Throng

As part of its continuing efforts to keep Albertans informed and engaged, Global Edmonton will be hosting the 2011 Alberta PC Leadership Debate.

The exclusive live broadcast will air this Wednesday evening at 6:30pm on Global Edmonton, Global Calgary and Global Lethbridge as well as on Edmonton’s CHED and Calgary’s QR77 talk radio stations. A live streaming version will also be available at GlobalTVEdmonton.com and GlobalTVCalgary.com.

“Being the exclusive television broadcaster for this pivotal debate highlights why Global News is Albertans' number one choice for news, regardless of where they live,” said Troy Reeb, Vice President News for Shaw Media. “Global News and Shaw are committed to serving our communities and honoured to host what may be Alberta's most important public policy forum this year."

With Canadians heading to the polls next week, Global News is preparing to carry full, breaking election news with its Decision Canada coverage special.

Continuing its Gemini award-winning tradition of timely and accurate election night reporting, Global News’ Decision Canada will provide viewers with an up-to-the-minute, multi-platform look at all the news breaking across the country as Canadians cast their votes.

As the polls begin to close, Decision Canada will also cut away to local Global News stations across the country every 20 minutes, providing updates on all specific local ridings as the results come in. Decision Canada airs election night, Monday, May 2, 30 minutes before polls close in all time zones, with extensive coverage and live streaming of Decision Canada at GlobalNews.ca/DecisionCanada.

Global Edmonton is proud to announce that its longtime leader, mentor and employee Tim Spelliscy will be receiving the 2011 RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Award for the Prairie Region. Tim will receive his award on Saturday, April 9th during the RTNDA Prairie Regional Awards Banquet in Saskatoon. 

The Award came as no surprise to anyone at Global Edmonton. “It’s hard to imagine a Global Edmonton without a Tim Spelliscy,” says Troy Reeb, Vice President, Global News. “The Global Edmonton news department was built virtually on his shoulders. His foresight, determination and creative energy are the reasons that Global maintains a leadership position in Edmonton. We are deeply proud and appreciative of everything that Tim has done for both the station and for the local community.” 

Following its successful launch on iPad, Shaw Media today announced their Global Video App is now available on the App Store for iPhone and iPod touch. The Global Video App offers Canadian viewers on-the-go access the network’s blockbuster library of premium content, including full episodes of House, The Good Wife, NCIS: LA, The Office, Rookie Blue and Survivor along with previous broadcasts of Global National and 16:9:The Bigger Picture. 

 
Peter Bissonnette, President of Shaw Communications, expects online viewership to jump substantially, explaining: “To date, with our Global Video App for iPad, users have viewed more than one million shows. By carrying our content over to iPhone and iPod, we are extending our reach into the market, making our vast library of premium content available to many more users across Canada."  

Highlights of the Global Video App include:   

• Full-length episodes and clips
• Superb video quality
• Sleek interface design with user-friendly features
• Progress bars to indicate runtime – allowing viewers to exit the app and to resume viewing at the same spot
• Schedule guide for Global programs with listings up to two weeks in advance
• Behind-the-scenes footage and Web-exclusive content

iPhone users can download the app here:

iPad users can download the app here:

Global Television announced today that its latest original drama series Combat Hospital has been picked up by ABC.  The 13 episode series, the second Global series to be picked up by the US network, will air in simulcast with ABC this summer (airdates TBC).

Set in a hospital inspired by the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit (MMU) at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, Combat Hospital charts the frantic lives of the hospital’s resident doctors and nurses from Canada, America, the UK and other allied countries.  This candid, entertaining and sometimes brutal series follows Canadian trauma surgeon Rebecca Kincaid as she experiences relentless life and death battles on the surgeon’s table that transcend politically-charged stereotypes and is confronted with making the tough decisions that come with the realities of frontline medicine

Is your recipe worth $250,000? Well with the annoucement today of a new Food Network show.. it could be! Recipe to Riches is scouring the country for the best recipes in 7 different categories: Appetizers, Frozen Treats, Entrees, Sweet & Savoury Snacks, Savoury Pies, Cakes and Sweet Pies. Each episode one person could win $25,000 and their product will hit store shelves as a President's Choice product. Then at the end one person will walk away with the grand prize of $250,000.

They are also hitting the road.. so bring out your favorite recipes for the judges to taste. Halifax, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto are all having open auditions for the best recipes. Check out the casting note below. For more information visit RecipeToRiches.ca

Global Toronto will break from its regularly scheduled programming at 12:30 pm, tomorrow, January 18 to begin its live coverage of the full honour police funeral for fallen officer Sgt. Ryan Russell.

