CTV Announces Olympic Champion and Canadian Hero Jon Montgomery as Host of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA
CTV Announces Olympic Champion and Canadian Hero Jon Montgomery as Host of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA
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TORONTO (June 5, 2013) – CTVannounced today that Jon Montgomery (@jrmonty12),the Vancouver 2010 Olympic gold medallist in skeleton, has been named host ofCTV’s reality competition series THEAMAZING RACE CANADA. Threeyears after gaining hero status with Canadians followinghis Olympic win and now-famous, frosty, golden beer victory walk through thestreets of Whistler, thereigning Olympic Champion guides teams on the race of a lifetime on THEAMAZING RACE CANADA. Set to anchor CTV’s Summer 2013 schedule, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning July 15 on CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcasttimes).
**Media Note**Download artwork for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA at BellMediaPR.ca
Ina Canadian twist, Montgomery’s dynamic athleticism will be featured in THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. The host actuallyparticipates and demonstrates to both the competitors and viewers at home therisks involved and the skills required for some of the daring challenges facingthe racers.
“Canadian hero JonMontgomery knows what it takes to compete in the race of a lifetime,” said PhilKing, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “Combine that with his charismaticcharm, captivating personality, and thirst for adventure, and you get theperfect host for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA.”
“It’s such a great honour to be able to host THE AMAZING RACE CANADA,” said Montgomery. “Canadians are going tolove seeing our great country serve as the backdrop to one of their favouriteTV shows.”
“Jonas host was a no-brainer – he is the quintessential embodiment of the Canadianattitude,” said John Brunton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, InsightProductions. “He represents the Canadian spirit. It’s about hard work,dedication and heart. And it’s that spirit and passion that he brings to THE AMAZING RACE CANADA.”
Montgomery travels coast-to-coast-to-coast with the teams as they embarkon a uniquely Canadian journey inpursuit of the biggestprize ever awarded for a Canadian competition television series. No stranger to podium finishes, Montgomeryjoins THE AMAZING RACE CANADA with a passion for life, a thrill for adventure, anda love for new challenges. Only eight years after his first run down a skeletontrack, Montgomery won gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Born andraised in Russell, MB, Montgomery transitioned from a career as an auctioneer,to become a champion skeleton racer. He captured a silver medal at the 2007/2008FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany, and has earned eight World Cupmedals (four gold, two silver, and two bronze), and five Canadian Nationaltitles to date.
Following his powerfulgold-medal run down Whistler’s Blackcomb Mountain during Vancouver 2010, Montgomerybecame a household name as Canadians across the country instantly fell in lovewith this inspirational hero. He currently lives in Calgary, with his wifeDarla, a fellow skeleton racer.
Thousands of teams have entered, but only one team will run away with thehistoric grand prize for THE AMAZING RACECANADA. Valued at more than half a million dollars including $250,000 in cash, the prize also featuresthe opportunity to fly free for ayear for two anywhere Air Canada flies worldwide (175 destinations) in Executive First Class (based on10 trips for two), and two2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingrays. In total, the prize is equalto 167,224 hockey pucks, 178,572cans of beer, and 33,356 half-liter jars of pure Canadian maple syrup.
With the knowledge that most Canadians have nottravelled beyond their own province, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA gives Canadians the opportunity to race around Canada anddiscover the country they love in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Teams will raceto the finish line, criss-crossing up to 23,000 kilometres. A stunningdepiction of the Canadian fabric, the teams will travel through both thecountry’s urban centres as well as the most remote outposts in the land, allwhile exploring itsbroad cultural and ethnic diversity, wildlife, and iconic landmarks. Fans areencouraged to follow @AmazingRaceCDAand stay tuned to the CTV Facebook page for updates.
THE AMAZING RACE CANADA will alsoair TSN on Tuesdays at 12 a.m. ET/PTbeginning July 16, on RDS2Wednesdays at 6 p.m. ET beginningJuly 17, and TSN2 on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PTbeginning July 17, as wellas on demand across CTV’s digital platforms: CTV.ca,the CTV App, and through video on demand partners.
The four top-tier sponsors for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are Air Canada,BlackBerry®, INTERAC®, and Chevrolet Canada.
THEAMAZING RACE CANADA is based on THE AMAZING RACE, the nine-time, Emmy®award-winning, hit program created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganierithat premiered in 2001 in the United States. van Munster, Doganieri, and MarkVertullo are executive producers for Worldrace Productions, a division ofProfiles Television. Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman are executiveproducers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television. The program is produced inassociation with ABC Studios. The U.S. version of THE AMAZING RACE was a Top 3series last fall on CTV and is this season’s #1 reality program in Canada withan average audience of 2.7 million viewers.
THEAMAZING RACE CANADA will bethe 12th international version to launch outside of the UnitedStates, joining Asia, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Israel, Latin America,Norway, Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam as territories with an original THEAMAZING RACE production.
THE AMAZING RACE CANADA will be produced by Insight Productions in association with CTVand with the support of Profiles Television. Executive Producers for InsightProductions are John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby, and Supervising Producer isMark Lysakowski. Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri are executiveproducers for Profiles Television. Robin Johnston is the CTV ProductionExecutive. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President,Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President,Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.
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About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned and co-produced some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, while working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, MOTIVE, and THE LISTENER, and the recently concluded game changer FLASHPOINT. New for 2013 on CTV are the drama series PLAYED, relationship comedy SATISFACTION, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series. Among the scripted series on Bell Media specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, ORPHAN BLACK, upcoming series BITTEN, and recently ordered drama 19-2. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series PANIC BUTTON, entertainment documentary BRAVE NEW GIRL, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series like HIGHWAY THRU HELL, and LAST CAR STANDING. In total, Bell Media ordered 27 new original Canadian series in 2012, and put 35 scripted projects into development.
About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of qualitynews, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada’smost-watched television network for the past 12 years in a row. CTV is adivision of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assetsin television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE:BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV canbe found on the network’s website at CTV.ca.
About Insight Production Company Ltd.
Insight Production CompanyLtd., headed by John Brunton & Barbara Bowlby has become an industry leaderin the creative development, financing and production of highly ratedtelevision programs and cutting edge multiplatform content for the globalmarket in every genre. Since 1979, it has been recognized for its reputationfor outstanding quality as the recipient of numerous International awards,including multiple Gemini’s. The company has created thousands of hours ofgroundbreaking television that continues to be broadcast over major networksworldwide. Recent hits include original formats Battle of the Blades andCanada Sings along with Big Brother Canada, Canada’s GotTalent, Intervention Canada, The JUNO Awards and Never Ever Do This atHome. For more information visit www.insighttv.com.
– CTV –
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui VanSickle, CTV, 416.384.5091 or Jacqueline.vansickle@bellmedia.ca
Jim Quan, CTV, 416.384.5311 or jim.quan@bellmedia.ca
Cary Mignault, Unit PublicityManager, Insight Productions, 416-435-9295, cmignault@insighttv.com
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