Bell Media promises ‘strike-proof’ fall TV lineup

Executives at Bell Media say they’ve designed a “strike-proof” fall television lineup that will carry its banner CTV network and Crave TV and streaming platform through months of potential labour unrest that’s already shut down much of Hollywood.

As the U.S. writers’ strike extends into its sixth week, and the stateside actors union voted on Monday to authorize a strike, the vice-president of programming at CTV and Bell specialty channels expressed confidence that work stoppages won’t affect its programming slate, at least for now.

“Regardless of how long that strike goes,” Pat DiVittorio said of the writers’ strike, “it will not impact us in the fall.”

DiVittorio and other Bell executives touted a programming schedule to advertisers on Thursday meant to instil confidence amid uncertainty.

A run of Canadian-made shows complemented a roster of returning American network hits.

Most of those U.S. shows completed production before the Writers Guild of America strike, which she acknowledged “could go for a lot longer than people are expecting.”

Negotiations between the studios and the writers are effectively at a standstill.

One of the notable new additions to the CTV schedule is “The Traitors: Canada,” a homegrown edition of the Dutch reality series that sees a group of contestants descend on a castle to play an elimination game similar to Mafia. Recent iterations of the series in the United Kingdom, Australia and the U.S. are already on Crave.

Justin Stockman, vice-president of Bell’s content development and programming, said the Canadian version of “The Traitors” will shoot in Quebec this summer before its fall debut, calling it likely “the fastest turnaround of anything we’ve ever done.”

“The Traitors: Canada” was added to CTV’s programming slate just two weeks before it was announced to advertisers on Thursday. A week ago, the show hadn’t even finalized the contract with its host, actress Karine Vanasse, who will oversee two versions, one filmed in English and another with francophone contestants. Vanasse is best known for her lead roles on TV shows “Cardinal” and “Revenge.”

CTV has also ordered a new onehour talk-show lifestyle series “The Good Stuff with Mary Berg,” helmed by the cookbook author and taped in front of a live studio audience.

The network will have a daytime vacancy following the departure of mainstay Marilyn Denis, whose last show airs Friday.

However, the network did not confirm when or what time the Berg-led show would air, saying all scheduling details would be announced at a later date.

Returning CTV series include dating show “Farming for Love,” Nova Scotia-set “Sullivan’s Crossing” and the hospital drama “Transplant.”

Among the new additions to Crave is a sketch comedy show MCed by Bruce McCulloch of “The Kids in the Hall” fame called “The Dessert,” which promises to walk to “the edge of decency.” The series features music from executive producer and Arkells frontman Max Kerman.

Also announced is “The Office Movers,” a half-hour comedy that follows two college dropout brothers who attempt to rescue their own failing moving business so they can sell it to an industry giant. It comes from the producers of CTV’s library sitcom “Shelved,” which has yet to be renewed.

Crave is also doubling up on female best-friend stories. “Not Even” follows two women headed for high school graduation in late 1990s Winnipeg, while “Nesting” is about a pair of single besties who decide their relationship status shouldn’t stop them from both getting pregnant at the same time.

In travel fare, Crave’s original series “The Optimist’s Guide to the Planet with Nikolaj Coster Waldau,” showcases the Danish actor who played Jaime Lannister on “Game of Thrones” traversing the world to find people and projects that inspire hope for the future.

Regardless of how long that strike goes, it will not impact us in the fall. PAT VICE-PRESIDENT DIVITTORIO OF PROGRAMMING AT CTV AND BELL SPECIALTY