Ms. Barb Williams reports

NEW COPS, NEW CASES, NEW COUPLES ROOKIE BLUE SEASON FOUR RETURNS MAY 23 ON GLOBAL; PLUS NEW THIS SEASON ROOKIE BLUE IN SESSION - AN ORIGINAL COMPANION WEB SERIES LAUNCHES ON GLOBALTV.COM THURSDAY, MAY 16

Shaw Communications Inc.'s Global is advertising the highly anticipated return of Canada's favourite cop show, Rookie Blue, season four, in simulcast with ABC on Thursday, May 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Also new this season is Rookie Blue in Session, a dramatic short-form Web series on the GlobalTV website that will give fans an unprecedented look inside the minds of the police officers from 15 division.

Faced with huge repercussions, 15 division seemed on the edge of unravelling at the end of last season. The explosive season four premiere will answer fans' burning questions and will also welcome two new characters, Marlo Cruz and Chloe Price, who have the power to turn 15 division on its head.

New and old romantic ties come to light as new rookie recruits Ms. Price (Priscilla Faia -- True Justice) and senior uniformed officer Cruz (Rachael Ancheril -- The Listener) join the team. Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym), Dov Epstein (Gregory Smith), Chris Diaz (Travis Milne), Traci Nash (Enuka Okuma), Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan) and Nick Collins (Peter Mooney) all return for season four.

"Rookie Blue is gritty and intense with rich storylines that leave viewers on the edge of their seats," said Barb Williams, senior vice-president, content, Shaw Media. "This season we're thrilled to satisfy fans' desire for more content by expanding beyond the hour-long episodes with the new dramatic Web series Rookie Blue in Session and, in addition, on-line episodic cast commentary. The new on-line content is the perfect extension for fans wanting to delve deeper into this hugely successful series."

Rookie Blue in Session, a 10-part short-form original Web series, follows the cops from 15 division as they sit down with the staff psychologist to face their darkest demons, personal and professional struggles, and major decisions, leaving them at their most vulnerable.

Fans can catch up now on the past three seasons of Rookie Blue for free on the GlobalTV website or the Global Video application.

Rookie Blue is executive produced by award-winning Tassie Cameron (Flashpoint), Ilana Frank (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings), David Wellington (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings), Russ Cochrane (The Listener) and John Morayniss (Klondike, Rogue). Rookie Blue is a production of ICF Film Inc., and leading independent studio and distributor Entertainment One.