.jpg){kind=logo}
“Few television reality shows captured the essence of the Canadian identity quite like Battle of the Blades. Team up a hockey player with a figure skater, add ice and you have Canuck TV heaven.”
- Tony Wong, Toronto Star
April 16, 2019 - CBC today announced the return of hit competition series BATTLE OF THE BLADES (Season 5, 8x60), from Insight Productions. Returning this fall, the revitalized series combines athletes from two of Canada’s favourite sports — figure skating and hockey — as they pair up in a live, high-stakes figure skating competition. In this new iteration of the hugely popular format, teams will once again compete for the charity of their choice. Further details will be announced later this spring.
“Battle of the Blades is an audience favourite and the most successful original Canadian format of all time,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Programming, CBC. “Offering a live, collective experience rooted in our own culture, we look forward to partnering with Insight to return this hit series to Canadians this fall.”
“We’re thrilled to reunite with CBC and bring back all the drama, excitement, and athleticism that audiences loved about Battle of the Blades,” said John Brunton, Chairman & CEO of Insight Productions. “This series has Canada baked into its DNA and unites two pasttimes that Canadians not only revere, but excel at on the world stage. We can’t wait to get audiences back into the arena for all the heart-pounding action.”
First launched in 2009, BATTLE OF THE BLADES was broadcast on CBC from 2009 - 2013 (4 seasons, 57 episodes) and remains the highest-rated original English-language Canadian format of all time.*
A CBC original series, BATTLE OF THE BLADES is produced by Insight Productions. The series is executive produced by Insight’s John Brunton, Lindsay Cox, Erin Brock, and Mark Lysakowski and is co-created and executive produced by Olympian and World & Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Famer Sandra Bezic. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Programming; Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content; and Susan Taylor is Executive in Charge of Production.
*Source: Numeris, Total Canada, CBC Total, Battle of the Blades Seasons 1-4, Oct.4, 2009-Dec. 1, 2013, 2+ AMA, generated by InfoSys+TV.
Social Media:
#BattleisBack
Instagram: @cbcbattle
Facebook: /battleoftheblades
Twitter: @cbcbattle
- 30 -
About CBC/Radio-Canada:
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About Insight Productions Ltd.
Insight Productions, known for its award-winning ratings juggernauts, is Canada’s most established content producer and an industry leader in the development, financing, and production of hit programming, both scripted and unscripted, as well as digital content. Insight Senior Vice Presidents Erin Brock, Lindsay Cox, and Mark Lysakowski serve as Executive Producers along with Insight’s Chairman, CEO and Executive Producer, John Brunton, on the new season of Insight’s original format BATTLE OF THE BLADES. With thousands of hours of programming under its belt, the company has created some of the most dynamic and top-rated programs in the world including THE AMAZING RACE CANADA – the most watched Canadian show on record, ratings hit – BIG BROTHER CANADA, Canada’s national music award show - THE JUNO AWARDS, TOP CHEF CANADA, INTERVENTION and original format THE LAUNCH. Insight’s scripted programming includes award-winning READY OR NOT, FALCON BEACH, HATCHING, MATCHING & DISPATCHING, A CHRISTMAS FURY, BUT I’M CHRIS JERICHO! And THE JON DORE TELEVISION SHOW. In 2017, Insight produced THE TRAGICALLY HIP: A NATIONAL CELEBRATION, a live concert special watched by one in three Canadians. Insight Productions was founded in 1979 and has since created thousands of hours of ground-breaking content. For more information on Insight Productions, please visit www.insighttv.com or on Twitter @insightprod or Facebook www.facebook.com/InsightProductions.
For more information, please contact:
Tanya Koivusalo, CBC
tanya.koivusalo@cbc.ca
416.205.8638
