August 30, 2006

CTV Sets up Super Sunday as Canadian Idol Moves to New Timeslot for 90-Minute Season Finale, Sept. 17 on CTV

-- Melissa O’Neil confirmed to perform as Idol finale kicks off a blockbuster night on CTV --

Toronto, ON (August 30, 2006) – CTV announced today that it has scheduled the 90-minute season finale of Canadian Idol for Sunday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV (check local listings). The scheduling manoeuvre is positioned to deliver a winning audience for the premieres of The Amazing Race and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which will debut immediately following the announcement of Canada’s next Canadian Idol. It all adds up to a blockbuster night on CTV as the end of summer’s most-watched show kicks off the start of two of this fall’s most-anticipated series.

"We schedule to win and the Canadian Idol finale – one of the highlights of the year on Canadian television – will deliver audience momentum into the fall TV season,” said Susanne Boyce, CTV President of Programming and Chair of the CTV Media Group.

Featuring the final competitive performances from the Top 2, the final Canadian Idol performance episode will continue to air live on Monday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. on CTV. The scheduling move allows the tension and excitement to build from the final voting night to the moment the results are announced a full six days later.

CTV also announced today that reigning Canadian Idol champ Melissa O’Neil will pass on the Idol crown after performing live during the 90-minute season finale. Additional performers and details regarding the Canadian Idol season finale will be announced soon.

** Media Note ** - Photography and audio clips from Canadian Idol are available online at the Canadian Idol Media Centre at www.idolpix.ca.

In what promises to be an electric evening starting at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, viewers will learn the name of the next Canadian Idol before meeting the new teams of the tenth instalment of the Emmy Award-winning The Amazing Race at 8:30 p.m. ET. Then, Canadians will be the first in the world to be introduced to the highly anticipated new drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, starring Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford, at 10 p.m. ET.

Before that, it’s the biggest show of the season for Canada’s favourite television series, Canadian Idol. The special 90-minute results episode will see the Top 10 reunited as the eight eliminated competitors join the Top 2 to perform once again on the Canadian Idol stage. And in what has become a yearly tradition, the episode will also feature a live performance by last year’s Canadian Idol winner, Melissa O’Neil.

Since winning the Canadian Idol title last September, O’Neil has signed a recording deal with SONY BMG MUSIC (CANADA) INC, released her self-titled debut album and toured the country with Idol runner-up Rex Goudie. O’Neil’s album is approaching Platinum status as she begins co-writing her next album with several prominent music writers.

“We are so happy to have Melissa back on the Canadian Idol stage,” said Executive Producer, John Brunton. “Melissa is a great role model for this year’s competitors as she has demonstrated absolute class while making her mark in the Canadian music industry this past year.”

Canadian Idol was created by Simon Fuller and is produced in association with CTV by Insight Productions. John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby are Executive Producers. Mark Lysakowski is Supervising Producer. Senior Producer is Sue Brophey. Mary Sexton is Regional Producer. Jane Rimer is Executive Consultant for FremantleMedia. Rick Lewchuk is CTV’s Senior Vice-President, Program Planning and Promotion. Ed Robinson is CTV’s Senior Vice-President, Comedy, Variety and Talk. Susanne Boyce is CTV President of Programming and Chair of the CTV Media Group.

FremantleMedia is one of the largest international creators and producers of programme brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories. FremantleMedia has production offices in over 20 countries worldwide, providing local sales and production support for its international TV brands such as Idols and the world’s longest running game show, The Price is Right.

The company’s licensing operation, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, exploits FremantleMedia’s many strong brands across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing. Fremantle International Distribution, the company’s international distribution division licenses over 19,000 hours of programming to 150 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is the content arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. For further information please see FremantleMedia’s website www.fremantlemedia.com.

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV National News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTV owns 21 conventional television stations across Canada and has interests in 17 specialty channels, including the number-one Canadian specialty channel, TSN. CTV is owned by CTVglobemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.


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