Led by News Hour anchors Anne Mroczkowski and Leslie Roberts, Global Toronto’s Sgt. Russell Remembered special will report live from the ceremony being held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Live coverage of the funeral for Sgt. Ryan Russell will also be streamed online at globalnews.ca.

Sgt. Russell Remembered will feature interviews and commentary, followed by coverage of the ceremony, which begins at 1:00pm. News Hour reporters Catherine McDonald, Alex Pierson, Mark McAllister and Marianne Dimain will also report live on the ground as the funeral procession makes its way to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. 

Global Toronto and The National Post are once again teaming up to celebrate February’s Black History Month with the Have Your Story Told contest. Now in its third year, the contest invites people from across Ontario to submit their entries outlining what Black History Month means to them, with the winners given the opportunity to tell their stories on Global Toronto’s News Hour at 6:00 pm. 

Beginning Friday, January 14, viewers can visit Globaltoronto.com to submit their stories online at the Have Your Story Told contest site. From personal accounts and family histories, to abstract hopes and philosophies, and everything in between, viewers are given a maximum of 500 words to share their thoughts, and include photos and supporting materials.

Here are the top 10 shows for the week of December 13 - December 19 as provided by BBM.

1) Big Bang Theory (CTV)

2) Criminal Minds (CTV)

3) Two and a Half Men (CTV)

4) Survivor: Nicaragua (GLOBAL)

5) Shit My Dad Says (CTV)

6) Mike & Molly (CTV)

7) Survivor: Nicaragua Reunion Special (GLOBAL)

8 ) NCIS: Los Angeles (CTV)

9) CTV Evening News (CTV)

10) CSI (CTV)

Global Winnipeg is pleased to announce it is the first local Winnipeg television station to broadcast in high-definition. With the launch of its new digital, over-the-air transmitter, Global Winnipeg viewers will now be able to catch their favourite Global Television programs – including Glee, Bones, ET Canada and Survivor – in full HD. 

“The move to HD affirms our position as a market leader, providing Winnipeg viewers with the benefits of an over-the-air high definition broadcast signal,” said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice-President, Content, Shaw Media. “This is the next logical step in providing an enhanced viewing experience with superior audio and video quality.”

Canadians have one more way to enjoy their favourite Global programs this holiday season, thanks to Shaw’s Global App for iPad. Released on December 4, it was the number one free download on the Canadian App Store during its entire week of launch.

The Global App for iPad offers viewers another exciting way to access the network’s blockbuster library of premium content, including full episodes of House, The Good Wife, NCIS: LA, The Office, Rookie Blue and Survivor, just to name a few.

“We’re always looking for innovative ways for our customers to access content whenever, wherever they want,” said Peter Bissonnette, President, Shaw Communications Inc. “Thanks to the exceptional video quality, super fast download capability and background footage, audiences will be amazed by the viewing experience with this new video application.”

Highlights of the Global App for iPad include:

It’s a new year and Global continues to keep primetime fresh and exciting for its fans nationwide. The network kicks off its mid-season slate in January, and this is only the tip of the iceberg…

Front and centre is the gritty crime drama The Chicago Code, set to premiere in simulcast with FOX on February 7 – 9pm ET/PT as part of Global’s powerhouse Monday night lineup. The series presents the city of Chicago as a paradox that serves as the setting.

During a typical ride-along, a civilian spends a shift in the passenger seat of a squad car, observing the workday of a police officer, but here, the audience is the passenger, taking an unpredictable ride through the streets of Chicago and navigating crime and corruption with the most respected – and notorious – cops in the city.

Global Television and Entertainment Tonight Canada celebrate 2011 with ‘New Year’s Eve at Niagara Falls,’ a nationally televised New Year’s Eve bash for the entire nation.

On Friday, December 31 – 10pm ET/PT on Global, ET Canada’s two-hour live countdown to the New Year gets underway across from the world-famous Falls in the heart of Queen Victoria Park. One of Canada's most celebrated live performers, Great Big Sea will kick off the second annual celebration followed by performances by international music sensation Kardinal Offishall and the GRAMMY® nominated and JUNO award-winning, Barenaked Ladies.

Global kicks off their coverage of the 2010 Toronto International Film festival tonight at 7.30pm. 

It’s the classic frontier story….taken flight. Season One of Omni Film’s Ice Pilots NWT is a gripping 13-episode real-life docu series about a renegade Arctic airline that flies World War II planes in the Canadian North.

Beginning Friday, September 24th at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the series will air on Global Television as part of its powerful Fall programming schedule.  Please check local listings.

“We’re thrilled to be airing Season One of Ice Pilots NWT on Global,” says Omni partner and executive producer Gabriela Schonbach.  “With the incredible success of its premiere on History Television and the massive audience response internationally, we’re delighted to showcase the original adventures of Buffalo Air to an ever growing Canadian audience.”