Vancouver, Canada (December 14, 2018)— Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV:TBRD) (“Thunderbird” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce that its popular series Heavy Rescue: 401, will return to Discovery Canada this winter with 14 new episodes. A Top 5 series on Discovery Canada last season, Season 3 of Heavy Rescue: 401 will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT beginning Jan. 8, 2019.
Heavy Rescue: 401 chronicles the dramatic recoveries along Ontario’s 400-series highways – extending from Windsor in the west to the Québec border in the east. The series tells the stories of heavy recovery tow truck drivers who continue the good fight across North America’s busiest and most unforgiving series of highways. The stakes are high, every minute counts, and every job is vital…because closure is not an option. In addition to picking up additional episodes of Heavy Rescue: 401, Discovery Canada also recently commissioned an eighth season of another fan-favourite Thunderbird production, Highway Thru Hell.
“Like Highway Thru Hell, audiences are connecting with Heavy Rescue: 401 because of its cinematic storytelling approach and the way characters develop as the series progresses,” explains Mark Miller, president of Thunderbird Entertainment. “In addition to being a top 5 series for Discovery Canada last season, Heavy Rescue: 401 is also a staple for audiences around the world.”
About Season 3 of HEAVY RESCUE: 401:
The new season of Heavy Rescue: 401 promises to surprise audiences with nail-biting drama, chronicling familiar characters stepping up to bigger responsibilities, incredible stories of wintery wrecks, and dangerous challenges with new trucks. Storms and freak accidents attack the 401, pushing first responders, heavy rescue crews, and maintenance teams to their limits.
After making a big move to the competition, Sonny Subra faces another major decision about his direction in heavy rescue – and new pressure when he gets the opportunity of his career. In the snowbelt north of the city, Bubba Semple gets an opportunity of his own at Classic Towing – but it’s one that will challenge him at every turn.
At Preferred Towing in Sarnia, Ont., Gary Vandenheuvel’screw faces a whiteout blitz lasting for days. However, his biggest challenge comes when his son Collin is faced with a dangerous close call.
Down in Windsor, Ont., Eric Goddard of Coxon’s Towing works to train a new generation of heavy operators. And when a raging river destroys a bridge and strands a dump truck, it forces Ross’ Towing to embark on a bigger recovery than anything they’ve ever attempted.
At the eastern end of the province, Scrappy Algonquin Towing enlists 50-year-old hardware in the fight against a frozen pileup, Herb’s Towing works to rebuild after a huge shakeup in the crew, and David Davidson at Unique Towingfights a lonely battle that will ultimately end his career on the road.
Heavy Rescue: 401 continues to work closely withthe Ontario Provincial Police and Sgt. Kerry Schmidt to execute on-the-spot accident reconstructions, manage pileups, and oversee toxic spills. Once again, this season, the series follows the crew at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s massive control centre to get a bird’s-eye view of the intricate and high-stakes highway system.
Subscribers can access live streaming of Heavy Rescue: 401 through the Discovery app, and stream Season 1and 2 on demand on the Discoveryapp and Discovery.ca.
Heavy Rescue: 401 is produced by Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. in association with Discovery Canada. Executive producer is Mark Miller. Series producer is Todd Serotiuk. For Discovery, Bruce Glawson is executive producer. Edwina Follows is general manager, Discovery Networks. Shawn Redmond is vice-president, Discovery Networks and TSN.Mike Cosentino is president, content and programming, Bell Media.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Heavy Rescue: 401 on Twitter: Twitter.com/HeavyRescue401
Heavy Rescue: 401 on Facebook: Facebook.com/HeavyRescue401/
About Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.
Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a Vancouver-based global multiplatform entertainment company with offices in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Toronto, Ottawa and London. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and International broadcasters. Thunderbird’s vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The Company develops, produces and distributes animated, factual and scripted content through its various divisions, including Atomic Cartoons, Great Pacific Television, Thunderbird Productions and Thunderbird Releasing Limited.
About Bell Media Original Programming:
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include the hit drama CARDINAL; the record-breaking Canadian formats THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and MASTERCHEF CANADA; the original international TV format THE LAUNCH; satirical news series THE BEAVERTON; new comedy series JANN; new lifestyle series MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH; and CANADA’S WALK OF FAME AWARDS. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are Space’s KILLJOYS and WYNONNA EARP; Bravo’s mystery dramedy CARTER; Comedy’s CORNER GAS ANIMATED; Crave’s hit comedy LETTERKENNY and recently announced mockumentary NEW EDEN; and SnackableTV’s interactive stand-up series JOKEOFF and upcoming animated series LITTLEKENNY. In addition to adventure drama FRONTIER, Discovery is also home to Bell Media’s hit factual franchises HIGHWAY THRU HELL, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, and CANADA’S WORST DRIVER, in addition to new original series DISASTERS AT SEA, among others. Bell Media is one of the first media companies in North America to commit to producing all new original scripted series in 4K.
About Discovery:
With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid imagery for viewers with curious minds. With the best factual programming from Canada and around the world, Discovery captures the excitement of a passion for life – one lived fully and at its most extreme. With exceptional and immersive storytelling, the channel offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the extraordinary people and places that shape our world. Discovery Canada is a joint venture between Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company, and Discovery Communications Inc. Find more information and interactive online features at Discovery.ca
Investor Relations Contacts:
Lucas Cahill and Freddie Leigh
Phone:+ 1 604.683.3555
Email: investors@thunderbird.tv
Media Relations Contact:
Julia Smith, Finch Media
Phone:+1 604.803.0897
Email:julia@finchmedia.net
For more information, interviews, or screeners:
Carolyn Doidge, Discovery,
Phone: + 1 416.384.4258
Email: carolyn.doidge@bellmedia.ca
The TSX-V has in no way passed upon the merits of the Arrangement and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company’s objectives, goals or future plans and the business and operations of the Company, and the likelihood of completion of upcoming releases. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; those additional risks set out in the Company’s Filing Statement and other public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.