supernatural forces reside in their four walls. Despite living in fear, they refuse to leave, showcasing their unbreakable bond to their community even as their dark tales expose the grim histories and chilling supernatural activity of their hometowns. My Haunted Hometown reveals how living in a small town can open another dimension. My Haunted Hometown premieres during T+E’s nationwide free preview event, running from September 2 to November 3, 2024, with new episodes airing every Friday leading up to October and T+E’s highly-anticipated ‘Creep Week’ event.

By day, these small towns bask in their quaint, tight-knit charm. By night, however, their sinister histories come alive, casting a dark shadow over the lives of their residents. Each episode features three true stories from three different towns, offering an intimate and immersive experience that brings these dark tales of the paranormal to life. My Haunted Hometown also incorporates dramatic recreations to vividly depict the harrowing experiences of these residents.

My Haunted Hometown is produced by Blue Ant Studios. Matthew Hornburg, Mark J.W. Bishop and Donna Luke serve as Executive Producers. The series is produced by Shannon McKinnon and directed by Ryan Marley. Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Global Media on behalf of Blue Ant Media. Blue Ant Studios handles global distribution.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Friday Night Thunder revs up for final season on APTN

From a media release:

Big Soul Productions is pleased and saddened to announce the final season premiere of Indigenous racing docuseries Friday Night Thunder on Friday, September 6 at 8:30PM ET on APTN. Shot entirely at Ohsweken Speedway on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, this is the only series to follow the stories of Indigenous drivers in the Sprint Car class, arguably one of the most dangerous forms of racing in motorsports.

Created and Produced by Anishinaabe Producer Laura Milliken (Moccasin Flats), the 13x30min series amplifies the challenging world of grassroots dirt track racing for 10 Indigenous drivers who demonstrate varying degrees of passion, seriousness and skill on and off the track. From budget shortfalls to motor issues and car wrecks to rookie mistakes, all of the drivers wrestle with the challenges of this costly and sometimes deadly sport.

“It’s been a wild and crazy ride filming Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken Speedway. I have seen young drivers become family men, watched kids growing up, witnessed some of the best racing you’ll see anywhere and had the most fun I may ever have working on a television series,” said Laura Milliken. “I’ll truly miss this show. But I’m a forever racing fan so I’m sure I’ll be back with some more Indigenous racing content soon.”

Friday Night Thunder, the first-ever documentary series about the exhilarating and dangerous world of sprint car racing, ends its run in its fourth season for a total of 52 half-hour episodes. Seasons 1-3 can be watched on APTN’s streaming platform APTN LUMI. The Season 4 television premiere will be across all APTN channels on Friday, September 6 at 8:30PM.

“Audiences keep coming back to Friday Night Thunder because the drivers’ passion for what they do is infectious,” said Adam Garnet Jones, director of TV content and special events at APTN. “With fast cars, big characters and high stakes at Ohsweken Speedway, the show is all grit, grease and heart. We are sad to see it go but it will have a long life on our streaming platform.”

Friday Night Thunder was made possible by the generous support of Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer and Ohsweken Speedway founder Glenn Styres and Tina Styres, GForceTV and Clinton Geoffrey.

ABOUT BIG SOUL PRODUCTIONS
Big Soul Productions Inc. is a pioneering Toronto-based production company founded in 1999 by Anishinaabe producer/entrepreneur Laura J. Milliken. With their Gemini nominated series “Moccasin Flats,” Big Soul became the first Aboriginal-owned production company to earn a Best Dramatic Series nomination. Other notable credits include the primetime animated comedy “By the Rapids,” and the critically acclaimed festival films “Fire Song” and “Run Woman Run,” a sleeper box office hit. Big Soul is dedicated to creating, developing, and producing films and television series representing the Indigenous voice and perspective while generating much needed capacity for Indigenous talent in the film and television industries. 

