Ms. Eleni Tenuta reports

BELL MEDIA SECURES LANDMARK SEINFELD DEAL FOR "PROJECT LATTE" STREAMING SERVICE AS COMEDY SLATE REVEALED

It's been named the greatest television program of all time, yada, yada. And now for the first time, Canadians have access to every single episode on demand. BCE Inc.'s Bell Media has signed a landmark deal with Sony Pictures Television for the Canadian exclusive subscription streaming rights for the seminal sitcom Seinfeld, making its upcoming subscription video on demand product, code-named Project Latte, the only streaming service to offer the series to its subscribers. The announcement was made as Bell Media revealed its premium comedy lineup for Project Latte, representing additional content deals from BBC Worldwide, CBS Studios International, Viacom (Comedy Central), Eagle Rock Entertainment, HBO, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. International Television. It is the latest in a series of programming announcements for Canada's premium video streaming service, set to launch later this year, and follows last week's announcement that the entire Monty Python catalogue will live exclusively on "Project Latte."

From sitcoms to Britcoms and stand-up in between, Project Latte is home to more than 225 hit comedy titles representing more than 2,500 episodes. In total, premium comedy programming will comprise nearly 25 per cent of the entire Project Latte catalogue which, it was confirmed today, will also feature the expansive Comedy Central vault of past season and library hits.

"We are very proud to deliver the genre-defining series Seinfeld to Canadians in this landmark deal," said Mike Cosentino, senior vice-president, programming, Bell Media. "It's only one of several headliners in our comedy portfolio, which will launch with a deep, diverse, and iconic lineup including Cheers, 30 Rock, Corner Gas and The Big Bang Theory -- simply some of the biggest comedies that have ever been on television."

Comedy on Project Latte: Seinfeld

Bell Media has secured the exclusive subscription streaming rights for every single episode of the TV sitcom that defined a generation, Seinfeld. Named by TV Guide as the greatest television program of all time, Seinfeld ran for nine seasons from 1989 until 1998, when nearly 80 million people watched its series finale. All 180 episodes will be available exclusively in Canada on Project Latte. Seinfeld is a Shapiro/West production in association with Castle Rock Entertainment. Seinfeld is distributed by Sony Pictures Television.

Classic sitcoms

Curated exclusively for "Project Latte" are some of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, including the entire 275-episode catalogue of Cheers, nominated for 117 Emmy Awards over its 11-season run. Canada's premium comedy destination will also exclusively feature all 264 episodes of Cheers spin-off Frasier, one of the most-successful spin-off series and critically acclaimed comedies of all time. Additionally, Project Latte exclusively delivers every single episode of Everybody Loves Raymond and the most-watched Canadian comedy series of all time, Corner Gas, along with the soon-to-be-released Corner Gas: the Movie.

Current comedies

It's the biggest show currently on TV and it's only on Project Latte. Canadians can go back to the beginning to rekindle their love affair with The Big Bang Theory, while Project Latte will also exclusively feature past seasons of additional current comedies including The Goldbergs, The Millers, Spun Out, and ultimately the complete 100-episode catalogue of Charlie Sheen's Anger Management.

The best of Comedy Central

Comedy Central's vast and diverse comedy catalogue exclusively comes alive on Project Latte, including both past-season and library content. Featured are past-season episodes of Comedy Central hits Key & Peele, Broad City, Tosh.0, Kroll Show, Inside Amy Schumer, Nathan For You, Ugly Americans and Drunk History. From the Comedy Central library comes every season of Reno 911, The Sarah Silverman Program, Crank Yankers, workaholics and Strangers With Candy. Additionally available exclusively on demand is the collection of infamous Comedy Central Roasts -- skewering the likes of Charlie Sheen, David Hasselhoff, Donald Trump, James Franco, Joan Rivers, William Shatner, Bob Saget and more.

Acclaimed HBO Comedy

As previously announced, Project Latte is the Canadian home of the entire off-air library of HBO's iconic programming catalogue, including its award-winning collection of brilliant comedies. In addition to all eight seasons of beloved cult favourite Curb Your Enthusiasm, also featured are HBO titles Entourage, Sex and the City, The Larry Sanders Show, Angry Boys, Bored to Death, Flight of the Conchords, Little Britain USA, and Mr. Show.

The Monty Python collection

As announced last week, Project Latte is the exclusive home to the revolutionary Monty Python library. In addition to every single episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus, the service also exclusively presents a collection of Monty Python documentaries, specials, and more, including the brand new Monty Python Live (mostly) -- One Down Five To Go documentary from this summer's reunion at London's O2 Arena.

Britcoms

Project Latte is also home to Basil Fawlty and every episode of the BBC's Fawlty Towers, named by the British Film Institute as the "best British television series of all time." Project Latte also features all five seasons of the BBC's Absolutely Fabulous, as well as seven additional Ab Fab specials, including the three "20th anniversary" specials (2011 to 2012).

Pop culture hits

Named by 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair as one of the top 10 sitcoms of all time it's the only television program to receive 22 Emmy Award nominations in a single year, and it's coming to Project Latte -- fan-favourite and critical darling 30 Rock. The service is also home to fellow pop culture hits Community and Weeds.

The world's best stand-up comedians

The service will also offer more than 150 hours of stand-up comedy, featuring titles from both Comedy Central and HBO, including some of the biggest names in comedy today and yesterday. Among the featured comedians are Zack Galifianakis, Louis C.K., Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt, John Oliver, George Carlin, Robin Williams, Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes, Shawn Majumder, Chelsea Handler, Kevin Hart, Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Maher, Harland Williams, Dennis Miller, Sarah Silverman, Margaret Cho and more.

In October, Bell Media announced a new video streaming service devoted exclusively to the best content on television, code-named Project Latte. The service will feature thousands of hours of content representing TV's top premium brands. Additional details about Project Latte -- including its final name -- will be announced in the weeks to come.