CTV News enjoyed a golden halo during the London 2012 Olympic Games,  widening its lead as Canada’s most-watched news organization.

Broadcasting from London throughout the Games, CTV National News With Lisa LaFlamme and CTV Evening News broadcasts across the country saw double-digit increases in average audiences versus their summer averages. CTV National News increased its audience by 31%, and saw a remarkable spike of 73% among young adults (A18-34), more than eight times that of CBC's THE NATIONAL* in the same demographic.

With Canadians cheering on hometown heroes at the Games, CTV’s supper-hour weekday newscasts across the country were up 25% in total viewers and 50% among young adults (A18-34) versus their summer averages. Leading the way for growth among metered markets was CTV British Columbia’s evening newscast, up 130% among young adults (A18-34) and more than doubling its A25-54 rating (+107%). In Alberta, CTV Calgary and CTV Edmonton news ratings also spiked with 77% and 43% increases in the young adult demo (A18-34), respectively. And in Toronto, Canada’s #1 local newscast also did high jumps in total viewers (+40%) and adult viewers (A18-49, +60%).

“Canadians consistently choose CTV News as their source for news during historic events,” said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News. “We served viewers throughout the Olympic Games with the same quality journalism that viewers expect from CTV News every day.”

From George Michael and the Spice Girls to Queen and The Who, the London 2012 Olympic Games came to a record-breaking close as an average of 7.5 million Canadians rocked out with athletes from around the world.

The London 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony becomes the most-watched Summer Olympics broadcast on record in Canada. The 4 p.m. ET broadcast was watched on average by 5.1 million viewers on CTV alone, more than three times the audience of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony.

Reaching nearly 17 million Canadians in total, the conclusion of the Games marked yet another day of gold medal audiences for Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. In all, Canadians watched a total of 662 million hours of coverage throughout the 2012 Games, with the average viewer consuming almost 21 hours of content during London 2012. An additional 3.4 million hours of content was viewed at CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca, while more than 1.1 million CTV Olympics London 2012 and RDS olympiques pour Londres 2012 Apps were downloaded.

"Our broadcast of the London 2012 Olympic Games has proved to be record-setting," said Adam Ashton, President, Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. "Audiences like these set a new benchmark for Summer Olympic Games broadcasts in our country. Thank you to the athletes for allowing us to share their stories with the nation. We have them to thank for our success."

An incredible 31.9 million Canadians, or 95% of the population, watched coverage on Consortium channels from the start of London 2012, with viewing up a remarkable 88%* over Beijing 2008. An average of 2.1 million viewers tuned in throughout Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium’s 22 hours of daily coverage, and overall, television viewing in Canada increased 13% during the Games versus the same days last year. London 2012 event viewership peaked on Sunday, Aug. 5 as Usain Bolt ran to his first gold of the London 2012 Olympic Games in the 100m final, with online viewership peaking on Thursday, Aug. 9 with 2.5 million site visits and 1.9 million video views as the Canadian Women’s soccer team won bronze, and Usain Bolt made history with his second repeat gold medal performance.

CTV won daytime and prime time on every day of the Games, with both total viewers and in the key demos of A25-54 and A18-49. TSN also saw ratings growth, increasing its full-day audience to become the second most-watched network in Canada throughout the Games, with Sportsnet ranking #4 and RDS #5, both ahead of CBC.

Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium delivered more than 5,550 hours of coverage of the 2012 Games, with events available across the Consortium’s platforms, consisting of CTV, RDS, TSN, Sportsnet, OMNI.1, OMNI.2, OLN, V, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca.

Audiences for London 2012 continue to grow, with viewing up an impressive 89% over Beijing 2008 during Days 4 – 6 compared to a 74% lead for Days 1-3.

An average of 1.9 million viewers tuned in throughout Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium’s 22 hours of daily coverage from July 31 – Aug. 2, with an average audience of 3 million viewers in prime time alone. Additionally, daytime has become the new prime time, with 2 million viewers tuning in on average between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Consortium channels, nearly four times the regular summer average.
 
On CTV alone, the tape-delayed prime time coverage averaged 2 million viewers, up 53% over CBC’s prime time live / tape-delayed coverage of Beijing 2008 (1.3 million) for the same time period. From the start of the 2012 Games to date, an incredible 29.4 million Canadians – or 87.4% of the population – has watched some coverage on Consortium channels.
 
Additionally, Olympic coverage is delivering younger viewers in droves. Among the 12-24 demographic, audiences for the Consortium networks are more than triple their typical levels, and double that of Beijing 2008. As a result, the Consortium channels are skewing five years younger with the overall boost from youth viewing for London 2012.
 
Tuesday and Wednesday’s swimming semifinal and final sessions, where Michael Phelps made history becoming the most decorated Olympian ever, averaged more than 2 million viewers each day, and became two of the Top 3 events across the Consortium networks from the start of the 2012 Games to date. Overall, swimming events reach more than 7.5 million viewers on the average day. The women’s artistic gymnastics team final on Tuesday ranks as the top non-swimming event to date, averaging almost 2 million viewers and reaching 6.4 million Canadians.

