Press Release Details

L.A. Screenings Deal Sees Bell Media Land Exclusive Rights in Canada

Each Episode of the New Series to be Available in Canada Day-and-Date with the U.S.

LOS ANGELES – May 14, 2019 – CBS Studios International and Bell Media today announced from the L.A. Screenings a licensing agreement for the new untitled “Star Trek” Jean-Luc Picard 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 will be available simultaneously with its release in the U.S.

The new “Star Trek” series features Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his role as the venerable Jean-Luc Picard, which he played for seven seasons on “Star Trek: Next Generation.” The series will follow this iconic character in the next chapter of his life.

The latest addition to the “Star Trek” franchise will air day-and-date with the U.S. on Bell Media’s cable networks, Space (in English) and Z (in French), and the following day will stream exclusively on Crave, Bell Media’s subscription video-on-demand service.

“Bell Media has been a terrific home for STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, so we’re thrilled to expand our partnership with the next original series in the franchise, and one that it based on a beloved ‘Star Trek’ character,” said Armando Nuñez, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Global Distribution Group. “This new series will deliver CBS’ world-class production auspices and the considerable talents of Sir Patrick Stewart, further exciting Canadian fans who have always been passionately ‘engaged’ in the world of ‘Star Trek.’”

“Canadians have an insatiable appetite for the ‘Star Trek’ franchise, which has resulted in premium impact for our platforms,” said Mike Cosentino, President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. “The excitement for the return of Sir Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard is out of this world, and we’re thrilled to exclusively deliver another highly anticipated installment of the iconic universe to viewers and subscribers.”

In the U.S., the series will be available exclusively on CBS All Access, CBS’ direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service.

The series will be produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Michael Chabon, Akiva Goldsman, James Duff, Patrick Stewart, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth will serve as executive producers and Aaron Baiers (Secret Hideout) will serve as co-executive producer and Kirsten Beyer as supervising producer.

About CBS Studios International

CBS Studios International is the leading supplier of programming to the international television marketplace, licensing to more than 200 markets in more than 60 languages across multiple media platforms. The division distributes programming from CBS Television Studios created for the CBS Television Network, The CW, CBS All Access and other platforms, as well as content from CBS Television Distribution, Showtime Networks, CBS News, CBS Films and a library of more than 70,000 hours of programming. The Studio participates in a number of international channel ventures, including owning and operating Network 10 in Australia and also exports a diverse line-up of formats for local production. CBS Studios International has 13 offices around the world, including its base in Los Angeles and EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam. CBS Studios International is a division of CBS Corporation.

About Bell Media

Bell Media is Canada’s leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, digital media, and more. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada’s highest-rated television network; 30 specialty channels, including leading specialty services TSN and RDS. Bell Media is Canada’s largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 109 licensed radio stations in 58 markets across the country, all part of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns Astral, an out-of-home advertising network of 50,000 faces in five provinces. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites; video streaming services including Crave, TSN Direct, and RDS Direct; and multi-channel network Much Studios. The company owns a majority stake in Pinewood Toronto Studios; is a partner in Just for Laughs, the live comedy event and TV producer; and jointly owns Dome Productions Partnership., one of North America’s leading production facilities providers. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.

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