25 November 2002 23:37
Tuesdays at 10 is appointment TV as CTV launches "The Osbournes" September 17
- Labatt Breweries of Canada takes exclusive first season sponsorship - TORONTO, July 10 /CNW/ - The Crazy Train
leaves the station this September as CTV presents "THE OSBOURNES," the hot new next-generation comedy, for the
first time on conventional TV. The series will air TUESDAYS AT 10pm, BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 17 on CTV. Susanne Boyce, CTV
President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group, announced that CTV will run all 10 episodes of Season One of
"The Osbournes" uncensored. "The Osbournes have a way of communicating that isn't like most
families," says Ms. Boyce. "Some viewers will be surprised by how the Osbournes talk to each other, but coarse
language is part of their world. It's used as they really use it. The heart of The Osbournes is that they're
not plastic. Their fights, their love for each other -- and their language -- is real." The series is being
scheduled an hour later than the established "watershed hour" of 9:00 p.m. to give it maximum separation from
family viewing. CTV is using its full resources to ensure that Canadians are well aware of the series' content in
advance of the broadcast, and are able to make an informed viewing choice. Strongly worded advisories will appear
throughout each show, and in print and on-air advertising. Labatt Blue is the exclusive sponsor of Season One of
"The Osbournes." "We're excited to play a role in bringing The Osbournes, powered by Labatt Blue, to
CTV for Canadian viewers," says Nigel Miller, Director of Public Relations, Labatt Breweries of Canada.
"People are eager to catch this show. For Labatt Blue, The Osbournes is cutting edge with beer drinkers and we want
to be there with them when they're watching every week." Labatt Blue will be included in pre-promotion for
"The Osbournes," opening and closing billboards and has commercial inventory in weekly episodes. On June 11,
2002, CTV announced it had sub-licensed the Canadian television rights to Seasons One and Two of "The
Osbournes" from MTV Canada. The series follows the real lives of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and his family as they
deal with everyday life in Southern California. Tattoo-laden dad Ozzy, his wife and manager Sharon and their two kids,
Jack and Kelly wrestle -- literally and figuratively -- on camera, with family issues such as school, allowances,
moving, pets, tattoos, adolescence, and celebrity. There's no script; the situations are real and the family is
normal... well, sort of. In unprecedented fashion, the Osbournes were followed for six months by producers, taped and
recorded 24/7, to capture their daily routine. The result is both a hilarious series and a smash hit-sensation that has
shattered ratings records around the globe on MTV. In the United States, where the series was launched March 5, 2002,
"The Osbournes" gave MTV its highest-rated debut ever, setting the television world on fire. In its first four
weeks, the series surpassed 30 million viewers (2+), smashing all previous records for MTV. In the United Kingdom, the
premiere of "The Osbournes" on MTV delivered a record-breaking audience of 500,000 viewers, more than tripling
the channel's traditional audience in that timeslot. The series is seen in Australia, Brazil, Europe, Germany,
Latin America, Netherlands, Nordic, Philippines, Poland and Russia. CTV adds "The Osbournes" to its other
cable mega-hit, "The Sopranos" as well as to the list of new shows announced June 3 as part of the
Network's 2002-2003 schedule. The new programming slate includes drama series: "Boomtown", "CSI:
Miami", "The Eleventh Hour" and "Everwood" along with comedies "8 Simple Rules",
"The Holmes Show", Life with Bonnie", and "Less Than Perfect". CTV, Canada's largest
private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It boasts
the number-one national newscast, "CTV News With Lloyd Robertson", and is the number-one choice for prime-time
viewing. CTV owns 27 conventional television stations across Canada and has interests in 15 specialty channels,
including the number-one Canadian specialty channel, TSN. CTV is owned by Bell Globemedia, Canada's premier
multi-media company. More information about CTV may be found on the company Web site at www.ctv.ca. MTV Canada was
launched in October 2001 capitalizing on a branding and program licensing agreement between affiliates of Craig
Broadcast Systems Inc and MTV Networks (MTVN). This was quickly followed by the launch of a second digital service in
December, MTV2, and complemented by the simultaneous launch of www.mtvcanada.com. Specifically created for Canadian
viewers, these new 24- hour advertiser-supported channels feature a strong line-up of original Canadian programming as
well as award winning content from the US and around the world. More information on MTV Canada is available on the MTV
Canada Web site at www.mtvcanada.com. Labatt Breweries of Canada is one of the nation's longest-established and
most successful brewing companies. A proud brewer of 60 quality beers, Labatt employs 3,800 Canadians, operates eight
breweries from coast to coast. Labatt is part of Belgian-based Interbrew S.A., the second largest brewer in the
world.
VIEW ADDITIONAL COMPANY-SPECIFIC INFORMATION: http://www.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/inquiry.cgi?OKEY=84922
http://www.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/inquiry.cgi?OKEY=62877 http://www.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/inquiry.cgi?OKEY=35244 /For further
information: Mike Cosentino, CTV - Director of Programming Communications, (416) 332-5048; or Nigel Miller, Labatt
Breweries of Canada, (416) 361-5168/
[CAIW [Corporate Announcements Intelligence Wire]] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