CTV News has congratulated Craig Oliver on being named to the Order of Canada. The Order of Canada is one of Canada’s highest civilian honours and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement and service to the nation.

“On behalf of everyone from CTV News, I’d like to congratulate Craig Oliver on this tremendous honour,” said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News. “Craig has done so much for the CTV News division and for so many Canadians outside of our news family. He has continually demonstrated excellence in his work, while serving as a mentor for young journalists and selflessly giving his time to philanthropic causes. He has covered and reported on the major political events and newsmakers of many generations with passion and hard work, for the benefit of all Canadians. We at CTV News are thrilled to see Craig saluted for his lifetime of outstanding achievement and contributions to the country.”

Oliver, who is legally blind, celebrated his 70th birthday by hosting a fundraiser for the Ottawa Eye Institute raising more than $100,000. For decades he has worked tirelessly to support the visually impaired community. His work includes sharing his expertise with various services including the CNIB and the Ottawa Eye institute.

Every newshound interested in the intricacies of Canadian politics has at one time tuned in to hear the reports of Craig Oliver. His remarkable 56-year career has taken him across the country and around the globe to cover Canadian, U.S. and world news. During his 15-year tenure as host of Canada’s landmark political program, QUESTION PERIOD, his unique style of interviewing Canadian newsmakers and members of government have made him one of the country’s most respected and recognized journalists. He has reported on the major political figures and news stories of our times with passion, insight and bracing candour.

In 2011, Oliver published Oliver’s Twist: The Life and Times of an Unapologetic Newshound. His many-layered memoir recounts an extraordinary professional and personal life, where a chance summer job with the local CBC station launched his broadcasting career, taking Oliver from Prince Rupert, B.C. to Ottawa, Washington, Central America and reporting from capitals around the world.

The depth of Oliver’s experience is evident in the many awards he has been given by his peers over his career. He has known and covered 10 Canadian Prime Ministers and been involved in every Canadian federal election campaign since 1957 when he chased John Diefenbaker down the streets of Prince Rupert. During his time as CTV Washington bureau chief, Oliver reported on the Ronald Reagan years, covered U.S. election campaigns and the Reagan-Gorbachev summits that ended the cold war.

From his first days in the radio booth at CBC Radio in Prince Rupert, B.C. at the tender age of 18, to corridors of Parliament Hill, Oliver has covered it all. He got his start in broadcasting at CBC Radio in 1957, cutting his teeth covering news from the Prairies. He moved up the ranks and across the country from Prince Rupert to Regina to Winnipeg and finally landing in Toronto as the Executive Producer of Regional News for CBC.

Oliver took his first assignment with CTV in 1972.  He served as Ottawa bureau chief for a span of almost 20 years, was CTV’s correspondent in Washington from 1979 – 88,  held the post of Director of News and Current Affairs from 1973 - 76, and produced Canada AM’s inaugural live broadcasts in 1973.

Craig Oliver was born in Vancouver, B.C. and spent his teen years living in Prince Rupert, B.C. Oliver studied English and history at the University of Regina, then called Regina College and at the University of Winnipeg. In June 2009, the University of Regina presented Oliver with an honorary doctorate of laws. Oliver is on the advisory board of Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C.

With the conclusion of the 2011/2012 television season, CTV has become even more firmly established as Canada’s go-to network for both viewers and advertisers, an end-of-season ratings analysis reveals.

Based on data from BBM Canada through the end of the season last week, CTV has set a new performance benchmark: it is now Canada’s most-watched network in total viewers and all three key adult demos (A25-54, A18-49 and A18-34) for a complete decade. Among total viewers and its key A25-54 demo, the record extends to 11 straight years.

Once again, CTV and CTV Two end the season with more Top 20 programs than all other networks combined, in both total viewers and A25-54 and A18-49. And in a sign of its long-standing programming prowess, CTV has landed four of the Top 5 returning freshman series in the same demos.

“For more than a decade now, CTV delivers Canada’s favourite programming year after year after year,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “CTV’s continued programming leadership and durability of success has made it a secure investment, for both viewers and advertisers alike. People know that if it’s big, it’s on CTV.”

As well, CTV ends the season with a 64% lead over its closest competitor in primetime. Meanwhile, at the end of its launch season, CTV Two becomes Canada’s third most-watched private network with outstanding double-digit growth of 26% (A25-54), 27% (A18-49), and 36% (A18-34) nationally in primetime. In Toronto, CTV Two grew by an incredible 44% for A25-54.

"With double-digit gains in Canada’s largest markets and Top 20 hits, our strategic marketing and programming investment in CTV Two, and the conversion to HD, is clearly paying off,” said King. “We look forward to growing CTV Two even more next season with its newly expanded footprint in Southern Ontario.”

Looking at CTV’s powerhouse primetime schedule this past season, CTV won six out of seven nights of the week with total viewers, and five out of seven with all key adult demos*. Similarily, of the 21 primetime timeslots of the week, CTV won 15 (71%) on average throughout the season.

CTV’s potency over the past season was led by Canada’s #1 program, THE BIG BANG THEORY. Averaging more than 3.6 million viewers each week, the series actually grew by double digits in total viewers and all key demos to remain the country’s most-watched program for the second year in a row. THE BIG BANG THEORY delivered a massive 4.7 million viewers for its season finale on May 10 to become the sixth most-watched broadcast in 2011-2012.

