Bell Media Announces 2024/25 Original Programming Slate
Press Release
TORONTO (June 6, 2024) – Bell Media announced today its lineup of English and French-language original content for 2024/25, totaling 98 titles and 839 hours of premier original programming and supported documentaries. The exciting slate celebrates homegrown stories from well-known Canadian talent and pedigreed creatives. Nearly three quarters of original programming hours are comprised of renewed fan-favourites and returning franchises, leaning heavily on proven success with audiences. The slate is set to expand with an anticipated 300 additional hours to be announced throughout the year.
“At the core of Bell Media’s content strategy and vision is a commitment to investing in bilingual, diverse content that not only speaks to Canadians, but also resonates with audiences globally,” said Sean Cohan, President, Bell Media. “As a result of collaborative relationships with our talented independent production partners, our 2024/25 slate delivers an extraordinary collection of entertainment that will delight audiences, build on the success of our returning series, and excel across platforms.” Among today’s announcements:
- Crave announces super-sized cast for its first-ever original animated series, SUPER TEAM CANADA, coming in early 2025! Will Arnett, Cobie Smulders, Kevin McDonald, Charles Demers, Brian Drummond, Ceara Morgana, and Veena Sood, star in the all-new comedy series about the exploits of six, little-known Canadian superheroes, while Jay Baruchel guest stars, and Bryan Adams performs the theme song.
- Multilingual original programming continues to expand on Crave with new docuseries THE REBUILD: INSIDE THE MONTREAL CANADIENS, a behind-the-scenes look at the Canadiens’ 2023-2024 season, and previously announced series BON COP BAD COP and SO LONG, MARIANNE.
- BOA, Jada Shada Hudson, Kandy Muse, Kerri Colby, Lawrence Chaney, and Luxx Noir London revealed as the international queens slaying at a Canadian winter retreat in SLAYCATION, the brand-new format developed by Bell Media and World of Wonder from the Drag Race universe and Blue Ant Studios, coming to Crave this winter.
- Legendary comedian and actor Mark McKinney embarks on a mission to uncover Canada’s most fulfilling pastimes in new CTV Original comedy series MARK MCKINNEY NEEDS A HOBBY.
- Newly announced Crave Originals include: from co-showrunners Sasha Leigh Henry and Tania Thompson, and executive produced by Graeme Manson, international drug trafficking drama BAD TRIPS, inspired by true events; lifestyle-reality series DRAG BRUNCH SAVED MY LIFE, starring CANADA’S DRAG RACE Season 1 winner and ETALK correspondent Priyanka; and new comedy special and accompanying documentary DARCY & JER: NO REFUNDS.
- Following critical acclaim and ratings success, Crave renews two of its most popular comedy series, LATE BLOOMER (Season 2) and THE TRADES (Season 2).
- After its recent Season 3 premiere, with new episodes rolling out weekly, Crave confirms its smash-hit original series SHORESY (Season 4) is set to return with six-episodes; created by and starring Jared Keeso, and produced by New Metric Media in association with Play Fun Games, Season 4 goes into production this summer.
- More fan-favourite originals renewed include: SISTERS (Season 2); and previously announced CANADA’S DRAG RACE (Season 5) and CANADA’S DRAG RACE: CANADA VS. THE WORLD (Season 2).
- CTV confirms new seasons of fan-favourite series THE TRAITORS CANADA (Season 2), SULLIVAN’S CROSSING (Season 3), SIGHT UNSEEN (Season 2), and BATTLE OF THE GENERATIONS (Season 2); which join the previously announced renewals of award-winning series THE AMAZING RACE CANADA (Season 10) and CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING (Season 4).
- For Bell Media’s suite of Specialty Channels is new high-stakes luxury renovation unscripted original series QUEEN OF THE CASTLE with Canadian socialite Ann Kaplan Mulholland and her husband Stephen Mulholland; the haunting new original series REVIVAL, along with the return of SURREALESTATE (Season 3); and the most-watched series on CTV Comedy starring Paul Rabliauskas, ACTING GOOD (Season 3).
