City Adds Seven Original Canadian Series to 2013-14 Prime-Time Schedule

- Newly commissioned reality series Meet the Family joins prime-time schedule this fall - 
- Multi-camera original comedy Package Deal gets new, fall prime-time timeslot -
- Seed renewed for Season 2; returns with 13 half-hour episodes in 2014 -
- Mother Up! with Eva Longoria joins mid-season schedule in 2014 -
- Three OLN original series - Storage Wars Canada, The Project: Guatemala and returning hit The Liquidator - to also air on City this fall -

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TORONTO, June 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Marking the most robust lineup of original Canadian programming the network has ever produced, City today announced seven original series - five new and two returning - join the network's 2013-14 prime-time schedule.

The announcement was made today as part of Rogers Media's 2013 Upfront presentation.

"Our strategy for the past two years has been to grow our slate of original Canadian programming.  We have invested in great Canadian series, both scripted and non-scripted, on City and OLN, and it has resulted in our strongest and most robust Canadian lineup ever for the networks," said Scott Moore, President of Broadcast, Rogers Media.

Scripted original comedy Package Deal is part of City's winning comedy block on Mondays this fall, airing at 8:30 p.m. ET.  Three all-new original reality series, Storage Wars Canada, The Project: Guatemala, and the newly commissioned Meet the Family, also air on City in prime time this fall, as does OLN's hit returning original series The Liquidator.  Beginning mid-season, new original animated adult comedy series Mother Up!, starring and executive produced by Eva Longoria, will air exclusively on North American television on City.

Along with the new schedule, City announced today it has greenlit Season 2 of its original single-camera, sperm-donor comedy Seed, with an additional 13 half-hour episodes from Vancouver-based Force Four Productions.  Premiering to critical acclaim this past February, Seed returns to Halifax this summer to begin production.  Recognized for its rich characters, quick-wit, and edgy writing, Seed has been nominated for an international 2013 Banff Rockie Award in the category of Best Sitcom.

For all its originals, City will have a strong digital presence with live chats, blogs, bloopers, and exclusive video content for web that will engage and enhance the viewing experience.

"Our investment in Canadian content and the increase in the number of original series is a testament to our belief that City's original content can go head-to-head with any programming on television today," said Claire Freeland, Director of Original Programming, Rogers Media.  "City is committed to developing, creating, and airing compelling content that resonates specifically with our younger-skewing and urban-oriented audiences."

In addition to these seven original series, The Bachelor Canada - the #1 new Canadian show and a top 10 new show in Canada for last fall* - begins production on Season 2 in 2014.  A guilty pleasure for all women, the show is slated to air in fall 2014 and will engage across multiple platforms with more co-viewing and dual-screen experiences, becoming the talk of social yet again in 2014.

All original series are commissioned and developed by City's original content team. For Rogers Media, Claire Freeland is director of original programming, Malcolm Dunlop is executive vice president, programming and operations, and Scott Moore is president of broadcast.

**For show descriptions, visit www.rogersmediatv.com**

Social Media Links
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Like Storage Wars Canada Facebook.com/StorageWarsCanada
Follow City @City_tv
Follow City PR @Citytv_PR
Follow Package Deal @PackageDeal_TV
Follow Seed @Seed_tv

About City
City™ television stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Saskatchewan offer viewers intensely-local, urban-oriented, culturally-diverse television programming. A distinct alternative to other conventional television stations, City engages its viewers with dynamic on-air personalities and delivers an entertaining mix of news, local-interactive formats, such as Breakfast Television and Cityline, as well as local Canadian and acquired prime-time entertainment programming. City is part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited, a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI andNYSE: RCI), which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For more information on City stations and programming, visit Citytv.com.

*Source:  BBM Canada, Total Canada, A25-54, Year=Sept 24-Dec 16/12, Dec 31-Apr 7/13, Fall=Sept 24-Dec 16/12

SOURCE: City