THE BIG BANG THEORY powered a comedy resurgence on CTV this past season, with the handsomely re-tooled TWO AND A HALF MEN pulling in record-setting audiences and growing by 57% on CTV Two to become Canada’s second most-watched comedy series and a Top 15 program in all key adult demos. Additionally, in its second season, MIKE & MOLLY also exploded with double-digit growth nationally, doubling last year’s ratings with triple-digit growth in Toronto on CTV Two. Overall, CTV and CTV Two deliver five of the Top 5 comedy series on Canadian television.

CTV ended the season with four of the Top 5 returning freshman programs with A25-54 and A18-49, including the #1 new series overall and the #1 new competition series (THE X FACTOR), the top two new dramas (ONCE UPON A TIME and GRIMM), and the #1 new comedy series (WHITNEY). CTV has now delivered the #1 new program of the year for seven of the past 10 years.

Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium has announced its commitment to delivering Canadians the best Summer Games experience ever.

The Consortium is bringing viewers more than 5,500 hours of coverage – the equivalent of more than 229 days of content or close to two thirds of a year – during the 17 days of London 2012, more than any other Games.

The Consortium’s plan includes 2,000+ hours of television coverage in 11 different languages and 3,500+ hours of digital coverage. Additionally, the Consortium has confirmed the schedules for its conventional and dedicated sport channels which range between 15 – 22 hours of coverage per day. This plan ensures Canadians have as many options as possible to watch their favourite events.

Television

In total, more than 2,000 hours will be broadcast on Consortium television stations:

• English coverage on CTV, TSN, Sportsnet, and OLN – 1,114 hours
• French coverage on RDS and V – 704 hours
• Multi-lingual coverage on OMNI.1, OMNI.2, and ATN – 223 hours
• Languages include Bangla, Cantonese, Hindi, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Tamil, and Urdu

Digital

More than 3,500 hours of coverage will be available online and on mobile devices at CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca:

• Live streaming of coverage from CTV, RDS, TSN, Sportsnet, and V – 1,431 hours
• Live streaming of events from various Olympic venues – 2,100 hours

 
“We are committed to bringing Canadians a robust Olympic Games experience, whether on television or digital platforms,” said Adam Ashton, President, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. “With 26 sports, plus a sizeable time difference and so many people on the go during the Summer, it is important to provide Canadians with a choice on how, when, and where they want to consume London 2012 content.”

In addition, 10 Rogers Radio stations will provide listeners with Olympic Games coverage, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, a daily hour-long highlights show, and updates three times an hour everyday during the Games. The 10 stations are: 1310News (Ottawa), 680News (Toronto), News1130 (Vancouver), 660News (Calgary), 570News (Kitchener, Ont.), News95.7 (Halifax), News 88.9 (Saint John, N.B.), News91.9 (Moncton), Sportsnet 590 The FAN (Toronto), and Sportsnet 960 The FAN (Calgary). The national hour of Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown (6 – 7 p.m. ET) airing on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN and 19 other radio stations across the country, will also be dedicated to London 2012.

CTV

RDS

TSN

Sportsnet

V

*BST – British Summer Time (five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time)

As the NDP chooses a new leader to replace the late Jack Layton this weekend, CTV’s Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme heads to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to bring Canadians live coverage of the events as they unfold.

CTV News Channel delivers live coverage of the NDP Convention on Friday, March 23 from 1 – 5 p.m. ET and again from 7 – 9 p.m. ET with a tribute to Jack Layton and on Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET until a new NDP leader is revealed

“CTV delivers the most resources of any news organization and we have the most committed coverage from broadcast and online to mobile and social media,” said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News. “Our political team on the ground will bring Canadians the details as they happen along with useful analysis on the results.”

CTV News has the best political team of correspondents and pundits on hand for the special NDP Convention coverage including Alice Funke, from punditsguide.ca, Antonia Maioni, Political Science Professor at McGill University, and an all-party panel comprised of Marit Stiles (NDP), Tim Murphy (Liberal), and Mike Storeshaw (Conservative).

Delivering the most-trusted and comprehensive coverage of the NDP Election, CTV News reporters are on hand to cover all the angles and potential leaders including Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife, Tasha Kheiriddin and Scott Reid from CTV News Channel’s daily political program NATIONAL AFFAIRS, CTV POWER PLAY host Don Martin, and CTV Reporters Genevieve Beauchemin, Richard Madan, Seamus O’Regan, and Mercedes Stephenson.

This will be the first national leadership convention to truly harness social media, and CTV News will integrate it fully. QUESTION PERIOD co-host and CTV News Digital Evangelist Kevin Newman will moderate the discussion online, bringing Canadians inside the events for debate, engagement and voting through the new CTV News social media community at CTVNews.ca/social.  In addition to the discussion online, CTV’s convention team adds context on Twitter via @ctvnews, while CTVNews.ca provides live streaming of CTV News Channel’s coverage on Friday and Saturday. CTVNews.ca also delivers profiles on NDP candidates, details on what to expect at the NDP convention, how the process will unfold and extensive photo galleries from the convention.