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

CBC sets fall 2024 streaming and broadcast premiere dates for new and returning original series on CBC Gem and CBC TV

From a media release:

CBC today announced streaming and broadcast premiere dates for its fall 2024 slate of new and returning programming on CBC Gem and CBC TV, including more than 20 original series and specials from Canadian creators, producers, and storytellers reflecting people, places and perspectives from across the country. The first episode of all series will be available to stream on CBC Gem starting at 9 a.m. ET on their premiere dates noted below with a new episode available weekly at the same time, unless otherwise specified. CBC TV local broadcast times are noted in parentheses (for Newfoundland and Labrador, please add half an hour to all times).

New Canadian Original Series

  • PAID IN FULL: THE BATTLE FOR BLACK MUSIC *New Documentary Series* (3×60) – All episodes available Saturday, September 21 on CBC Gem (Premieres on CBC TV on Wednesday, October 23 at 8 p.m.)

Narrated by Canadian music icon Jully Black, PAID IN FULL: THE BATTLE FOR BLACK MUSIC  explores the systemic racism faced by Black artists in the music industry from its inception to the digital streaming age, and the artists’ ongoing fight for fair pay and racial justice. 

  • THE KNOWING *New Documentary Series* (4×60) – Premieres Wednesday, September 25 (8 p.m.)

In this TIFF 2024 Primetime selection, journalist, filmmaker, and award-winning Anishnaabe author Tanya Talaga goes on a quest for the truth of what happened to the women in her maternal family, revealing a story intertwined with Canada’s Indian Residential School system.

Returning Series

  • CORONATION STREET – ongoing (weekdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.)
  • YOU CAN’T ASK THAT *Season 3* (8×30) – All episodes available Friday, September 13 on CBC Gem (Premieres on CBC TV on Wednesday, September 18 at 11:30 p.m.)
  • THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES *Season 32* (24×30 + 1×60) – Premieres Tuesday, September 17 (8 p.m.), with a one-hour U.S. election special on Monday, November 4 at 8 p.m. 
  • THE PASSIONATE EYE (8×60 + 1×120) – Premieres Wednesday, September 18 (8 p.m., 9 p.m. beginning September 25)
    THE PASSIONATE EYE returns with a new season of thought-provoking original documentaries, beginning with 2024 Hot Docs Audience Award winner Yintah, following the Wet’suwet’en nation’s fight for sovereignty over the course of more than a decade, as they protect their ancestral lands from some of the largest fossil fuel companies on earth.
  • THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP *Seasons 4 and 5* (8×30) – Premieres Tuesday, September 24 at 9:30 p.m. on CBC TV (Season 4 available to stream now and Season 5 premieres Friday, September 6 on CBC Gem)
  • DRAGONS’ DEN *Season 19* (12×60) – Premieres Thursday, September 26 (8 p.m.)
    Season 19 sees 1-800-GOT-JUNK? founder and CEO Brian Scudamore enter the Den, and actor, producer, author and ambassador Simu Liu joins as a celebrity guest Dragon for four episodes. 
  • HEARTLAND *Season 18* (10×60) – Premieres Sunday, September 29 on CBC Gem (Sunday, October 6 at 7 p.m. on CBC TV)
  • THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW *Season 8* (8×60) – Premieres Sunday, October 6 (8 p.m.)
  • MURDOCH MYSTERIES *Season 18* (22×60) – Premieres Monday, September 30 on CBC Gem (Monday, October 7 at 8 p.m. on CBC TV)
    Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim’s Convenience, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Mandalorian) joins the cast of MURDOCH MYSTERIES as Inspector Albert Choi for Season 18, which will also celebrate the series’ 300th episode. 
  • PLAN B *Season 2* (6×60) – Premieres Monday, October 7 at 9 p.m. on CBC TV (streaming now on CBC Gem)
  • STILL STANDING *Season 10* (8×30) – Premieres Tuesday, October 8 (8:30 p.m.) 
    Host Jonny Harris embarks on more adventures in small towns across the country, from Prince Rupert, BC, to New Glasgow, NS, and everywhere in between.

