CTV unveils its LA Screenings acquisitions

The Bell Media network bought shows including Gotham, How to Get Away with Murder and Marvel's Agent Carter.

Bell Media’s CTV has unveiled its purchase order from the LA Screenings, coming back with 11 new shows that will launch on the channel and CTV Two this upcoming season.

The new shows include the Batman backstory drama Gotham, Shonda Rhimes’ new law-based show How to Get Away with Murder and Arrow companion The Flash.

Janine Newbigging, director of exchange at Mindshare Canada said after seeing previews of The Flash at the CW’s New York upfront, the show has potential to bring new audiences to the channel, as Arrow has done. Lina Alles, chief trading officer at Mindshare Canada said Gotham (pictured) created a buzz at the Fox upfront when it was presented.

In addition the media co picked up Captain America spin-off Marvel’s Agent Carter, CSI: Cyber, John Ridley’s new drama American Crime, murder thriller Secrets and Lies and crime procedural Forever.

Bailey Wilson, director of investment at UM Canada said Secrets and Lies and American Crime both looked promising after seeing the shows at the ABC upfront presentation. She wasn’t as sure about Forever, about a medical examiner who can’t die.

On the comedy side CTV picked up Debra Messing-starring dramedy The Mysteries of Laura, family comedy The McCarthys and a Matthew Perry-starring update of The Odd Couple.

Alles was not impressed by The McCarthys at the upfronts in New York, saying she hopes it will be cancelled quickly and replaced by Mike and Molly, which doesn’t currently have a fall launch date.

Phil King, president of CTV sports and entertainment programming says that his team felt dramas were particularly strong this year at the LA Screenings, with The McCarthys being the funniest show it saw on the comedy side.

CTV will present its fall schedule at its upfront on June 5 in Toronto.