CTV News Channel NDP Convention Coverage:

Friday, March 21
1 – 5 p.m. ET – LaFlamme anchors live coverage of the NDP Convention
5 – 6 p.m. ET – POWER PLAY WITH DON MARTIN
7 – 9 p.m. ET – LaFlamme hosts a Jack Layton Tribute and is joined by Don Martin
10 p.m. ET – CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME

Saturday, March 22
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (approx.) – LaFlamme anchors live coverage of the NDP Convention.

This week’s all-new W5 investigates dubious vacation clubs.  These clubs promise luxurious holidays combined with other perks like discounts for major purchases at a fraction of the cost.

Premiering Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV and CTV Mobile TV, “Paradise Lost” reveals victims of fraudulent travel schemes who share their stories of being bilked.  In a dramatic undercover investigation, W5 confronts one fraudster convicted of misleading consumers in the operation of a travel club but who is already back in business seeking new “members.”  W5 also confronts government agencies – trying to discover who should be cleaning up this fraudulent industry.

W5 also airs Sundays on CP24 at 1 p.m. ET, and at 7 p.m. on CTV Two, and then on demand on the CTV News Video Player at CTVNews.ca (visit CTV.ca for local listings).

For Matteo Gironi, Club Par Excellence was a dream come true – an affordable way to vacation in the sun. Initially drawn into the travel club with a prize of an all expenses paid trip for two to Las Vegas, Geroni and his wife, Monique, attended a compelling sales pitch offering amazing discounts on flights, hotels, car rentals – as well as huge savings on appliances, real estate and other major purchases. Deciding the discounts would offset the $9,000 membership fee, Geroni joined only to soon realize the prize and the discounts were a sham as Club Par Excellence closed its doors. Geroni contacted local police in Newmarket, who directed him to the RCMP, who told him his complaint was a matter for civil court. With the travel club seemingly out of business, Geroni stopped payment on his membership. A few months later, loan collectors were threatening him for defaulting on the payments –Club Par had arranged a loan for him – allowing the company to escape with his membership fees but leaving Geroni with the debts. The dream had become a nightmare for Geroni and the hundreds of people like him who had been taken by Club Par Excellence and similar vacation club schemes.

W5’s Victor Malarek seeks answers from Ontario’s Ministry of Consumer Services: the agency that did crack down on vacation clubs, beginning in 2007 – including Club Par Excellence. Despite the Ministry’s efforts, operators of fraudulent travel clubs are undeterred and “morph” into new schemes, seeking new victims under new names.  W5 goes undercover to confront the perpetrator of one of fraudulent travel club scheme convicted under Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act, but who is discovered back in business at a new travel club.

W5 also reveals a method whereby fraudulent vacation clubs sign up prospective members for loans with legitimate financial institutions. Even when the scheme closes, the victimized members are left paying off on loans for memberships that were supposed to provide access to cheap vacations and services they will never receive. Once again, regulatory bodies seem helpless or unwilling to get involved. In a maddening circle of denial, Malarek seeks answers from Ontario’s Ministry of Finance, the province’s Consumer Protection Ministry and the federal Competition Bureau and discovers that this regulatory and enforcement “black hole” leaves Canadians at the mercy of travel club schemes.

CTV News Channel has announced the launch of THE PATTIE LOVETT-REID SHOW, a new half-hour, call-in series airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. beginning March 22 on CTV News Channel.

Pattie Lovett-Reid, Canada’s renowned financial guru, coaches viewers on how to save money, stretch their income, and get the biggest bang for their hard-earned bucks.

“THE PATTIE LOVETT-REID SHOW is not your average finance series. It’s about improving your personal balance sheet – everything from renovating your kitchen, to career advice, to getting out of debt,” said Jack Fleischmann, Vice-President, CTV News Channel and General Manager, BNN. “The show offers a forum for viewers to learn from Pattie and leverage her superb track record as a leader in the Canadian financial industry.”

Financial lessons are not always fun, but they’re a lot more enjoyable when Pattie is hosting! With her sensible and easy going approach, Pattie covers a wide range of topics, such as: interviewing skills, starting a business, the importance of networking and how to do it, why volunteering is important, how to get out of debt, how to save for a child’s education, how to talk to children about money, how to save for a wedding, and what to do before saying “I do.”

“This show is about the possibilities for a better financial future. It’s about what you can do today, to change your life for the better tomorrow,” said Pattie. “We’ll talk to the experts and we’ll profile people from all walks of life, from CEOs and entrepreneurs, to professors and regular folks. I sure don't have all the answers, but I hope to be able to point people in the right direction.”

Pattie’s vast financial industry knowledge, combined with her outgoing personality and unbridled energy, offers something for everyone. With its live, call-in format, viewers can get personal advice on their specific situation. THE PATTIE LOVETT-REID SHOW features special segments including ‘Lesson’s Learned’, which offers the best financial advice from guests with a track record for success; and ‘Financial Focus’, a weekly feature that offers tactical takeaways to suit every age and stage. And each week, Pattie takes to the streets with camera in tow, offering people a chance to ‘Ask Pattie’ their financial questions.

