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Citytv Original Documentary Series Hail Mary Touches Down September 15

– New 11-part, half-hour series exposes the triumphs and tribulations of football players aspiring to turn pro –

­– Hail Mary follows the journey of six CFL hopefuls from Canada and the United States –

TORONTO (August 21, 2012) Adding even more original programming to its robust fall lineup, Citytv announced today broadcast details for an all-new original Canadian documentary series, Hail Mary.  Premiering Saturday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, the 11-episode, 30-minute football series follows Edmonton Eskimos GM Eric Tillman, assistant GM Paul Jones, and head coach Kavis Reed as they scout, train, and groom a group of football players vying for a spot in the starting lineup of the CFL team.  Commissioned by Citytv and produced by Anaïd Productions (The Liquidator), Hail Mary was filmed on location in Canada and the United States. 

“Hail Mary gives viewers a rare look at the challenges athletes face in pursuit of a career in professional sports,” said Claire Freeland, Director of Original Programming, Rogers Media Broadcasting.  “With a distinctly Canadian angle, the series delves into the stories of regular men battling against all odds to achieve their dream.”

 Hail Mary reveals the human side of football by portraying the heart-warming – but often heartbreaking – journey players experience on and off the field.  With their dreams on the line, the CFL hopefuls fight to avoid the chopping block and secure a position on the team.  After trading their star quarterback and losing their all-Canadian running back to the NFL, Tillman, Jones, and Reed set out to rebuild the Eskimos roster, and restore football glory to Edmonton. 

“This series is going to be a great opportunity to give not only our current fans, but new fans as well, a really unique behind-the-scenes look at the team," says Len Rhodes, President and CEO of the Edmonton Eskimos.  “The insight that the show will provide is going to be real, it's going to be authentic, and we wouldn't want it any other way.”

In the series premiere, “Open Tryouts Cincinnati,” Eskimos assistant GM Jones holds an open tryout in Cincinnati, Ohio – the same town where he found star running back John Goebel last year.  Although Goebel is going up to Edmonton for training camp, will anybody else from this year's tryouts impress Jones enough to get the call?  Now, Goebel must juggle the demands and pressures of camp with planning his wedding.

“Hail Mary will move audiences regardless of whether or not they love football,” said Margaret Mardirossian, Executive Producer, Anaïd Productions.  “That’s because we’re telling the underdog’s story.  The moment these players step out on the field, everything is stacked against them, and it’s up to them to fight for their dreams.”

Citytv original series Hail Mary is produced by Anaïd Productions in association with Rogers Broadcasting Limited, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and assistance of the Alberta Multimedia Development Fund and the Canadian Film and Video Production Tax Credit Program.  Margaret Mardirossian (The Liquidator, Anaïd Productions) and Helen Schmidt (The Liquidator, Anaïd Productions) serve as executive producers, and David Benson (The Rig, Anaïd Productions) is the producer.  Claire Freeland is director of original programming, Rogers Media Broadcasting, and Carol Commisso is production executive for Rogers original programming. 

Hail Mary joins the growing roster of high-profile original series currently in production for Citytv, including The Bachelor Canada, Seed, Package Deal, and the recently announced Saskatchewan documentary The Sky is the Limit.

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About Anaïd Productions

Anaïd Productions (The Liquidator,The Quon Dynasty, X-Weighted, Family Restaurant, and The Rig) is an award-winning film and television production company with offices in Edmonton and Vancouver. Established in 1993, Anaïd has a reputation for consistently producing award winning, dynamic, real-life and dramatic television and is lauded as one of the top 100 most influential production companies in the world by RealScreen Magazine. www.anaid.com

About Citytv
Citytv™ television stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Saskatchewan offer viewers intensely-local, urban-oriented, culturally-diverse television programming.  A distinct alternative to other conventional television stations, Citytv engages its viewers with dynamic on-air personalities and delivers an entertaining mix of news, local-interactive formats such as: Breakfast Television and CityLine; as well as local Canadian and US acquired prime time entertainment programming.  Citytv is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited, a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI) which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company.  For more information on Citytv stations and programming, visit www.Citytv.com

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Media Contacts  

Shannon Hall, Citytv, shannon.hall@rci.rogers.com; 416.764.3078

Sónia Brum, Citytv, sonia.brum@rci.rogers.com; 416.764.3194

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