An anonymous director reports

NEW CBS "STAR TREK" TELEVISION SERIES TO LIVE LONG AND PROSPER IN CANADA WITH BELL MEDIA

BCE Inc. and Bell Media have entered a licensing agreement for the new Star Trek television series in Canada. With Bell Media's acquisition of the exclusive linear television and subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) rights in English and French in Canada, each episode of the new Star Trek series will be available simultaneously with its release in the United States.

Bell Media has also licensed all 727 existing episodes of the Ster Trek television library -- which includes "Star Trek: The Original Series," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Star Trek: Enterprise."

The rollout for the new Star Trek series in Canada will mirror the launch in the U.S. The first episode will premiere on Canada's most-watched broadcast network, CTV, on the same night as CBS. All remaining episodes will initially be televised on Bell Media's cable networks, Space (in English) and Z (in French), and then later exclusively on CraveTV, Bell Media's streaming video-on-demand service.

The Star Trek television library will return to Space (in English) and debut on Cinepop (in French), and will also be found among CraveTV's leading lineup of premium television series.

The all-new Star Trek will begin production in Toronto this September for its January, 2017, premiere. The iconic and influential global franchise will return to television for the first time since 2005, with a new ship, new characters and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation.

"We are extremely pleased to significantly expand our partnership with Bell," said Armando Nunez, president and chief executive officer, CBS Studios International. "Canadian fans will now be able to beam up CBS's highly anticipated new series, as well as all past episodes of the show's vast library. Bell Media's premium linear and digital platforms will be a great home for our new series, as Star trek celebrates its 50th anniversary."

"Our acquisition of the new Star Trek series delivers a unique and exclusive opportunity for Canadian advertisers to engage with this blockbuster new drama in a meaningful way," said Mary Ann Turcke, president, Bell Media. "We are delighted to welcome Star Trek back to Bell Media and amplify this iconic franchise through our multiple leading brands. With a high-profile premiere on CTV, a permanent base on Space -- the long-time home of the series in Canada -- and premium positioning on CraveTV -- it's mission accomplished for Canadian Star Trek fans."

In the U.S., the new Star Trek will launch with a special premiere episode on the CBS Television Network in January, 2017. The premiere episode and all subsequent episodes will then be available in the U.S. exclusively on CBS All Access, the network's digital subscription-video-on-demand and live-streaming service.

As previously announced, the new Star Trek marks the first original series developed for U.S. distribution on CBS All Access, which provides American viewers thousands of episodes of CBS's current and past seasons on demand, plus the ability to stream their local CBS television station live for $5.99 per month.

Alex Kurtzman and Bryan Fuller are co-creators and executive producers for the new Star Trek, based on Gene Roddenberry's original series. Mr. Fuller launched his career writing for "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager." Mr. Kurtzman is co-writer and producer of the blockbuster films "Star Trek" and "Star Trek Into Darkness."

The series is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Mr. Kurtzman's Secret Hideout, Mr. Fuller's Living Dead Guy Productions and Roddenberry Entertainment. Mr. Kurtzman, Mr. Fuller, Heather Kadin, Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth will serve as executive producers.