For the last decade Pattie has been a regular guest commentator on BNN and other Bell Media channels. The highly sought-after speaker and commentator on wealth management kicked off her new role as Senior Financial Commentator on CTV News Channel in early 2012. Pattie comes to CTV News Channel from TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., where she served as Senior Vice-President. The Certified Financial Planner and co-author of several national best-selling books was awarded with an honourary degree in Applied Studies from Humber College in June 2010. The Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) recognized Lovett-Reid with the 2009 Donald J. Johnston Award for her outstanding contribution to the profession of financial planning in Canada. Lovett-Reid received 2007 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Award in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters Category.

To pitch guests and experts to THE PATTIE LOVETT-REID SHOW email with details.

THE PATTIE LOVETT-REID SHOW is one of several recent investments in new programming and anchors on CTV News Channel, as well as format changes, as CTV News Channel continues to evolve. In October 2011, CTV News Channel launched three new programs, EXPRESS, DIRECT, and NATIONAL AFFAIRS.

This weekend, W5 offers viewers a gritty, inside look at the world of prostitution in Canada and the young women – daughters, neighbours, students – held captive by predatory pimps.

Premiering this Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV and CTV Mobile TV, W5 reveals that all of the recent prostitution cases dealt with by Ontario’s York Regional Police are domestic ¬– a stark revelation that contradicts the belief that young women lured into prostitution are brought here from foreign countries.

W5 also airs Sundays on CP24 at 1 p.m. ET, and this week W5 airs at 9 p.m. on CTV Two, and then on demand on the CTV News Video Player at CTVNews.ca (visit CTV.ca for local listings).

In a year-long investigation, W5 captured dramatic video of the York Regional Police Drugs and Vice Unit’s commitment to shutting down pimps engaged in the trafficking and enslavement of women. CTV’s Sandie Rinaldo guides viewers on the police crackdown of the thriving sex trade and the rescue of women who have been lured in to and trapped in prostitution.

As the W5 investigation reveals, victims of human trafficking are often controlled, beaten and live in a state of fear. York Region police work hard to develop a trusting relationship with women until they are prepared to turn to seek their escape.

It was just such a relationship with York Regional Police that saved Jasmine, a self-described “good church girl”, who supported herself by first waitressing, and then later stripping, while a student at Western University. For Jasmine, like so many vulnerable young women, the spiral into the sex trade happened quickly. Jasmine met her “boyfriend” who courted her with expensive gifts, vacations, and a high-priced lifestyle – eventually forcing her to pay for it as a prostitute.

The charm soon turned to violence, leaving Jasmine feeling trapped and unable to leave. After family members alerted York Regional Police to her situation, officers worked to gain her trust. They were eventually able to rescue her from the sex trade, and when Jasmine gave evidence, convict her former pimp.

W5 rides alongside the Drugs and Vice Unit, capturing the riveting arrests of several alleged pimps who are charged with assault, forcible confinement, living off the avails of prostitution, and human trafficking. The latter charge is the most serious that can be laid with sentences of up to 14 years in prison if convicted. In one dramatic pursuit, W5 captures the chase and arrest of an alleged pimp at his home in Toronto

With an ongoing commitment to covering tough, relevant stories with fair and responsible reporting, W5 is in its 46th season of investigative journalism. Hosted by Lloyd Robertson, the award-winning series is the most-watched documentary program in Canada. Anton Koschany is Executive Producer of W5. Brett Mitchell is Senior Producer. Wendy Freeman is President of CTV News.

CTV National News viewers have been greeted with a new, updated version of the theme music for Canada’s most-watched news broadcast.

The new musical score was produced exclusively in Canada with an all-Canadian orchestra comprised of some of the finest musicians in the country.

“The new composition will sound familiar to viewers, but has an all-new feel for an all-new era at CTV News,” said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News. “Many broadcasters head out of country to produce their music, but as Canada’s #1 newscast, we wanted to do this at home. Every aspect of the music is Canadian - from the composer and local recording studio, to the recording engineers, technicians, and of course the musicians.”

Led by producer and composer Doug Pennock, co-arranged, orchestrated and conducted by Jamie Hopkings, recorded and mixed by senior recording engineer Gary Gray, the new theme music was performed at Revolution Recording in Toronto. Nearly 80 musicians were involved, playing instruments including strings, woodwinds, brass, harp, percussion, timpani, and even a cimbasso. Musicians were all personally selected by Pennock and Bev Spotton from the ranks of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, the National Ballet Orchestra, True North Brass, Oshawa Philharmonic, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Hamilton Philharmonic, and even the orchestra pits of Toronto's theatre district.

“We have kept a lot of the sound already associated with CTV NATIONAL NEWS, but we have given it a fresh sparkle with subtle differences and new sections,” said Pennock. “How many people get to write and work on something that viewers hear every single night? It’s definitely always a career highlight for me.”

