Bell Media Makes Slew of Acquisitions for Specialty Channels

TORONTO: Bell Media has acquired nine series for its suite of specialty channels, including picking up The Royals, starring Elizabeth Hurley, for E!

Angie Tribeca, a spoof of police procedurals from Steve and Nancy Carell, is set for The Comedy Network midseason. The series stars Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation, The Office). Also coming to The Comedy Network are Benched, a single-camera courtroom comedy, and Buzzy's, from the creators of Will & Grace.

The series Complications is set for Bravo's midseason schedule. It centers on a disillusioned suburban ER doctor who intervenes in a drive-by shooting; his life may never be the same after. Jennifer Falls, which stars Jamie Pressly, comes to M3 midseason. Younger, which follows a 40-year-old single mother trying to get back into the working world, is also headed to M3, for the fall.

Bravo has lined up Proof, a serialized supernatural drama starring Jennifer Beals, Matthew Modine and Joe Morton, for midseason. Along with The Royals, Bravo is also getting Rush, a drama about a not-so-average on-call doctor.

“We are confident that the series we acquired in L.A., will continue the tremendous growth we’ve seen across our entertainment specialty brands in the last year,” said Catherine MacLeod, the senior VP of specialty channels and Bell Media Production. “Our new dramas, including The Royals, the first original scripted drama for E!, are poised to become water-cooler favorites this year, and our new comedies are hilarious.”