Strap Yourself in as ARCTIC AIR Lifts CBC Television to New Heights - Leading a 2012 Winter Season of New Blockbusters, Star-Power and Canada's Favourites in Comedy, Drama and Sports

Strap Yourself in as ARCTIC AIR Lifts CBC Television to New Heights - Leading a 2012 Winter Season of New Blockbusters, Star-Power and Canada's Favourites in Comedy, Drama and Sports

Russell Crowe guests on first episode of Republic of Doyle
and Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada takes over PEI

NOTE:

-- Download the digital press kit, schedules & photography
at:mediacentre.cbc.ca

TORONTO, Nov. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Edge-of-your-seat drama and adventure set
in the clear, cold skies and stunning natural beauty of Canada's new
North; one of Hollywood's greatest stars kicks off the new season of
the adventures of Canada's sexiest sleuth; and the crusty cut-throat of
Canadian business literally goes to jail for his search to find the
country's next great new entrepreneurs.

These are just a few of the highlights in store for CBC Television's
2012 Winter Season.

The excitement just doesn't soar any higher - on the map or the
altimeter - than it does on ARCTIC AIR, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) beginning January 10.  Strap yourself in
as Adam Beach (Cowboys & Aliens, Flags of our Fathers, Law & Order: SVU) stars in this blockbuster action-adventure drama anchored around a
group of renegade pilots based in Yellowknife, who battle the elements
- and, at times, each other - as they struggle to complete their
missions and keep the dysfunctional family business they all depend on
from crashing, in every sense of the word.

He's one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation and a Best Actor
Academy Award® winner; now Russell Crowe comes to CBC Television to kick off the third season of REPUBLIC OF DOYLE.  Crowe joins series star Allan Hawco and the rest of the cast of Newfoundland's most famous crime fighters
in the season premiere January 11(th) (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m./9:30 NT).  Season 3 promises another wild
round of life on the edge for private investigator Jake Doyle, his
father Malachy and the rest of the St. John's crew of characters who
have made this action-drama such a runaway hit, averaging over a
million viewers an episode.

One of Canada's favourite comedians, Gerry Dee, brings his gift for laughs - and his own life experience - to the new
half-hour comedy MR. D (Mondays at 8 p.m./8:30 NT, beginning January 9). Before making his
mark in standup comedy, Dee worked for nine years as a private school
teacher. So he's especially well-suited to play Gerry Duncan, a
would-be gym teacher who gets a job at a prestigious private school
only to find himself giving lessons on a subject he knows nothing about
- and deciding he has no alternative but to fake his way through it.

New this season is REDEMPTION INC. (Mondays at 9 p.m./9:30 p.m. NT, beginning January 9).  The prime-time
series follows a group of 10 ex-cons as they are given the opportunity
of a lifetime: a chance to set up their own business under the guidance
of Dragon and multi-millionaire businessman, Kevin O'Leary. Kevin sees the business potential in giving these people a second
chance, and he recognizes that these ex-cons paid their debt to
society. At the end of the series, one of them will earn both Kevin's
support and $100,000 of his own money, to start a legitimate business.
This is not a handout or charity scheme; this is business.

Dragons Arlene Dickinson and Jim Treliving from Canada's top-rated entertainment program, DRAGONS' DEN, are hitting the road to help struggling companies get back on track by
offering their expertise - and their own money. In each one-hour
episode, new series, THE BIG DECISION features two separate businesses that are facing tough times. A Dragon
will visit each company, roll up their sleeves, and put their expertise
to work. If the Dragons think they can help turn things around, they
will invest their own money - and change the fortunes of good companies
that have fallen on hard times.

"We are equal parts proud, thrilled and excited to present this amazing
lineup of new shows, top stars and the finest made-in-Canada television
available anywhere," said Kirstine Stewart, CBC Executive
Vice-President, English Services. "The winter season will set a new
standard for excellence for CBC Television."

Returning favourites include:

MARKETPLACE, Canada's # 1 investigative consumer show and winner of the 2011
Gemini Award for Best News Information Series, returns Fridays at 8
p.m./8:30 p.m. NT, beginning January 6.  In the special hour-long
season opener, the award-winning MARKETPLACE team brings you "Canada's Worst Customer Service: The Store Edition,"
investigating how bad the customer service really is in Canada's major
store chains, and revealing the chain with Canada's worst service.

LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE(Mondays at 8:30 p.m./9 p.m. NT, beginning January 9) is back for its final season. Canadians can follow their favourite
multi-denominational community for one last time. It's a rapid-fire
season jam-packed with competitive fasting, town audits, sacred
chickens, and budding "bromances." Celebrate LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE with the people of Mercy, as the show that broke new ground for Canadian
Comedy comes to a conclusion.

CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

The action continues as Canada's favourite sports program follows the
NHL's march to the Stanley Cup. Highlights of early 2012 programming
include: Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, traveling to Prince Edward Island for the annual celebration of our
national sport (Saturday, Feburay 11 at noon ET); the NHL Winter Classic: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers (Monday, January 2 at 12:30 p.m. ET), an outdoor game that promises to
become the must-watch sporting event of the New Year, and the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, live from Ottawa (Sunday, January 29 at 4 p.m. ET).

RICK MERCER REPORT (Tuesdays at 8 p.m./8:30 p.m. NT, beginning January
10) More than one million Canadians tune into the country's favourite
commentator on the foibles and the folly of modern life every week on
the RICK MERCER REPORT.

DRAGONS' DEN(Wednesdays at 8 p.m./8:30 p.m. NT, beginning January 11) Maybe you think they've seen it all, and this season they've already
seen ideas for everything from pet fashion to motorcycle hearse
services. But there's plenty more to come in the second half of DRAGONS' DEN Season 6, as Dragons Jim Treliving, Bruce Croxon, Arlene Dickinson, Robert Herjavec and Kevin
O'Leary search for Canada's next great entrepreneur - with their own money on
the line.

HEARTLAND (Sundays at 7 p.m./7:30 NT, beginning January 8) Friends - and secrets - have arisen from the past to make this season
of the multigenerational family saga HEARTLAND a continued hit with families across the country. The real stories
about real people will continue, played out in all their drama, romance
and comedy under the big skies of the Canadian West.

the fifth estate

The multi-award-wining the fifth estate returns with new episodes of original and provocative journalism. Bob McKeown tells the story of Canadian teenagers dreaming of making it in the
National Basketball Association, only to find the reality south of the
border is vastly different than anything they ever imagined.  Gillian Findlay explores the dubious science around "Shaken Baby Syndrome", which has
been used to unjustly convict parents.  And Linden MacIntyre shows how certain prescription drugs have ruined entire communities.

THE NATURE OF THINGS with David Suzuki

CBC Television's long-running and multi-award-winning series, THE NATURE OF THINGS with David Suzuki, continues its extraordinary 51(st) season with more thought-provoking television. Highlights include: Smarty Plants - new research is now exploding the myth of an inactive, passive plant
world and revealing instead a landscape pulsing with sex, movement,
communication and social interaction; Programmed to be Fat? - what if there's another reason for skyrocketing obesity rates; Surviving theTeen Brain - new research reveals the brain is most creative and productive
during the turbulent teen years; and Japan 3-11- David Suzuki travels to Japan to see if the cataclysmic Tsunami can be a blueprint
for sustainable change.

22 MINUTES (Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m./9 NT, beginning January 10)
22 MINUTES continues its 19(th )rabble-rousing, no-holds-barred season of political comedy and
commentary. Always on top of any breaking news (and sometimes doing the
breaking), 22 Minutes features cast members Mark Critch, Geri Hall, Shaun Majumder and Cathy Jones. No story is off-limits, and no personality is too big for the 22 Minutes team to tackle.

MOVIES & SPECIALS

8(TH) FIRE (Premieres Thursday, January 12 at 9 p.m./9:30 NT on CBC-TV's Doc
Zone)

A provocative, high-energy four-part journey through Aboriginal Canada
showing why we urgently need to build new relationships with our First
Nations and fix Canada's 500 year-old relationship with Indigenous
peoples, now mired in colonialism, conflict and denial. With an
energetic pace and stunning HD landscapes, 8(TH) FIRE propels you past prejudice, stereotypes and misunderstandings straight
on to meetings with a surprising new generation of Aboriginal Canadians
who are claiming both their culture and their confidence.  They are the
fastest growing population in Canada.  More than half of them live in
cities and those stills struggling on reserves in Third World
conditions, are demanding a share of the vast mineral and energy
resources in their midst.

