HBO to Launch in Canada

TORONTO, September 22:
Astral Media’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central will
launch HBO Canada on October 30 as a multiplex channel, at no additional charge
to their current subscribers.

Astral Media and Corus
Entertainment have expanded on the long-standing programming output deal that
each has with HBO in order to launch the service. HBO will not own a stake in
the new channel.

“HBO is one of the most
successful and sought-after entertainment brands in the world and we are
thrilled to be expanding upon our long-standing relationship to launch this
unique new service,” said John Riley, the president of Astral Television
Networks. “For years, HBO’s dramatic programming has been available on The
Movie Network and Movie Central. But even with all of the HBO titles we
offered, Canadians still wanted more. They wanted the comedy series, the live
specials, the sporting events and the behind-the-scenes content that went into
the HBO viewing experience. In launching HBO Canada we will be in a position to
offer Canadians this additional content, together with the current signature
series that HBO produces, to create an entertainment and value proposition that
promises to set a new standard for premium television viewing in Canada.”

HBO Canada will be home to
new and returning marquee series such as True Blood, Entourage, Big Love, Flight
of the Conchords and In
Treatment, airing day-and-date
with HBO in the U.S. The service will also offer more than 200 hours of library
titles and first-run HBO original films, comedy specials, documentaries, live
concerts and sporting events previously unavailable in Canada. Rounding out the
schedule will be Canadian films and series including The Movie Network and
Movie Central’s award-winning original series such as Durham County and Terminal City.

“We are thrilled that HBO
Canada is going to be available to our subscribers this fall,” said Paul
Robertson, the president of television at Corus Entertainment. “Canadians see
great value in HBO’s distinctive brand and compelling programming and we have
responded to this with a channel that offers a full complement of HBO
programming that meets our audience’s demand for world-class
entertainment—delivered in standard definition, high definition and on
demand.”

—By Mansha Daswani