CTV Unveils Music Format The Launch

CTV is introducing The Launch, a new six-part music series that is the first TV project resulting from the partnership between Bell Media and record executive Scott Borchetta (American Idol), the founder, president and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group (Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire).

The music competition program will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a series of hit songs. CTV also brought on board Eureka Productions’ showrunner Paul Franklin (MasterChef), along with Canadian format pros Insight Productions (The Amazing Race Canada, Battle of the Blades). Insight’s CEO, John Brunton, and Insight’s Lindsay Cox (The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration) are executive producers, along with Franklin and Borchetta.

Created for the international marketplace, The Launch looks on as a group of unsigned musicians are mentored in the creation of a new original song by a panel of internationally renowned hit-makers, including Borchetta. Casting for the music mentors and unsigned artists is underway.

“The Launch is the centerpiece in our multifaceted partnership with Scott Borchetta and Big Machine,” said Randy Lennox, the president of Bell Media. “Together with Eureka Productions’ extraordinarily talented Paul Franklin and the amazing Insight Productions, we have assembled an A-list group of collaborators to deliver an incredibly captivating and entertaining series.”

“Bell Media is renowned for creating content that resonates with viewers, so who better to partner with on this international project and to keep viewers engaged,” said Borchetta. “From Drake to Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes—Canada is known for its world-class talent and I can’t wait to discover the world’s next superstar.”

“Unlike other music programs, The Launch is an inside look at what it really takes to find and break a new artist and create music’s next hit single,” said Mike Cosentino, the senior VP of content and programming at Bell Media. “CTV has an incredible track record of adapting international formats for Canadian audiences, and now we are excited to bring this original Canadian format to the world.”

Production is slated to begin in Toronto this summer, with the premiere set for 2018. The series was co-developed by and is produced in association with Borchetta, Franklin and Bell Media in partnership with Insight Productions. The format will be available for distribution globally by Bell Media Original Programming and Big Machine Label Group. It is executive produced by Borchetta, Franklin, Brunton and Cox in partnership with Bell Media. Executive producers for Bell Media are Robin Johnston and Corrie Coe, the company’s senior VP of original programming.