Canwest Announces Prime-Time Acquisitions

TORONTO, May 19: Canwest
Broadcasting has picked up 11 new programs, including the spin-off of the hit
’90s drama Beverly Hills, 90210,
to air in Canada in prime time on E! and Global Television.

Along with the new
one-hour 90210 spin-off, which
looks at the lives of a group of students at West Beverly Hills High School,
Canwest has acquired Dollhouse,
created by Joss Whedon. The series will focus on members of a highly illegal underground
group whose personalities have been cleared so that they can be imprinted with
any number of personas. Also in drama fare, Harper’s Island, which centers on a murder mystery that unfolds on
a picturesque island, joins Canwest’s prime-time roster.

Kath and Kim, which Canwest picked up from NBC Universal
Domestic Television ahead of the L.A. Screenings, is a comedy that features the
dysfunctional relationship of a mother/daughter pair. Knight Rider was also part of the NBCU deal, along with My
Own Worst Enemy and the spin-off
of The Office.

Based on the award-winning
BBC series, Life on Mars follows
a modern-day police detective who finds himself transported back to 1973. This
one-hour drama joins The Philanthropist and the comedies Sit Down, Shut Up and Worst Week in Canwest’s lineup.

"We look forward to
rolling out another season of hit-filled prime-time schedules with the addition
of this year's hottest new shows," said Barbara Williams, the executive VP
of content for Canwest Broadcasting. "The combination of our innovative
programming and strong partnerships guarantees that we will continue to deliver
great TV to our viewers."

"Once again Canwest
has demonstrated its leadership in the Canadian broadcast industry," added
Kathleen Dore, the president of Canwest Broadcasting. "We look forward to
extending our new and returning content across multiple media platforms which
positions us for positive growth this year and into the future."

For more information on
the new U.S. Network pickups, please click here.

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski