CBC today announced its 2013 winter broadcast season, showcasing a brand new Canadian one-hour crime drama and a roster of home grown hits. With buzz-worthy new programming and some fresh new faces, combined with and a strong slate of established Canadian favourites, CBC Television offers a dynamic and entertaining line-up this winter season.

“CBC’s winter television season is built on a foundation of returning
Canadian shows that are proven successes,” said Kirstine Stewart,

executive vice president of English Services, CBC. “CBC’s shows continue

to be popular with Canadian audiences and this will be another exciting

season of programs that showcase some of our country’s best talent and

brightest stars.”

** VIDEO: Click to view/embed a special preview of the CBC-TV 2013 Winter Season **

New this season is the hour-long crime procedural drama, CRACKED. Inspired by real life experiences of frontline police officers and mental-health workers, CRACKED premieres Tuesday, January 8 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC Television. CRACKED stars David Sutcliffe (Gilmore Girls) as Detective Aidan Black, a seasoned officer dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and his new partner, psychiatrist Stefanie von Pfetten (Battlestar Galactica) as Dr. Daniella Ridley.

MARCH TO THE TOP is a groundbreaking, multi-platform programming event that follows the story of 12 wounded Canadian soldiers as they train and summit the 20,305 ft. high summit of Island Peak. MARCH TO THE TOP chronicles the journey as they embark on the climb and face their own personal rediscovery of self, and emotional, physical and mental rehabilitation. It’s about what these soldiers are doing next in their lives, and what they need to do to get there. MARCH TO THE TOP airs Sunday, February 17 at 8 p.m./8:30 p.m. on documentary and Monday, February 18 at 8 p.m./8:30 p.m. NT on CBC Television.

BEST RECIPES EVER welcomes new host Christine Tizzard this winter. The Newfoundlander, mother of two, and accomplished chef will share even more tips, tricks and delicious recipes to make everyday life easier for Canadians. Each episode will continue to feature dishes from Canadian Living’s renowned recipe library, as well as cost-saving ideas and helpful nutritional information. BEST RECIPES EVER is Canada’s most-watched daily food show.

ARCTIC AIR - Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) beginning January 9
On the heels of its successful premiere season, CBC’s blockbuster adventure drama, ARCTIC AIR, returns for its highly-anticipated second season on CBC Television. Starring Adam Beach as Bobby Martin, Pascale Hutton as Krista Ivarson and Kevin McNulty as Mel, ARCTIC AIR is a Yellowknife-based series following a maverick airline and the extended family of unconventional people who run it.

DRAGONS’ DEN - Sundays at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) beginning January 6
Canada’s highest-rated reality TV show is back on an all-new night with 10 all new episodes, Sundays at 8 p.m. Catch an array of special episodes including the Second Chance show, where pitchers from past seasons return to the Den for another round with the Dragons, a special Valentine’s Day-themed show, and the season finale, The Year of the Dragon, which will give viewers an exclusive insider’s look at the Dragons’ busy lives outside the Den.

MURDOCH MYSTERIES - Mondays at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) beginning January 7
New to CBC this year is the one-hour, period, crime drama MURDOCH MYSTERIES, now with new never-seen episodes in its sixth season on Monday, January 7 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC Television. Set in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s, critically acclaimed series MURDOCH MYSTERIES stars Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch, a handsome young detective using radical forensic techniques for the time, to solve some of the city’s most gruesome murders.

MR. D - Mondays at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) beginning January 7
MR. D, the breakout comedy that debuted to almost 1.3 million viewers, returns for a second season beginning Monday, January 7, 2013 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) and kicks off its first week featuring a special guest - comedic legend Russell Peters. Based on the stand-up act of comedian Gerry Dee, who was himself a private school teacher for nine years, MR. D centres on an under-qualified teacher trying to fake his way through a teaching job just as he fakes his way through life.

REPUBLIC OF DOYLE - NEW NIGHT - Sundays at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) beginning January 6
REPUBLIC OF DOYLE returns for an explosive fourth season on an all-new night - Sundays at 9 p.m. beginning January 6. As Season Four begins, Private Eye Jake Doyle and Malachy Doyle return to the Republic crushed with guilt over what happened to Des at the end of Season Three, but must attempt to restore their first-rate standing as the best private investigators in the city.

THE RON JAMES SHOW - Mondays at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) beginning January 7
The uniquely Canadian, poetically charged stand-up comedy that made Ron famous is back and viewers will be laughing from coast-to-coast with season four of THE RON JAMES SHOW returning Monday, January 7 at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) on CBC Television.

Additionally, a number of viewer-favourite programs return with all-new episodes this winter on CBC Television: STEVEN AND CHRIS (Weekdays at 2 p.m. / 2:30 NT), IN THE KITCHEN WITH STEFANO FAITA (Weekdays at 3:30 p.m. / 4 NT); THE LANG & O’LEARY EXCHANGE (Weeknights at 6:30 p.m. / 7 NT); GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS TONIGHT (Weeknights at 7 p.m. / 7:30 NT); THE RICK MERCER REPORT (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. / 8:30 NT); MARKETPLACE (Fridays at 8 p.m. / 8:30 NT); the fifth estate (Fridays at 9 p.m. / 9:30 NT); THE NATURE OF THINGS (Thursdays at 8 p.m. / 8:30 NT); and family-favourite HEARTLAND remains a Sunday night staple (Sundays at 7 p.m. / 7:30 NT).

For more behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive content, visit CBC LIVE at cbc.ca/live. Follow CBC Live on Twitter at twitter.com/cbclive and on Facebook at facebook.com/cbclive.

For more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the new CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre.

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 five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.

For further information, please contact:
Erin Richards, Publicist, CBC
erin.richards@cbc.ca
416.205.7994 (Office)
416.627.5728 (Mobile)