- This fall, Noovo delivers fan-favourite series OCCUPATION DOUBLE MEXIQUE, while Crave has its new spinoff, OD TENTATIONS AU SOLEIL; the Québec adaptation of QUEL TALENT !; and the return of LES TRAITRES (Season 2).
- Newly announced factual series include MY PET ATE WHAT?, ROCKY MOUNTAIN WRECKERS, SHIPWRECK KINGS (working title), THE LAST CAPTAINS, and TRUE CSI (working title), while fan-favourites BUSH WRECK RESCUE, EAST HARBOUR HEROES, HIGHWAY THRU HELL, PETS & PICKERS, TIMBER TITANS, and Bell Media Studios’ FORENSIC FACTOR: A NEW ERA and THE MIGHTIEST are all set to return to Bell Media Specialty Channels with new seasons.
- Bell Media Studios orders new seasons of CTV YOUR MORNING, THE SOCIAL, ETALK, and THE GOOD STUFF WITH MARY BERG.
Bell Media’s New English and French-Language Original Entertainment Production Slate Includes the Following, With Additional Titles to Be Announced. For Returning Series, Click Here.
New Series:
BAD TRIPS – Crave
BAD TRIPS is a six-episode limited drama set in the epic summer of 2015 when Toronto was on the come up. Porscha, a 19-year-old aching to break free from her stifling suburban life, falls hard for a charismatic and connected young hustler who introduces her to the city’s creative players and downtown party scene, where she meets a music editor at an influential media company who offers her a free trip to Sydney, Australia and an all access pass to a world she craves to be a part of. But when the trip turns out to be a front to smuggle 81 bricks of cocaine for the cartel, Porscha is locked up in Sydney, trying to figure out how the hell she landed in prison while desperately trying to get herself out. (Blink49 Studios, Real Friends Media, The Donaldson Company, Dreamchaser Entertainment)
BON COP BAD COP – Crave *previously announced*
Drawing inspiration from the blockbuster films Bon Cop, Bad Cop 1 and 2, the series chronicles the escapades of Martin Ward and David Bouchard (portrayed by Colm Feore and Patrick Huard), who are compelled to unite once more for a police investigation set within an Indigenous community. They team up with Joe, an Indigenous officer, and Gabrielle, David’s daughter, who prove to be as unconventional as the original duo when they embark on an action-packed journey across Canada. (Attraction, Panik Fictions Inc)
DON’T EVEN – Crave *previously announced*
A Crave and APTN original series, DON’T EVEN is an urban Indigenous coming-of-age story that follows two best friends – Violet and Harley – in late ‘90s Winnipeg as they grapple with their uncertain futures. After humiliation at her high school grad, Violet wants to make the most of the last summer before moving away for university, as Harley distracts herself from the big dilemma of what’s next. As the lifelong BFFs bask in newfound freedom, and face adult life choices, cracks begin to form in their once impenetrable bond. Starring Leenah Robinson, Victoria Turko, Joel Oulette, Gail Maurice, and Jennifer Podemski. (Pier 21, Frantic Films, Sekowan Media)
DOUBLE JEU – Crave (French language, available with English subtitles) *previously announced*
Adam and Mounir, two Maghrebi actors, are offered to take part in a top-secret police mission where they will become double agents and infiltrate various criminal circles. They can’t pass up the chance to play the role of a lifetime. (KOTV)
DRAG BRUNCH SAVED MY LIFE – Crave
Get ready to slay and sauté with DRAG BRUNCH SAVED MY LIFE. World renowned drag superstar Priyanka is no stranger to serving looks, delivering gorgeous vocals, and keeping the world fed with content that everyone eats right up. In a post-pandemic world where restaurants are struggling to make ends meet – Priyanka, flanked by her haute cuisine experts, event planning extraordinaires, and locally “Pri-picked queens,” embark on a mission to give restaurants a second shot by helping them stage their very own drag brunch production. (Sphere Media)
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