Canada: Television Programs

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA is Fall's No. 1 New Program in Canada

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA sets Benchmark for a Canadian series

# 1 New Series Overall and for Younger Viewers, Women and Urban Markets

Six weeks into the Fall Television Season, a Canadian series is making history. CTV's SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA has "popped" its way to the top, becoming this Fall's # 1 new television series in Canada.* Attracting 47% more viewers than 90210, it's the first time in memory that an original, homegrown production has claimed more viewers than American imports in the Fall Season.

After three performance episodes, the Wednesday night hit for CTV is averaging 1.36 million viewers, making it not only the # 1 new program among total viewers, but in all key demos as well. The series performs particularly well among younger viewers (# 1 New Series among A18-34 and A18-49), women (# 1 New Series among F18-34 and F18-49) and in urban markets (# 1 New Series in Toronto and Vancouver).

"The buzz continues to build for SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA!" said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. "Becoming Fall's # 1 new series is a testament to the quality of the production and the extraordinary talent of the dancers that Canada has so clearly fallen in love with."

A detailed look shows that SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA claims three out of the Top 5 slots in the list of Canada's top new series:

In the next episode, airing Wednesday, October 29 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV, the Top 14 compete in front of two new members of the judging panel, who join permanent judges Tre Armstrong and Jean Marc Genereux. The first is Canadian Rex Harrington, a former Principal Dancer with the National Ballet of Canada and current Artist-in-Residence for the company. The second is Mary Murphy, best known as the "Queen of Scream" on the U.S. version of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and guest judge during the audition tour on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA.

Highlights of every episode of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA are now available on demand on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca. Visit the official website at dance.ctv.ca for more information.

Debuting on Sept. 11, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA scored 1.25 million viewers for its two-hour series premiere on CTV, winning its time-slot and outpacing the Season 4 premiere of the American SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE by 5%.

Leah Miller (MUCHONDEMAND) is the host of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA. The two permanent judges of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA are Toronto's Tre Armstrong, the contemporary/funk dancer, choreographer and star of the MTV/Paramount dance film How She Move, and Montreal's Jean Marc Genereux, international ballroom champion and guest judge/choreographer on the U.S. version of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Luther Brown, the urban choreographer who's worked with such artists as Sean Combs, Alicia Keys and Brandy, and Blake McGrath, who was a Season 1 finalist on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, alternate in the third judge seat.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced in association with CTV by Danse TV Productions. Sandra Faire and Trisa Dayot are Executive Producers. Ed Robinson is Executive Vice-President, Programming, CTV Inc. Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

About Danse TV Productions
Sandra Faire, one of Canada's leading variety producers, is also a vice-chair of the National Ballet of Canada and cabinet member of Grand Jete (National Ballet School). Ms. Faire, along with Trisa Dayot and senior producers Bronwyn Warren and Millan Curry-Sharples, helms SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA. The team's impressive array of Canadian award-winning programs seen include Amanda Marshall for SONY, RITA MACNEIL'S CELTIC CELEBRATION (CTV/PBS) and RITA MACNEIL'S CHRISTMAS (CTV/PBS). Both MacNeil shows were CTV's #1 Canadian specials for the year with over 1.6 million and 1.75 million viewers respectively. Their recent variety special, THE RANKIN FAMILY REUNION, airs later this year on CTV. Ms. Faire still holds the record for the highest rated variety special in Canadian television, ANNE MURRAY'S FAMILY CHRISTMAS (CBC) with a 43% share and 4.2 million viewers. Janet Lavack joins the team as producer.

About 19 Entertainment
Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful music based entertainment, or "entertainment brands". The company has attracted a unique collection of expertise in people who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording, artist/writer and producer management, sponsorship and promotion. Simon Fuller is the most successful British music manager of all time having sold over 116 million CDs in North America alone, and is known as the creator of American Idol, the most valuable TV format in the world with an estimated value in excess of $2.5 billion.

About dick clark productions
Founded in 1957, dick clark productions has grown to become a leading independent producer of a wide range of TV programming for broadcast/cable networks, distributors and advertisers. The Company has produced thousands of shows and specials in all genres and for all day parts, including such perennial hits as Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, the American Music Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Bloopers specials and series, the Daytime Emmy Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards and the recent Disney's American Teacher Awards, among others. The Company also is a leading creator of award-winning communications experiences from live events and meetings to integrated marketing programs for major corporations.

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. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.

Source: So You Think You Can Dance Canada
TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2008 /PRNewswire/ --

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