CTV’s new music involves an unprecedented number of musicians. The string session was the largest, with 50 players in the studio at the same time. The smallest session was for the harpist, who played her tracks alone in the studio. Other notable musicians and instruments include the Bonjour Stradivarius Cello, one of the most valuable cellos in the world on loan from the Canada Council. Played by Rachel Mercer, it is valued at $8 million and boasts its own Wikipedia page. The score also features a cimbasso, an uncommon member of the trombone family that plays in the same bass range as a tuba, played by Scott Irvine of the Canadian Opera Company and the True North Brass. Also of note was the use of nine French horns, more than are found on stage at any one time during a symphony orchestra performance, for an especially powerful brass sound.

“We recorded the sections separately over two days and then combined them for maximum control,” said Hopkings. “But we also had to do this because we had more musicians than we could physically get into the studio!”

Click here to listen to the new music.

CTV has announced that Marci Ien is the new co-host of CTV’s national morning show, CANADA AM.

The former News Anchor for CANADA AM joins Beverly Thomson as co-host following the departure of Seamus O’Regan from CANADA AM to CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME. Today was O’Regan’s last day. Ien assumes her co-host duties on January 9, 2012.
                            
“CANADA AM is the best morning show in the country and I am beyond thrilled to join my friend and colleague Bev as co-host,” said Ien. “Working with Seamus was an absolute honour - he leaves big shoes to fill. I look forward to the new opportunities that lie ahead to connect with Canadians.”

“We are delighted to welcome Marci into the role of co-host – she was a clear choice for the job and I’m sure our viewers will be thrilled to have her back,” said Lis Travers, Vice-President, Executive Producer, CANADA AM. “Bev, Marci and Jeff are a great team with proven chemistry.”

Currently on maternity leave with her second child, Ien has been CANADA AM’s News Anchor for the past eight years. In that role, Ien has interviewed newsmakers ranging from Desmond Tutu and Deepak Chopra to Jamie Foxx. Ien has covered six federal elections, and was anchoring CANADA AM when news of the Japanese earthquake broke earlier this year. Ien also anchored President Obama’s inauguration special and the July 2005 London underground terror attacks.

Ien’s career in television spans more than three decades. Her career has taken her from Halifax, where she joined CTV National News as a reporter in 1997, to Vancouver, where she was the News Anchor for CTV’s OLYMPIC MORNING at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Ien’s charity work has seen her travel across the globe. In 2008, Ien travelled to Sierra Leone on behalf of Journalists for Human Rights where she met with reporters and led training workshops. She also works with World Vision for whom she traveled to Sri Lanka to report on the situation following the 2004 Tsunami.

From 2001 – 2003, Ien was a reporter based in CTV News’s Atlantic bureau. Prior to this, Ien reported for CHCH-TV in Hamilton. In 1995, Ien began reporting at Queen’s Park, covering daily political news for CHCH-TV's regional newscast, as well as its British Columbia-based evening show CANADA TONIGHT. Ien’s first television job was on the Canadian children’s television series CIRCLE SQUARE at the age of 10.

As Regis Philbin said goodbye to daytime television, a record 1.12 million tuned in to watch LIVE! WITH REGIS AND KELLY on CTV Friday, making it the most-watched morning talk show broadcast of all time in Canada.

With an increase of 16% from LIVE! WITH REGIS AND KELLY’s second highest-rated episode, garnered when the show taped in PEI in 2010, Friday’s episode more than doubled its average fall audience (405,000, +178%). Featuring a tribute from co-host Kelly Ripa and messages from celebrity friends, more than 1.8 million Canadians watched some or all of Regis’ final episode at 9 a.m. on Friday.

Impressively, LIVE! WITH REGIS AND KELLY was the #4 program of the day overall Friday with F18-29 and F25-54, ranking only behind CTV’s prime-time lineup.

The newly titled LIVE! WITH KELLY, which kicked off this weekly with guest co-host Jerry Seinfeld, continues weekdays at 9 a.m. ET on CTV. It’s an unofficial “Canadian” week on LIVE!, with guests including Canadians Kim Cattrall (SEX AND THE CITY), Howie Mandel (MOBBED) and Nathan Fillion (CASTLE).

CTV Toronto has announced that Colin D’Mello has been appointed Weekend Co-Anchor on Toronto’s #1 news team.

D’Mello will continue to report during the day on Saturday and Sunday and then co-anchor CTV NEWS AT SIX with Andria Case. Case will continue to anchor the 11:30 p.m. newscasts on weekends. D’Mello’s new duties begin in January.

“Colin and Andria are a dynamic team that will engage our viewers and grow our weekend audience,” said Paul Rogers, Senior Vice-President, CTV News.  “I’m looking forward to the start of this new team in the New Year.”

Since joining CTV TORONTO earlier this year in May 2011, D’Mello has covered everything from the summer parades to the recent Provincial Election. D’Mello jump-started his career as a 19-year-old when he moved to Moncton, NB as an announcer at News 91.9. He then helped launch 1310News – All News Radio in Ottawa, before moving to Toronto where he spent four years as an anchor and reporter at 680 News. While there, he was part of award-winning coverage of the 2008 propane explosion, the Tamil protesters occupying the Gardiner Expressway in May, 2009, and the G20 protests in 2010. Before moving to CTV TORONTO, D’Mello was 680 News’s city hall reporter.

D’Mello was born in Kuwait and lived there until 1998. He credits the events of the first Gulf War for shaping his interests in storytelling. D’Mello is a graduate of the broadcast journalism program at Seneca College.