THE WRATH OF GRAPES: KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, KID - PART 2

It's the much anticipated sequel to 2010's blockbuster television movie
event KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, KID: THE DON CHERRY STORY, which drew more than 1.3 million viewers. PART 2 is an exploration of Don's latter years and his evolution into becoming
an icon of Canada's cultural media, starring Jared Keeso reprising his Gemini-winning performance as the co-host of Coach's Corner.

SUNSHINE SKETCHES OF A LITTLE TOWN (Sunday, February 12)

A television movie event, based on the life and writings of Canada's
first and foremost humourist, Stephen Leacock. Airing on the 100(th) anniversary of the first publication of Leacock's beloved book of the
same name, the movie features a veritable Who's Who of Canada's top
actors and comedic talent. Stars include Jill Hennessy(Crossing Jordan),Donal Logue(Terriers),Peter Keleghan(18 to Life), Colin Mochrie(Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Caroline Rhea(The CarolineRhea Show), Debra McGrath (Little Mosque on the Prairie, Patrick McKenna(The Red GreenShow), Leah Pinsent(ReGenesis),Sean Cullen(Mulroney: The Opera), Eric Peterson(CornerGas), Ron James (The Ron James Show), Rick Roberts(Republic of Doyle),Gordon Pinsent(Away From Her), as Stephen Leacock, among others.

32(nd) ANNUAL GENIE AWARDS (Thursday, March 8 at 8 p.m./8:30 NT)

Launched by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television in 1980, the GENIE AWARDS are an annual celebration honouring the biggest achievements in
Canada's film industry. Host details, musical performers and nominees
will be announced in the coming months.

BREAKAWAY ( Broadcast Date
TBA)                                                                                                                          

A hockey enthusiast since 12 years of age, Toronto-based Rajvinder Singh (Vinay Virmani), even went to the extent of trimming his hair, discarding his
Pagri/turban, did not complete his education, incurred the wrath of his
father, Darvesh (Anupam Kher), who wanted him to be involved in the family business as well as confirm
and respect Sikh religion principles and values. Hoping to play
professional hockey, Rajvinder, along with other fellow Sikh players,
instead finds himself treated as the object of ridicule, referred to as
a 'joker', by mainstream Caucasian players. Even his friends tease him
and ask him to take up 'Guli Danda' and Kabaddi', while his father
makes him work for Uncle Sammy (Gurpreet Guggi) as a truck driver. He is attracted to stunning law student Melissa
Winters (Camilla Belle) while her brother, Dan (Rob Lowe), offers to coach Rajvinder and his team. Unable to get themselves
included in any team, they form their own...

SPELLING NIGHT IN CANADA (April 2012)

It's fast. It's fun. It's not your typical spelling bee. It's SPELLING NIGHT IN CANADA - a one-hour prime-time event that will celebrate the country's youth
and keep viewers on the edge of their seats. SPELLING NIGHT IN CANADA takes the spelling bee format to the next level - with a fast-paced
game-show style, and celebrity hosts and commentators.

CANADA'S SMARTEST PERSON (March 2012)

A groundbreaking and entertaining new television special, CANADA'S SMARTEST PERSON will redefine what it means to be smart. This two hour prime-time event
draws upon the latest research to show that there is more to
intelligence than having a high IQ score, or being a whiz at math or
trivia. Using this cutting-edge research in intelligence, four
participants will be challenged with fun and spectacular tests in each
of the following six categories: Math and Logic; Visual and Spatial;
Body and Kinesthetic; Linguistic; Musical; and Interpersonal. It's up
to the contestants to prove that they have the most versatile smarts in
the country in order to earn the title of CANADA'S SMARTEST PERSON, while audiences get to play along at home.

ROMEOS & JULIETS (Spring 2012)

Set to the beloved score by Sergei Prokofiev, and the artistic direction
of the National Ballet of Canada's Karen Kain, ROMEOS & JULIETS is a one-hour exploration of the process by which a remarkable new
ballet production winds its way from rehearsals to opening night.Newlychoreographed by world-renowned Alexei Ratmansky, ROMEOS & JULIETS heralds the arrival of two new dance stars as they take on
Shakespeare's heartbreaking tale of love and loss. Cast members include
Guillaume Coté (Principal Dancer), Elena Lobsanova (First Soloist) and many more. The film is produced by Shaftsbury Films
with Christina Jennings and Peter Meyboom producing, and Moze Mossanen
as a producer and a director.

