First original series for Ion

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Ion Television is getting its first-ever first-run series for US television. It has signed a deal with ITV Global Entertainment to acquire the exclusive US rights to the critically acclaimed and award-winning Canadian TV series, “Durham County.”  Ion secured all U.S. television, digital media rights, Internet streaming and video-on-demand rights for the program. The procedural crime one-hour series will debut on Ion sometime in 2009.


Produced by Back Alley Films and Muse Entertainment, “Durham County” stars Hugh Dillon, who plays Detective Mike Sweeney, a homicide detective who moves his family to suburban Durham County to start over after his partner is killed and his wife Audrey (Hélène Joy) is diagnosed with breast cancer.  However, he soon discovers that his neighbor and childhood nemesis Ray Prager (Justin Louis) may be a serial killer, setting off an intense showdown between the two complex men and their families.

“Durham County brings award-winning suspense, storytelling, and casting to Ion’s first foray into 2009 original programming,“ said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, Ion Media Networks.

“Durham County” is written by Laurie Finstad-Knizhinik and helmed by award-winning directors Holly Dale and Adrienne Mitchell.  Michael Prupas of Muse Entertainment and Janis Lundman and Adrienne Mitchell of Back Alley Films serve as executive producers.  The series has received 11 Gemini Award nominations, including three wins:  Best Actor for Justin Louis, Best Actress for Helene Joy and Best Direction for Holly Dale.  In addition, the show was nominated for four Director’s Guild of Canada Awards, winning two and taking home the CFTPA’s Indie Award for “Best Dramatic Series.”  The program was also recognized with nominations from the Writer’s Guild of Canada, ACTRA Montreal and the Leo Awards.