CP24 has announced that Meteorologist Bill Coulter is joining CP24 in December.

Coulter is a welcome addition to CP24 BREAKFAST, the popular morning show hosted by Melissa Grelo and Steve Anthony, and will also stay with viewers throughout the morning. He joins news anchor Lindsey Deluce and a team of seasoned and familiar reporters including Nalini Sharma (soon to be on maternity leave), Mika Midolo, Cam Woolley and Bob Summers.

With audience growth of 24% compared to last year CP24 BREAKFAST is well-positioned in the market and enjoys one of the strongest all-news brands in the city.

“Joining CP24 BREAKFAST is a dream come true for me,” said Coulter. “There is no question that all eyes in the city turn to CP24 when a major weather event happens, and I look forward to delivering the news Torontonians need first thing in the morning every weekday.”

“Bill is an absolute professional, and we are delighted to welcome him to the CP24 BREAKFAST team,” said Joanne MacDonald, Vice-President, CTV News and General Manager, CP24.

Endorsed by the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, Coulter honed his skills while presenting news and weather for before joining Global in 2004. While weather is at the forefront of his broadcast career, Coulter’s experience includes lifestyle host of a local history and architecture program, and broadcasting live from the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival. An accomplished script writer, Coulter’s first professional children’s television script was brought to the small screen when he was just 25-years-old.

A Montreal native, Coulter has more than 10 years of local and national broadcast experience, and has served as Meteorologist for Global Toronto, The Weather Network and Toronto1 (now SunTV).

CP24 is Toronto’s source for breaking news.

Kevin Bell has been appointed to the role of General Manager, CTV Two Vancouver/Victoria and General Manager of Bell Media’s radio stations CFAX 1070 and 107.3 KOOL FM.

Bell adds these new duties to his existing role as General Sales Manager, Bell Media Radio, where he currently manages the sales force for radio stations CFAX 1070 and 107.3 KOOL FM, and General Sales Manager, CTV Two Vancouver/Victoria. Bell’s appointment is effective immediately.

“Kevin is a veteran in the radio and television industry,” said Gordon. “He is the perfect candidate to handle the dual responsibility of managing our TV and Radio operations in Victoria.”

“Kevin has an incredible depth of knowledge, combined with his passion for the business,” said Ali. “He is a tremendous asset to Bell Media Radio and CTV Two, and we’re fortunate to have him add the General Manager role to his portfolio.”

A seasoned veteran with more than 25 years in sales, Bell was named Sales Manager for CFAX 1070 and KOOL 107.3 FM in 2001 and has managed television sales in the Victoria market since 2009. A native of Toronto, Bell moved westward in 1975, spending time in Edmonton, Calgary, before eventually settling in Victoria in 2001. Bell is Vice-President of CFAX 1070 Santa’s Anonymous, Victoria’s longest running children’s charity.

CTV has revealed details of a comprehensive marketing campaign to generate awareness for its newly launched local morning programs, CTV MORNING LIVE.

The creative copy and messaging centers on the tag line “It’s everything you need,” enforcing CTV MORNING LIVE’s mission to provide viewers with the key information they need to start their busy day: local news, weather and traffic in a friendly and fast-paced format.

CTV Winnipeg was the first of six local CTV stations to launch its morning show in early October, followed by CTV stations in Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, and Edmonton. Vancouver wass the final market to launch CTV MORNING LIVE when its new morning program premiered  Monday, Nov.14. 

CTV’s robust marketing campaign combines a solid media mix that maximizes the use of internal promotional inventory on Bell Media television, radio and digital properties with additional paid advertising in radio, outdoor and in print, customized for all six markets, emphasizing the key brand drivers of news, weather and traffic that power CTV MORNING LIVE.

Rolled out in two stages, the first phase of the marketing campaign is based on individual market launch dates and includes locally produced TV promo spots, combined with half-page, full-colour ads in local newspapers, and locally produced radio spots that reinforce the key message “It’s Everything You Need.”

Phase Two of the integrated campaign zeroes in on brand image by showcasing the program’s key consumer benefits and the brand’s positioning of “It’s Everything You Need”. This includes newspaper ads with custom executions in each market; a broad out-of-home billboard campaign in the markets launching CTV MORNING LIVE; radio advertising on Bell Media and other stations, produced locally in each market with a new spot each week, and capped off with consistent messaging to end each spot in all markets; and brand image campaigns on television and online focusing on the key program pillars of “news, weather and traffic.” As the final market to launch CTV MORNING LIVE, Phase Two of Vancouver’s four-week brand image campaign launched November 7.

Following its mantra “It’s everything you need,” CTV MORNING LIVE serves up a fun, engaging, and trustworthy blend of news, weather and traffic in a fast and friendly format. With local programs in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Ottawa and Halifax, CTV MORNING LIVE offers the information that helps viewers get the day started right. The show’s strong social media presence enables CTV MORNING LIVE hosts to have a conversation with viewers, who can contribute to the show by sending in news tips, photos, and adding to the dialogue on Twitter.

