Corus Announces Lineup for Women’s Specialty Nets

TORONTO: The Corus Entertainment female-skewing Canadian channels W Network, Cosmopolitan TV and VIVA have lined up a host of new and returning lifestyle series, dramas and movies for their fall schedules.

W Network, aimed at women 25 to 54, adds a new Sunday morning movie block at 10 a.m. This adds to its back-to-back Saturday movies with Double Flix and Triple Flix. Among the first titles to air this fall will be Georgia Rule, Because I Said So and Nanny Diaries. Julia Louis-Dreyfus heads to W’s weekend night comedy block in her hit series The New Adventures of Old Christine. W is also expanding its lifestyle fare with the Canadian makeover show Eat Yourself Sexy, hosted by famed nutritionist Gillian McKeith, and Anna and Kristina’s Beauty Call. Returning in its fifth season is How to Look Good Naked, while 10 Years Younger: The Challenge is new to the roster. Returning to the lineup are Canadian original series Style By Jury, Divine Design and Love It or List It.

CosmoTV, which targets women 18-34, is adding the one-hour drama Lipstick Jungle and a second season of The Rachel Zoe Project. A third season of CosmoTV’s flagship magazine show Oh So Cosmo and the second annual CosmoTV Bachelor Search are also due to air. CosmoM, the channel’s movie block, will continue to screen films every Friday to Sunday.

Targeting boomer women, VIVA adds more food-focused programming in the daily VIVA Cuisine block with the debut of the new original series Fearless in the Kitchen, along with the Canadian premiere of Spain…on the Road Again, featuring Gwyneth Paltrow and chef Mario Batali. VIVA’s lineup of movies this fall includes a two-month movie event called Crowns & Corsets, featuring titles such as Elizabeth, First Knight, The Virgin Queen and Marie Antoinette. In the way of crime and detective programming, VIVA’s Crime in Prime evening block will add Cold Case and new episodes of Rescue Mediums and Psychic Investigators to a lineup that currently includes the hit drama The Closer.

“Each of our women’s networks speaks to a distinct audience while they all encompass three pillars of programming: lifestyle, scripted entertainment and movies,” said Joanna Webb, the VP of programming for Corus women’s specialty television. “Whereas W continues to provide a respite for busy, time-starved women with relaxing romantic comedies and expert-driven series that offer inspirational tips for living, CosmoTV concentrates on serving up fun, guilty-pleasure programming, while VIVA’s lineup showcases smart, sophisticated, experiential programming tailored to the boomer woman. In all, Corus’ women’s networks truly have something for every woman.”