CTV and Comcast International Media Group (CIMG) have partnered to bring E! Entertainment Television back to Canadian audiences. Today, the companies announced a multi-platform program supply and trademark licence arrangement that will debut a new Canadian E! channel, formerly Star!, beginning November 29. Dedicated exclusively to informing Canadian viewers on all aspects of the entertainment industry, E! will immediately be available in more than 6.2 million Canadian households.
One of the world’s most popular entertainment brands, E! is the #1 primary source on American television for celebrity and entertainment news and continues to rank as a top five network in the U.S. for both A18-49 and A18-34.* Targeting the female 18-49 demo, the return of E! in Canada marks the arrival of a very strong specialty brand to CTV’s industry-leading suite of specialty channels.
“E! is a specialty brand for a specialty service. It’s a hot network that has seen dramatic year-over-year ratings growth,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “The time is right to refresh our own entertainment channel so it can achieve its potential for viewers and advertisers. E! is a dynamic complement to what we’ve built with ETALK, Canada’s #1 entertainment source.”
“We’re delighted to bring E! back to audiences in Canada as we enter this new partnership with CTV,” added Duccio Donati, Executive Vice President, CIMG. “E!’s signature content has been a long-time favourite with TV viewers in the market and the network’s robust line-up of entertainment news programming, hit reality series and red carpet coverage, complement the channel’s localized programming, as part of an E! branded 24/7 channel.”
Powered by pop culture phenoms such as KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS, CHELSEA LATELY, LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET, THE SOUP and E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY, E! enjoyed its highest-rated and most-watched September ever in the U.S.
The arrangement between CTV and CIMG will see:
· exclusive access to current programming on E!;
· exclusive access to E!’s array of digital media assets in Canada, including mobile and Video on Demand;
· a Canadian-managed website, eonline.ca, eventually featuring both E! and original digital content and allowing for integration of Canadian ad sales; and
· a commitment to create new, original Canadian programming.
Research indicates that an overwhelming majority of Canadian viewers are already familiar with E!, including 96% females A18-34 and 92% males A18-34. The network recently expanded its flagship series E! NEWS to a new one-hour format, while MARRIED TO ROCK, BRIDALPLASTY, and Season 3 of KENDRA will premiere on E! this November. Journalist and author Laura Ling also recently joined the network as host of the popular investigative documentary series E! INVESTIGATES. E!’s roster of popular personalities includes the Kardashians, Chelsea Handler, Ryan Seacrest, Giuliana Rancic, Joel McHale, Kelly Osbourne, Holly Madison, Kendra Wilkinson and Joan Rivers.
The channel will present 50 per cent Canadian programming throughout the broadcast year, including 40 per cent in prime time. Additional programming details regarding E!’s new schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
CTV will utilize its award-winning promotion, marketing and communication resources to relaunch the E! brand in Canada. The company already manages Canada’s #1 specialty brands in sports (The Sports Network, aka TSN), music and youth (MuchMusic and MTV), factual (The Discovery Channel), business (BNN – Business News Network), comedy (The Comedy Network), and genre (SPACE), among others.