CBC News 

  • ABOUT THAT WITH ANDREW CHANG (15×30) – Premieres Friday, September 20 at 8:30 p.m. on CBC TV (Available to stream weekday mornings on CBC Gem and CBC News Explore)
  • MARKETPLACE *Season 52* (14×30) – Premieres Friday, October 11 (8 p.m.) 
    This season, CBC News’ consumer affairs program joins forces with some of the world’s top scambusters, cracks into the networks of organized criminal groups, confronts the fraudsters in real time, and exposes how AI is making it harder to defend ourselves. 
  • THE FIFTH ESTATE *Season 50* (14×60) – Premieres Friday, October 11 (9 p.m.)
    CBC News’ flagship investigative series celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special project to address the troubling decline in local journalism across Canada.
  • THE NATIONAL – ongoing (live at 10 p.m. weekdays and Sundays on CBC TV and CBC Gem) 
    CBC’s flagship national newscast with Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault (Monday – Thursday) and Ian Hanomansing (Friday and Sunday) offers ongoing and in-depth coverage of the upcoming U.S. election this fall.
  • CBC MORNING LIVE WITH HEATHER HISCOX (Weekday mornings on CBC TV and CBC News Network)
  • CANADA TONIGHT WITH TRAVIS DHANRAJ (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
  • POWER & POLITICS WITH DAVID COCHRANE (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
  • ROSEMARY BARTON LIVE (Sundays on CBC TV and CBC News Network)

CBC Sports 

  • CBC SPORTS PRESENTS – ongoing (live on Saturday and Sunday afternoons on CBC TV and CBC Gem)
    Following Team Canada’s success at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and with the Paralympic Games underway beginning August 28, CBC SPORTS will continue to follow high-performance athletes this fall including World Volleyball Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 Finals (Dec. 5-8 in Doha, Qatar) and World Aquatics Swimming Championship (Dec. 10-15 in Budapest, Hungary). The winter season kicks off with ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup (Oct. 25-27 in Montreal, Que.) and FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup (Dec. 7-8 in Tremblant, Que.), and the USports Championships (Oct. 19 – Nov. 16), including the Vanier Cup (Nov. 23 in Kingston, Ont.), return to showcase Canada’s top university and college athletes. CBC SPORTS will also once again offer coverage of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event series including Skate Canada (Oct. 25 – 27, Halifax, NS). 

CBC Kids Originals

  • GO TOGO *New Series* (27×5) – All episodes available to stream on CBC Gem, and premieres on CBC TV, Monday, September 2 (airs Monday through Friday)
    Produced using real animatronic characters and handmade sets, the new CBC Kids preschool series follows Togo the subway car and his friends Stella the streetcar and Wheeler the bus, as they make stops, pick up passengers, and explore the big city of Transitville. The series will introduce three to five year-olds to early math concepts through the fun and excitement of big public transit vehicles (in miniature scale). 
  • JEREMY & JAZZY *Season 2* (28×2) – First 10 episodes available Monday, September 2 on CBC Gem (Premieres Monday, September 9 on CBC TV, airs Monday through Friday)
    The JUNO and Canadian Screen Award-nominated animated preschool series, about how music and friendship create joy, returns for a new season, with season premiere episode “Hopscotch” featuring Barenaked Ladies. 
  • PLAYING WITH STU *New Series* (40×1) – All episodes available Monday, September 2 on CBC Gem (Premieres Monday, September 9 on CBC TV, airs Monday through Friday)
    A spinoff of JEREMY & JAZZY, join Stu the mouse and his friends as they have fun trying new things, making mistakes, and exploring the world around them.
  • BESTEST DAY EVER WITH MY BEST FRIEND *Season 2* (7×21) – All episodes available Friday, November 22 on CBC Gem (Premieres Sunday, November 24 on CBC TV)
    Host Lisette returns with more adorable animals and more surprises in this live-action preschool series that celebrates the bond between kids and their pets. 

