Hit Original Specialty Series from Space and Bravo Receive Strategic Sampling this Summer on CTV, Beginning July 4

- Season 3 of Space's critically-acclaimed conspiracy thriller ORPHAN BLACK, starring 2015 Canadian Screen Award-winner Tatiana Maslany, begins July 4 -
- July 4 also sees the return of Laura Vandervoort as the world's only female werewolf in Season 2 of Space's #1 original series BITTEN -
- The second season of Bravo's gripping and gritty #1 original series 19-2 starts July 8 -
- See them all from the beginning: prior seasons of all three series are streaming now on CraveTV™ -

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TORONTO, July 3, 2015 /CNW/ - Summer just got a bit more original as Canadian Bell Media specialty series are set to join CTV's summer lineup in a strategic move to allow as many viewers as possible an opportunity to sample these hit series. Airing Saturdays beginning July 4, Space's hits series ORPHAN BLACK and BITTEN will air back-to-back starting at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Starring two-time CSA Best Actress winner Tatiana Maslany, Season 3 of ORPHAN BLACK (9 p.m. ET/PT) plunges the clone sisterhood into unexpected territory with the realization that they're not alone, while Season 2 of thriller BITTEN (10 p.m. ET/PT), finds The Pack on a quest to capture an enemy only to uncover a more sinister force threatens the existence of the werewolf species.

Bravo's acclaimed original series 19-2, which was recognized with 10 CSA nominations this year and a win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role, returns to CTV for its second season Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, beginning July 8. Centred on embattled beat partners Nick Barron (Adrian Holmes) and Ben Chartier (CSA winner Jared Keeso), the second season of 19-2 picks up where the first season left off, with Ben working to uncover the identity of a mole at Station 19.The emotionally-charged episode that begins the season focuses on a school shooting and has been hailed by critics as "… a riveting hour of television..." "…a powerful, compelling, exhausting hour - one that definitely should not be missed." and "…60 of the most breathtaking minutes on television...".

"The summer scheduling of these hit specialty series on CTV is a strategic decision to get these addictive and high-quality series in front of the largest possible audience," said Phil King, President - CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming. "We've done CTV runs for previous seasons of these series, and this approach allows new viewers to sample these award-winning programs before they return for their new seasons on Space and Bravo."

**Media Note** Photography for ORPHAN BLACK, BITTEN, and 19-2 is available online at BellMediaPR.ca

Viewers can rewind to the beginning of all three series in advance of their CTV summer runs, with Season 1 of 19-2 and BITTEN, along with Seasons 1 and 2 of ORPHAN BLACK streaming now in their entirety on CraveTV™. Episodes of all three series will also be available on demand following each CTV broadcast at CTV.ca and on the CTV GO App.

In the Season 3 premiere of ORPHAN BLACK, entitled "The Weight of This Combination" (Saturday, July 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) fights to locate a disappeared Helena (Maslany) and must repel a lethal investigator from the mysterious shadow corporation Topside, who threatens the Leda sisters' lives. Meanwhile, Cosima (Maslany) appears to be rebounding from her illness, while Alison (Maslany) and Donnie (Kristian Bruun) face newfound financial woes. When the menace of Castor rears its head once more, Sarah and her entire family must come together to survive.

In the Season 2 premiere of BITTEN, entitled "Bad Blood" (Saturday, July 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), Elena (Laura Vandervoort) and The Pack are on the hunt for Malcolm (James McGowan). Meanwhile, back at Stonehaven, Jeremy (Greg Bryk) receives an ultimatum from the Council of International Alphas that challenges his leadership over North America.

In the emotionally-charged Season 2 premiere of 19-2, entitled "School" (Wednesday, July 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), the entire squad is embroiled in an intensely tragic school shooting with consequences that profoundly impacts all of their lives. Featuring a haunting uninterrupted, 13-minute, single-camera tracking shot, the tragic events that unfold during the season premiere set the stage for 19-2's overarching themes of introspection, trust, and loyalty during Season 2.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter
@CTV_Television
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@SpaceChannel
@VeryBravo

ORPHAN BLACK:
Tatiana Maslany
Jordan Gavaris
Ari Millen
Dylan Bruce
Kristian Bruun
Maria Doyle Kennedy
Kevin Hanchard

BITTEN (@BittenTV):
Laura Vandervoort
Greyston Holt
Greg Bryk
Steve Lund
Michael Xavier
Genelle Williams

19-2 (@19two):
Adrian Holmes
Jared Keeso

Facebook
Facebook.com/CTV
Facebook.com/SPACEChannel
Facebook.com/bravoCanada

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, MOTIVE, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, and MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the three-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, the most-watched original series in Space history BITTEN, Bravo's most-watched original drama 19-2, award-winning dramedy SENSITIVE SKIN, the adventure series KILLJOYS, and upcoming cult comedy, LETTERKENNY. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, COLD WATER COWBOYS, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 14 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.

- CTV -

Source: Numeris (BBM Canada)

SOURCE CTV

Tonia Addison, CTV Networks, 416.384.2194 or tonia.addison@bellmedia.ca
Andrea Allen, for BITTEN and 19-2, 416.384.5375 or andrea.allen@bellmedia.ca
Natalie Cole, for ORPHAN BLACK, 416.384.2140 or natalie.cole@bellmedia.ca