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| VisionTV looks to continue ratings growth in 2009-2010 |
| Posted
on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 06:06 PM |
VisionTV's 2009-2010 lineup will build upon a successful programming strategy that has produced significant ratings growth this season, Canada's multi-faith and multicultural network announced today.
"Focusing on our core audience of viewers aged 50-plus has proved a winning approach," said Bill Roberts, President and CEO of VisionTV's parent company S-VOX. "In the coming season we will deliver more of our viewers' favourites - including classic dramas and the best of British comedy - along with outstanding new and original Canadian factual programs."
During the current season, VisionTV has enjoyed an audience share increase of more than 60 percent over the previous year - the largest of any specialty channel. The network's share in prime time has gone up nearly 50 percent.
In 2009-2010, VisionTV will refresh its popular British comedy block (weeknights at 8 p.m. ET) with the addition of new titles throughout the season. The network's "So You Wanna Be In TV" promotion, launched last week, offers viewers a chance to help program this hour-long block by voting for various titles under consideration.
VisionTV's drama lineup will continue to feature the classics Murder, She Wrote (weeknights at 7 p.m. ET) and Quantum Leap (Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET), along with a new season of the popular British dramedy Doc Martin, starring Martin Clunes. The network will also present the final season of the much-loved Australian drama McLeod's Daughters, beginning in September.
Factual programming highlights will include the original Canadian series Crazy For Love, which looks at relationships between people of different faiths and cultures, and Sex + Religion, which will explore the complex interplay between faith and human sexuality.
Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici (The Lost Tomb of Jesus) will return with a new season of his informative and irreverent documentary series The Naked Archaeologist, as well as the 90-minute documentary special Beasts of the Bible, which will premiere at Easter.
Unscripted, an original new talk series featuring entertainment world icons such as Bob Newhart and Florence Henderson, will air four nights weekly starting in September.
Classic feature films have long been a staple of the VisionTV schedule, and the network will devote even more airtime to these in 2009-2010. New titles include The Manchurian Candidate, Gentleman's Agreement, The Searchers, Dances With Wolves, The Verdict, and Martin Scorsese's New York, New York.
VisionTV plans a full three weeks of Christmas programming in December, with highlights that will include the Canadian television premiere of The Nativity Story, a 2006 theatrical feature film by Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke.
The new season will also feature special programming events to mark other important faith celebrations, as well as notable occasions such as Elvis Presley's 75th birthday and the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species.
Said Mark Prasuhn, S-VOX Chief Operating Officer and Chief Content Officer: "VisionTV is committed to providing thoughtful, high-quality alternative programming with the 50-plus viewer in mind. In the season ahead, we will strengthen our already impressive prime time schedule, while continuing to offer television's most diverse lineup of inspirational programming, from Christian broadcast ministries to faith and entertainment series for Canada's Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities. At a time when many conventional and specialty stations are fighting just to hold their ground, we expect to continue growing VisionTV's audience share."
For more information on VisionTV Programming and the "So You Wanna Be In TV" contest, please visit www.visiontv.ca.
Note: Check out FallTVPreview.com for the upcoming fall schedule grid of VisionTV.
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