Bell Media Recognized by Playback Magazine for Industry Leadership with Three "Best of 2013" Awards

- THE AMAZING RACE CANADA honoured as Conventional Show of the Year -
- Space and ORPHAN BLACK named Channel of the Year and Specialty Show of the Year -
- Bell Media congratulates partner Insight Productions on being named TV Producer of the Year -

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TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Playback magazine revealed today its "Best of 2013" list and Bell Media properties were honoured in three categories, including two for "TV Show of the Year". CTV's mega-hit series THE AMAZING RACE CANADA received the honour of Conventional Show of the Year. Meanwhile Space was named Channel of the Year and its critically acclaimed conspiracy thriller ORPHAN BLACK was recognized as the Specialty Show of the Year. Playback also named long-time Bell Media collaborator Insight Productions as TV Producer of the Year.

"We are tremendously proud of our original productions and all of our production partners," said Kevin Crull, President, Bell Media. "To have Bell Media represent nearly a third of Playback's Best of 2013 list demonstrates that our efforts are resonating in the industry. Congratulations to everyone involved for this well-deserved recognition."

About THE AMAZING RACE CANADA
THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is the most-watched Canadian series on record - the monster hit had an average audience of 3.5 million viewers each week, and by the end of its run had been watched by nearly one-in-two Canadians. It is also the highest-rated debut season for any show on record.* The CTV Brand Partnerships team also secured four top-tier sponsors for the series which were featured in innovative brand extensions and various in-show integrations. THE AMAZING RACE CANADA was also nominated for three Media Innovation Awards for partnerships with BlackBerry®, INTERAC®, and Chevrolet Canada, with INTERAC® winning two silver Media Innovation Awards for their work on the series. Produced by Insight Productions in association with CTV, casting is currently underway for Season 2 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, which will anchor CTV's Summer 2014 schedule.

About ORPHAN BLACK
ORPHAN BLACK is the most-watched Space original series on record. Internationally acclaimed, The Hollywood Reporter called ORPHAN BLACK "…flat out, one of the most intriguingly entertaining new series of the year" in support of its April, 2013 premiere. Fans also agree that ORPHAN BLACK is a hit. Since last Saturday, ORPHAN BLACK Season 2 teasers have been viewed more than 72,000 times in Canada and the U.S. ORPHAN BLACK was integral to the Space spring 2013 rebrand, and earned breakout star Tatiana Maslany a Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Space and BBC America, Season 2 is currently in production and premieres April 19, 2014 on Space.

About Space Space is home to phenomenal programming including acclaimed original drama ORPHAN BLACK, the upcoming original thriller BITTEN, premiering January 11, engaging reality series like FACE OFF, and flagship original daily entertainment talk show INNERSPACE. Space continues to expand its investment in content, recently announcing the order of original drama KILLJOYS, slated for 2014. The channel has also upped the ante with its marketing campaigns and has successfully targeted its ever-growing genre female fan base. As a result Space ranks as the #4 entertainment specialty network for A25-54 in Canada and the #1 network for audience growth. **

About Insight Productions
Insight Productions, headed by John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby, has long been one of Bell Media's most-trusted production partners. Established in 1979, Insight has created thousands of hours of television which has earned them both Canadian and international awards and praise. Successful collaborations between Insight and Bell Media include OPEN MIKE WITH MIKE BULLARD (CTV), THE JUNO AWARDS (CTV), CANADIAN IDOL (CTV), THE AMAZING RACE CANADA (CTV), NEVER EVER DO THIS AT HOME (Discovery), THE JON DORE TELEVISION SHOW (Comedy), A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS (CTV), among others.

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, THE LISTENER, MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian scripted series of the 2012/13 season, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced complementary version of the hit international series. CTV is also home to drama series PLAYED, and premiering in the 2013/14 season, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed ORPHAN BLACK, CSA-winning CALL ME FITZ, and upcoming dramas BITTEN, SENSITIVE SKIN, 19-2, and KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series such as BRAVE NEW GIRLS, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. So far in 2013, Bell Media has ordered 24 original Canadian series and currently has 74 projects in various stages of development.

About Bell Media
With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, Out-of-Home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's #1 television network; 34 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and is managing shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewers Choice Canada. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 107 licensed radio stations in 55 markets across Canada. Bell Media owns Astral Out-of-Home, one of Canada's most dynamic and innovative Out-of-Home advertising companies with a network of more than 9,500 advertising faces in Québec, Ontario and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites, delivers TV Everywhere with its innovative GO video streaming services, including TMN GO and Bravo GO, and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.

*Source: BBM Canada, CTV electronic audience databases incorporate data beginning in 1994.
Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

**Source: BBM Canada, 3/4/13-11/10/13 vs. 3/5/12-11/11/12

SOURCE: Bell Media