CTV Orders Second Season of Flashpoint

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More Flashpoint in the Crosshairs: CTV Orders Second Season of Hit Original Series

- Early production order for homegrown drama, Canada's most-watched scripted series -

- Flashpoint bests CBC's Olympic Prime in Toronto -

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TORONTO, Aug. 25 /CNW/ - CTV has ordered a second season of its hit original series Flashpoint from Toronto-based Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment. The announcement was made today by Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc., just days after production wrapped in Toronto on this summer's most-watched scripted series. A hit since it premiered last month, Flashpoint continues to deliver Olympian audiences, besting CBC's coverage of the Beijing Games in both weeks of Olympic broadcasts in Toronto. A total of 13 new episodes are expected to head into production in early 2009 (all production details TBA).

"Flashpoint has hit its mark with North American audiences and remained competitive - even during the Olympics," said Boyce. "Viewers have embraced Flashpoint and we are answering their call for more. The cast and creative team have delivered a series that not only entertains with high-intensity drama but with heart as well."

"We're excited that Canadian audiences have responded with such enthusiasm to Flashpoint's stories of humanity and adrenaline," said Flashpoint Executive Producers Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos. "We're extremely proud to have this opportunity to bring more of our homegrown stories to viewers in Canada and around the world."

Flashpoint has maintained an average audience of 1.17 million viewers since it debuted No. 1 in both Canada and the U.S. last month on CTV and CBS.(1) The first series since CTV's Due South to air in network primetime in both Canada and the United States, Flashpoint has attracted an average weekly audience of seven million viewers in the U.S. since its premiere.(2)

Most recently, neither U.S. swimming sensation Michael Phelps nor Jamaican speedster Usain Bolt could slow the series down as Flashpoint kept pace with the Olympics, this summer's most-watched television event. For the past two weeks, the series was the second most-watched program in Toronto in total viewers, ahead of Olympic audiences on CBC's Olympic Prime.(3) Last week, Flashpoint delivered more viewers head-to-head against Olympic Prime in Vancouver among A25-54.(4) In a competitive broadcast window during the Olympics (August 11-22), Flashpoint was the most-watched scripted series in Canada, finishing No. 3 nationally in total viewers behind the Olympics and news programming. Nearly seven million Canadians have watched Flashpoint in whole or in part since its premiere.(5)

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(1) BBM NMR, (Jul. 7-Aug. 22/2008), CTV Total

(2) U.S. Nielsen Media Research, (Jul. 7-Aug. 22/2008), CBS

(3) BBM NMR, (Aug. 11-Aug. 22/2008)

(4) BBM NMR, (Aug. 21/2008)

(5) BBM Nielsen Media Research, (Jul. 7-Aug. 22/2008), CTV Total, Total Reach = 1 minute qualifier.

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Flashpoint has been sold to more than 50 countries and regions worldwide, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Scandinavia and Latin America.

Set and shot entirely in Toronto, Flashpoint's cast includes Enrico Colantoni as Gregory Parker, the team sergeant and head negotiator; Hugh Dillon as Ed Lane, team leader and lead sniper; Amy Jo Johnson as Julianna "Jules" Callaghan, sniper and rappelling expert; David Paetkau as Sam Braddock, the newest sniper on the team; Michael Cram (Stargate: Atlantis) as Kevin "Wordy" Wordsworth, who specializes in close quarter combat; Sergio Di Zio (Just Buried) as Mike "Spike" Scarlatti, explosives and tactical toys expert; Mark Taylor (Doomstown) as Lewis "Lou" Young, specializing in less lethal solutions; and Ruth Marshall (Degrassi: The Next Generation) as Dr. Amanda Luria, the forensic psychologist.

Flashpoint continues to air Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on CTV/CBS and on demand on the CTV Video Player at ctv.ca.

Flashpoint Season 1 is produced by Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment in association with CTV and CBS Paramount Network Television. The series was co-created and written by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern. Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos serve as executive producers. Tassie Cameron is co-executive producer and head writer. CTV production executives are Louise Clark and Virginia Rankin. Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. Alchemy TV and Tele Munchen are the international distributors.

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(1) BBM NMR, (Jul. 7-Aug. 22/2008), CTV Total

(2) U.S. Nielsen Media Research, (Jul. 7-Aug. 22/2008), CBS

(3) BBM NMR, (Aug. 11-Aug. 22/2008)

(4) BBM NMR, (Aug. 21/2008)

(5) BBM Nielsen Media Research, (Jul. 7-Aug. 22/2008), CTV Total, Total Reach = 1 minute qualifier.

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