CBC, Granada in Coronation Street Renewal

TORONTO/LONDON, April 24: CBC
has concluded a new deal with Granada International, part of ITV Worldwide, to
continue airing the long-running British drama series Coronation Street in Canada.

In addition, Granada and
the Canadian pubcaster will co-launch a dedicated Coronation Street website that will be exclusively available to
Canadian viewers. The new online portal will provide access to IPTV catch-ups, interviews
with the cast and a range of in-depth facts and information about the series. Coronation Street is Britain’s longest running continuous drama
series, first broadcast in the U.K. in 1960 and in Canada in 1971. It follows
the lives of the residents of a typical street in Manchester in the North of
England.

Peter Iacono, the
president and managing director of ITV Worldwide, commented: “The world’s most
famous cobbled street goes from strength to strength—nowhere more so than
Canada where Corrie has an avid fan base. CBC Canada has been Coronation
Street’s home for nearly 40 years and we’re proud to continue our
long-established relationship and to build upon it with a new consumer digital
property that will deepen fans’ engagement with the program.”

Kirstine Layfield, the
executive director of network programming at CBC Television, added, “We’re
delighted to continue to offer Coronation Street in early prime time to our loyal audiences. The
soap has a vast legion of fans throughout Canada and they will be delighted to
know that they will be able to follow the highs and lows of their favorite
characters for years to come, the new website will bring added benefits to
their viewing experience.”

—By Irene Lew