CTV has announced that Seamus O’Regan is joining CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME as a Correspondent. O’Regan bids a final good morning to CANADA AM viewers across the country on Thursday, Nov. 24, at which time the new co-host of CANADA AM will be revealed on air.

O’Regan will assume his new duties on Canada’s most-trusted and most-watched newscast, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME beginning Monday, Nov. 28. O’Regan is already putting his story-telling skills to use on the CTV National News series “Canadian Originals”, profiling everyday Canadians from all walks of life who are doing extraordinary things.

“Seamus’s innate sense of curiosity, combined with a natural instinct for finding a story in any circumstance, make him a tremendous addition to our reporting team,” said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News.

“CTV is my home, and I am delighted to make this exciting move from CANADA AM to CTV NATIONAL NEWS,” said O’Regan. “The timing feels right to make this transition, which will allow me to continue doing what I love most – getting the stories that are important to Canadians and sharing them with viewers across the country.”

O’Regan has been co-host of CANADA AM for nine years, covering a unique blend of lifestyle stories and hard news, and interviewing top international newsmakers from the political world to celebrities. In addition to his role on CANADA AM, O’Regan has also reported for W5 and CTV NATIONAL NEWS, and hosted programs on Bravo! He recently travelled to Africa with K’naan to shed light on famine in Somalia, and reported from Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey for CTV's Royal Wedding coverage. He reported from the devastating floods in Manitoba and from Newfoundland after it was slammed by Hurricane Igor last year.

In 2010, O’Regan co-hosted OLYMPIC MORNING from Whistler B.C. O’Regan has also reported from Kandahar, Afghanistan, and NORAD headquarters inside Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado.

In 2007, O'Regan became the first journalist to be named to Canada's Top 40 Under 40. In 1999, he was named to Maclean’s magazine’s “100 Young Canadians to Watch". He has been twice nominated for a Gemini Award - in 2004 for the Viewers' Choice Award and in 2005 for Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series.

Originally from St. John's, Newfoundland, and raised in Goose Bay, Labrador, O'Regan studied politics at St. Francis Xavier University and University College, Dublin, and marketing strategies at INSEAD, the international business school near Paris. He received his Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge, England.

CTV News is Canada’s most-watched news organization both locally and nationally and has a network of national, international and local news operations. CTV News operations include CTV NEWS CHANNEL, BNN – Business News Network, CP24, and information programming, including CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH SANDIE RINALDO, CANADA AM, W5, and QUESTION PERIOD. With a perspective that is distinctly Canadian, CTV News brings Canadians the international and domestic news stories of the day and is the number-one news organization in Canada.

CTV News Channel has announced that Patricia Lovett-Reid will join the network full time as Senior Financial Commentator in early 2012.

For more than a decade, Lovett-Reid has been a regular guest commentator on BNN and other Bell Media stations. The highly sought-after speaker and commentator on wealth management kicks off her new role on CTV News Channel in the New Year, commenting on financial issues, as well as everything from personal savings and investing, to business news and the economy.

“As a highly respected Canadian financial industry figure, Patricia’s authoritative voice is a smart addition to the stellar CTV News Channel team,” said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News. “We continue to tweak our programming to deliver a more robust combination of 24-hour news that our viewers want, and bringing Patricia on board marks a good investment for CTV News.”

Lovett-Reid comes to CTV News Channel from TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., where she is Senior Vice-President. The Certified Financial Planner and co-author of several national best-selling books was awarded with an Honorary degree in Applied Studies from Humber College in June 2010. The Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) recognized Lovett-Reid with the 2009 Donald J. Johnston Award for her outstanding contribution to the profession of financial planning in Canada. Lovett-Reid received 2007 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Award in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters Category.

Today’s announcement follows a recent investment in new programs and anchors on CTV News Channel, as well as format changes, as CTV News Channel continues to evolve. In October, CTV News Channel launched three new programs, EXPRESS, DIRECT, and NATIONAL AFFAIRS.

On Friday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. ET, CTV News Channel delivers extensive coverage of Remembrance Day. REMEMBRANCE DAY 2011, anchored by CTV’s Chief Anchor and Senior Editor, Lisa LaFlamme.

The 90-minute special features live coverage from Ottawa’s Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National War Memorial.

“Our Remembrance Day coverage will pay tribute to the people who have made many sacrifices to protect our country,” said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News. “Anchored by CTV’s Lisa LaFlamme, our Remembrance Day special provides Canadians with extensive analysis, commentary and historical context of Remembrance Day in Canada.”

As part of the special honouring Canada’s veterans and those currently serving, LaFlamme is joined by a panel of special guests including Retired Major General Lewis Mackenzie, the Commander of the UN Peacekeeping force in Yugoslavia in 1992; and Sergeant Patrick Tower, a veteran of Canada’s mission to Afghanistan. Tower was the first recipient of the Star of Military Valour and was recognized for his actions under enemy fire during a mission in 2006. Reporting live from the National War Memorial in Ottawa, CTV’s Don Martin is joined by WWI historian Tim Cook.

CTVNews.ca presents live streaming of the CTV News Channel special REMEMBRANCE DAY 2011, as well as feature stories and galleries with personal stories and photos from viewers describing their military and peacekeeping heroes. Submissions can be sent to .