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Ice time set to go prime time on CBC
| Source: |
Abbotsford Times |
| Date: |
December 8, 2009 |
| Author: |
Rafe Arnott |
CBC Television will be airing Friday's Abbotsford performance of
Holiday Festival on Ice across the country as part of its annual
pre-Christmas holiday schedule.
The show is a perennial hit with TV audiences, and CBC broadcasts the
performance to millions of viewers in 15 countries.
This year's festival is set to air next Wednesday (Dec. 16) at 9
p.m. and will feature four-time Canadian and four-time world champion
Kurt Browning, along with Canadian and world champions and Olympic
gold medalists Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, and Olympic bronze
medalist Jeffrey Buttle among others.
Performing alongside the on-ice talent is the Canadian Tenors - Victor
Micallef, Remigio Pereira, Fraser Walters and Clifton Murray - who
with Gemini Award winner Andrea Menard helped keep the crowds
entertained.
CBC spokesman Jeff Keay said yesterday that the show brings another
side of skaters' lives to television audiences.
"You get a more intimate view of the skating . . . they talk about how
they're doing their moves, which is something you don't typically get
in the other types of competitions," he said.
"It's an opportunity to get a much closer and personal look at the
skaters.
"That gives it a popularity and appeal you might not get in regular
competitive skating."
Browning is hot off the hugely successful Battle of the Blades reality
TV series that paired some of Canadian hockey's toughest players with
figure-skating icons, and a big part of Holiday's appeal is that name
recognition of talent.
Keay said the show is a staple in the network's lineup, and Browning
is a household name not just in Canada, but around the globe.
"Kurt is fresh in people's minds these days [thanks to Blades] - aside
from the fact he's one of the best known skaters in the
world."
Keay said at its heart, the show is about entertainment.
"As we've seen most recently with Battle of the Blades, people love
skating.
"And especially [those skaters] that they can relate to."
According to Keay the show has long legs.
"This show has been a favourite on our schedule for a long
time."
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