Canada’s most-watched original drama series is back with a bang this summer with the highly anticipated third season of FLASHPOINT, Fridays at 10 p.m. ET beginning August 6 on CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times). With last Friday’s Season 3 sneak peek delivering 1.3 million viewers, and winning the night, Canadians can now lock their sights on a new season of adrenaline-pumping action that features an array of talented guest stars including Lauren Holly (NCIS), Douglas Smith (BIG LOVE) and Victor Garber (ALIAS). Kelly Rowan (The Good Times Are Killing Me) guest stars in the Season 3 premiere as an estranged mother who abducts her two children.

Last season, FLASHPOINT was Canada’s most-watched home grown drama, averaging 1.8 million viewers out of simulcast on Friday nights on CTV. This summer, encore episodes continue to average nearly one million viewers on Friday nights. Meanwhile, in the U.S., FLASHPOINT is once again a sure-fire summer hit. Internationally, FLASHPOINT is licensed in over 100 territories worldwide, with channels including RTL2 in Germany, Canal Plus in France and Veronica in the Netherlands.

“Connecting with audiences in North America and around the world, FLASHPOINT continues to lead the way in the resurgence of compelling Canadian drama, “said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “We are extremely excited to bring our audience a new season, which promises more adrenaline-pumping action than ever before.”

In the Season 3 premiere, entitled “Severed Ties” (Friday, August 6 at 10 p.m. ET), Maggie Perrello (Kelly Rowan) was the perfect mother until an addiction to prescription meds spiraled out of control. It cost Maggie a stint in jail, and the loss of her beloved daughters Becky and Riley into foster care. Now she’s out of jail, clean and sober, and yearns to bring her children home but when Maggie discovers that she can’t have her kids back, she turns desperate and kidnaps Becky and Riley.

In “Follow the Leader” (Friday, August 13 at 10 p.m. ET) Team One launches a high-stakes raid on a white supremacist compound after a former insider, Danny Butler (Brendan Penny, WHISTLER), alerts it to an imminent attack. The team shuts down the militant camp but nearly loses one of its own in the battle. When the dust settles, the team discovers that the group’s leader Victor (Adrian Hough, DEFYING GRAVITY) escaped with Danny’s brother Trent (Tyler Johnston, LESS THAN KIND) and another accomplice and they’re all carrying concealed bombs. Parker must enlist Danny’s help in a race against time to stop the bombers and save hundreds of innocent lives.

One of the most streamed programs on CTV.ca, new episodes of FLASHPOINT will be made available on demand the day following their television broadcast on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca. Viewers can also catch up on all previous episodes at CTV.ca and at popular download stores.

This season, viewers can get the inside scoop on all the FLASHPOINT action and experience the series on a whole new virtual level on CTV.ca, Facebook, and Twitter:

* Follow the producers’ FLASHPOINT Team One fan page or CTV’s FLASHPOINT TV Series page on Facebook.
* Follow co-creator’s Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morganstern’s popular Twitter feed @Flashpoint_TV.
* Fans can participate in online contests and win DVD box sets and signed FLASHPOINT scripts on the Team One fan page.
* Online chats with the stars and producers.
* Check out the “Diary of a Hostage Negotiator” on FLASHPOINT.CTV.ca, an expert blog by Wally Zeins, the former Lead Negotiator for the New York City Police Department’s Hostage Negotiating Team.
* Dr. Edward O’Malley, a psychologist with an extensive background in conflict resolution, crisis management and hostage negotiation will provide a post-show commentary available on FLASHPOINT.CTV.ca following the season premiere.
* Also available soon on FLASHPOINT.CTV.ca is FLASHPOINT: TRAINING DAY, an interactive, online simulation game that gives FLASHPOINT fans the chance to become virtual members of the Strategic Response Unit (SRU).

FLASHPOINT’s success in 2009/2010 was highlighted by six Gemini Award wins including “Best Dramatic Series”, “Best Direction in a Dramatic Series” and “Best Performance by an Actor” for Enrico Colantoni’s portrayal of Sgt. Greg Parker, as well as 19 Gemini nominations. In June, FLASHPOINT picked up four nominations at the 2010 Monte Carlo Television Festival which recognizes International Television success. The series has also been nominated for four Directors Guild of Canada Awards, a Writers Guild of Canada Award and a 2010 ACTRA Award.

FLASHPOINT stars an impressive list of talent, including Enrico Colantoni (VERONICA MARS) as Gregory Parker, the team sergeant and head negotiator; Hugh Dillon (DURHAM COUNTY) as Ed Lane, team leader and lead sniper; Amy Jo Johnson (FELICITY) as Julianna “Jules” Callaghan, sniper and rappelling expert; David Paetkau (WHISTLER) as Sam Braddock, the young hot-shot sniper on the team; Michael Cram (STARGATE: ATLANTIS) as Kevin “Wordy” Wordsworth, who specializes in close quarter combat; and Sergio Di Zio (Just Buried) as Mike “Spike” Scarlatti, explosives and tactical toys expert.

FLASHPOINT is produced by Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment in association with CTV and CBS Television Studios.