Joytv Announces Fall Slate

TORONTO: Joytv, which serves the Vancouver/Victoria and Winnipeg TV markets in Canada, has unveiled its fall program lineup, which includes simulcasts of top-rated current-affairs and drama series, a selection of syndicated comedy offerings and new local productions.

Programs returning to the network for the 2009-2010 season include simulcasts of the hit dramas Supernatural on Thursdays and Smallville on Fridays. Simulcasts of the award-winning current-affairs series 48 Hours Mystery and 60 Minutes return on Saturday and Sunday nights, respectively. Joytv will also simulcast the long-running ABC news magazine series 20/20 on Friday nights.

New offerings include a weekday simulcast of the hit daytime drama One Life to Live, and a Monday-through-Saturday broadcast of the entertainment news magazine The Insider. Joytv is also adding Everybody Hates Chris to its weeknight comedy lineup, which already includes the likes of Frasier, Dharma & Greg and The Bernie Mac Show.

Local productions are also in the lineup. Returning programs such as the talk show Foundations with host Willard Thiessen will be joined by new titles such as P3, an information series exploring the spiritual dimension of society and culture, and a revamped version of the prime-time current-affairs series The Standard, hosted by 60 Minutes veteran Peter Klein.

Joytv will supplement its Tikka Saturday lineup of South Asian programming with Ek Noor, a new series for Punjabi Canadians that will air Monday through Thursday in prime time.

Mark Prasuhn, the COO and chief content officer of S-VOX, which acquired and relaunched two former OMNI stations last year under the Joytv name, commented: "We are pleased to have built successfully on the solid foundation that Joytv established in its inaugural season. We have strengthened Joytv’s position as the current affairs news magazine leader in its markets, and solidified our comedy and drama offerings. At the same time, we will continue to deliver one of the best and most diverse selections of inspirational multi-faith programming for viewers in Vancouver and Winnipeg."