Image courtesy of CBC.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Production begins on Season 2 of APTN’s Treaty Road

From a media release:

Saxon de Cocq, Hannah Hermanson and Ell McEachern of 3 Story Pictures, Doug Cuthand of Blue Hill Productions, and Candy Renae Fox are pleased to announce that principal photography has started on Season 2 of Treaty Road. This ground-breaking 12-part docuseries (one hour each) follows Dakota/Anishinaabekwe educator and researcher, Erin Goodpipe (RezX, The Other Side, Bathsheba: Search for Evil) and Métis writer, director and producer Saxon de Cocq (The Other Side, The Invincible Sergeant Bill (CBC), Land Acknowledgement (CIFF) and the upcoming Red River Gold,) as they head back out on the road exploring the familiar and unfamiliar grounds of Treaties 7 – 11. 
 
Season 2 of Treaty Road challenges the crew as they travel from Saxon’s hometown of Calgary to remote, fly in communities on James Bay and end in the nation’s capital, Ottawa. Helicopters, boats, float planes, trains, and miles of winding and remote roads take them to the experts and activists who are navigating the ongoing negotiations and settlements that surround the numbered treaties. 
 
“It’s not only an eye-opening experience, meeting with and learning from all of the amazing people throughout the Treaty territories, it’s an absolute honour,” said Saxon de Cocq.
 
Treaty Road is directed by Candy Fox (The Other Side, Big Brother Canada, ZARQA S2), Saxon de Cocq and Erin Goodpipe and hosted by Saxon de Cocq and Erin Goodpipe and produced by Saxon de Cocq, Candy Fox, Ell McEachern (Staying Wild, The Other Side, ZARQA S2 and the upcoming Red River Gold,) and Hannah Hermanson (Staying Wild, The Other Side, ZARQA S2 and the upcoming Red River Gold). The series is written by Saxon de Cocq and story edited by Berkley Brady (Dark Nature, The Secret History of: The Wild West) with Doug Cuthand (Guardians: Evolution,Big Bear, Searchers, Van Life) serving as executive producer. 
  
Cinematography by Jeremy Ratzlaff (By Faith, Denis, Never Seen Again) and editing by Jennifer Prokop (Staying Wild, The Other Side, Treaty Road), Kolby Kostyniuk (Staying Wild, Dirt Farmers, Treaty Road, Red River Gold), Nina Staum (Ice Racer Showdown, The Other Side, Treaty Road, Red River Gold).
   
Treaty Road is produced with financial support from Canada Media Fund, Creative Saskatchewan, Alberta Media Fund, Bell Fund and APTN. The series will air on APTN in 2025. 

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Featured, Shoresy

Production underway on Season 4 of Crave original comedy, Shoresy

From a media release:

Crave announced today that production is underway in Sudbury on the six-episode, fourth season of Crave’s smash-hit original comedy series, SHORESY. Created by and starring Jared Keeso, and produced by New Metric Media in association with Play Fun Games and Crave, the hockey comedy continues to follow the foul-mouthed, chirp-serving, mother-loving, fan favourite character, Shoresy (Keeso), and the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs of the Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (The NOSHO). The fourth season of SHORESY drops Winter 2025 on Crave.

Guest stars appearing in SHORESY, Season 4, include: TSN hockey reporter Kenzie Lalonde; TSN reporter and Olympic gold medalist Tessa Bonhomme; Meghan Chayka, co-founder of Stathletes; and former NHLers Doug Gilmour, Marty McSorley, and Sean Avery. Other newcomers include Isaac Kragten (ODD SQUAD), Eric Fleising (BURDEN), Sudbury native Xander Roy, and Sudbury Wolves forward Chase Coughlan.

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