YTV AND STUDIO B PRODUCE SERIES OF SPECIALS FOR HIT SHOW BEING IAN

Corus Entertainment Takes on Being Ian’s Online Assets

YTV and Vancouver-based Studio B Productions have struck a deal to produce 10 new special episodes of top-rated toon Being Ian, the first of which is set to air September 2007.

The terms of the agreement also give Corus Entertainment rights to the brand’s online assets, including BeingIan.com and the capacity to create interactive web-based games and activities, as well as stream clips and episodes. Corus’ multiplatform plans for Being Ian will include content on mobile television and VOD beginning this fall.

“Combining one of Studio B’s most internationally acclaimed animated series with Corus Entertainment’s leadership in multiplatform brand development, this deal will take Being Ian to the next level in the Canadian market,” said Phil Piazza, VP of Programming, Corus Children’s Television. “Through unique stunt events and unprecedented content initiatives, YTV and Studio B have taken an innovative approach to building and extending the Being Ian brand.”

Being Ian is aimed at nine-to 12 year-olds and follows the epic adventures of Ian Kelley and his off-the-wall fantasies that regularly turn a typical day at the beach into Castaway and an ordinary camping trip into the Blair Witch Project. The series currently airs on YTV Monday through Friday at noon and 6 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday at 8:30 p.m. A one-hour movie special, Hurry for Hollywood, will air June 29 at 6 p.m. as part of YTV’s School’s Out event, including extra online features like: behind-the-scenes and making-of footage, a rock video and deleted scenes.

“Being Ian is an excellent choice for YTV to take digital, its sense of humour and fun come from Ian’s own digital video antics,” said Catherine Warren, President of FanTrust Entertainment Strategies and Studio B’s Digital Entertainment Consultant. “Kids specifically relate to Ian’s way of seeing the world through his digital video lens and will ultimately have more fun with the characters as Ian dives into the world of mobile, podcasting and the web.”

A YTV Original Production, Being Ian is produced by Studio B Productions and is distributed by Nelvana. One of YTV’s top-rated series, Being Ian has recently won the 2006 Shaw Rocket Prize and Leo Award for Best Animation Program and Series.

YTV, Canada’s #1 youth network, is seen in over eight million homes across Canada. As a major force in Canadian kids’ entertainment, YTV has triggered over $988 million in Canadian independent production; developed a website that averages over 90 million monthly page views; published a successful kids’ magazine, Whoa!; and conducts a highly respected annual survey, The YTV Tween Report.

YTV is owned by Corus Entertainment, a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising and digital audio services, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing and children’s animation. The company’s multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, Movie Central, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW, CKOI and Q107. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) exchanges. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

An award-winning Vancouver-based animation studio founded in 1988, Studio B Productions has earned an international reputation for incredible work. Studio B produces highly successful original series, such as Being Ian, Class of The Titans, D’Myna Leagues, What About Mimi? and Yvon of the Yukon. Their co-productions include George of The Jungle, Ricky Sprocket, Showbiz Boy, The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers!, Yakkity Yak and Something Else. Studio B also provides service work for some of the most well-known companies in the world, including Jetix Europe (Pucca). Enjoyed by children and parents alike in over 90 countries, Studio B shows can be seen on quality broadcasters such as YTV, TELETOON, ITV (UK), Nickelodeon Stations worldwide, Family Channel and Cartoon Network (US). For more information on their shows, the studio and the wacky characters that work there, please visit www.studiobproductions.com. There is no limit to their