LOVE LIES BLEEDING (Monday, April 9 at 9 p.m./9:30 NT)

An extraordinary one-hour television adaptation of the contemporary
ballet performed by the Alberta Ballet and adapted for CBC. Through
brilliant choreography and music, the film explores the psyche of one
of the most famous composers and performers of our time - Sir Elton John.  LOVE LIES BLEEDING is introduced by Sir Elton John and is structured into five distinct
acts, each of which explores, through choreography and Elton John's
music, the emotional arc of a superstar's life. Starring principal
dancer Yukichi Hattori, LOVE LIES BLEEDING is directed by renowned director Moze Mossanen, choreographed by Jean
Grand-Maitre, and produced by White Iron Inc.

CBC Television's Winter 2011 Schedule

(all times local; thirty minutes later in Newfoundland)

SUNDAYS (beginning January 8)

7 p.m. HEARTLAND

MONDAYS (beginning January9)

8 p.m. Mr. D

8:30 p.m. LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE

9 p.m. REDEMPTION INC.

TUESDAYS (beginning January 10)

8 p.m. RICK MERCER REPORT

8:30 p.m. 22 MINUTES

9 p.m. ARCTIC AIR

WEDNESDAYS (beginning January 11)

8 p.m. DRAGONS' DEN

9 p.m. REPUBLIC OF DOYLE

THURSDAYS (beginning January 5)

8 p.m. THE NATURE OF THINGS

9 p.m. DOC ZONE

FRIDAYS (beginningJanuary 6)

8 p.m. MARKETPLACE

9 p.m. the fifth estate

SATURDAYS

5 p.m. HNIC GAME DAY

6:30 p.m. CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

WEEKNIGHTS

10 p.m. THE NATIONAL, with Peter Mansbridge

10:55 p.m. CBC NEWS LATE NIGHT

11:05 p.m. GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS TONIGHT

DAYTIME

7 a.m. KIDS'CBC

2 p.m. STEVEN AND CHRIS

3 p.m. BEST RECIPES EVER

3:30 p.m. In the kitchen with Stefano FAITA

About CBC/Radio-Canada:

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its
largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching
Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio,
television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in
the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer
diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight
Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences.
In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada is celebrating 75 years of serving Canadians
and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of
Canada.

For program backgrounders and images, please visit mediacentre.cbc.ca

Catch the following CBC Shows on Twitter at:

22 Minutes
Arctic Air
Dragons' Den
Heartland
Hockey Night In Canada
Little Mosque on the Prairie
Marketplace
Mr. D
Republic of Doyle
Rick Mercer Report
The Big Decision
The National

SOURCE Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Image with caption: "Arctic Air (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7232.jpg

Image with caption: "Cast of Little Mosque on the Prairie Mondays 830 pm (900 NT) on CBC TV (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7233.jpg

Image with caption: "Cast of Republic of Doyle Wednesdays at 9 pm (930 NT) on CBC TV (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7234.jpg

Image with caption: "Dragon's Den cast Wednesdays at 8 pm (830 pm NT) on CBC TV (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7235.jpg

Image with caption: "Erica Johnson of Marketplace Fridays at 8pm (830 pm NT) on CBC TV - on location (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7241.jpg

Image with caption: "Shaun Majumder, Geri Hall, Mark Critch and Cathy Jones of 22 Minutes Tuesdays at 830 pm (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7236.jpg

Image with caption: "Rick Mercer of The Rick Mercer Report Tuesdays 8 pm (830 NT) (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7237.jpg

Image with caption: "Pascale Hutton and Adam Beach of Arctic Air Tuesdays at 9pm (930 NT) on CBC TV (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7238.jpg

Image with caption: "Kevin O'Leary of Redemption Inc. Mondays at 9 pm (930 pm NT) on CBC TV (CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7239.jpg

Image with caption: "Gerry Dee of Mr. D Mondays, 800 pm (830 NT) on CBC TV - classroom(CNW Group/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111124_C9261_PHOTO_EN_7240.jpg

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

CONTACT: Renee Weekes, Veritas Communications
weekes@veritascanada.com / (416) 640-4155 (office) / (416) 894-7209 (cell)

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