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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."