- Production Begins on Degrassi: The Next Generation with 19 new, half-hour episodes -

Degrassi, Canada's Celebrated Teen Series, Marks its Silver Anniversary With 100th Episode

Toronto, ON (May 24, 2005) - CTV and Epitome Pictures Inc. announced today that principal photography has begun on 19 new half-hour episodes of the award-winning, prime-time Canadian drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, marking the 25th anniversary of the Degrassi franchise.

In addition, the upcoming season will culminate with the finale episode marking the series 100th episode. Shooting is scheduled to run through November with the fifth installment of the series debuting on CTV as part of the 2005-2006 season.

** Media Note ** Photography is available on-line at www.ctvmedia.ca.

As the most successful season to date, Season Four of Degrassi: The Next Generation, was Canada's most-watched homegrown drama for Teens (T12-17) and Adults (A18-34, A18-49 and A25-54).* The dramatic school shooting episode was the series' highest-rated episode ever, bringing in an audience of 930,000 viewers. Other bold storylines and celebrity guest stars like Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Alanis Morissette, garnered international media attention for the series.

Critical acclaim for the series continues to grow on both sides of the border, including:

"TV's gutsiest teen drama takes us back to our angstiest years (in a good way!)"
- Entertainment Weekly

"Degrassi de bomb with a new generation" - New York Post

""DGrassi is tha Best Teen TV N da WRLD!" - New York Times Magazine

"For 25 years, Degrassi has been focusing on issues that speak directly to fans, both young and old," said Linda Schuyler, President, Epitome Pictures Inc. "We're delighted that Degrassi: The Next Generation is back for another season. We will see our characters confront the increasingly intense twists and turns of high-school life. But even though life's lessons are tougher than ever, we haven't forgotten how to laugh."

Many Degrassi 25th Anniversary celebrations, promotions and appearances will take place throughout the season. Further announcements will be made in the coming months.

Returning cast regulars are Sarah Barrable-Tishauer as Liberty; Deanna Casaluce as Alex; Lauren Collins as Paige; Ryan Cooley as JT; Jake Epstein as Craig; Stacey Farber as Ellie; Jake Goldsbie as Toby; Aubrey Graham as Jimmy; Shane Kippel as Spinner; Andrea Lewis as Hazel; Mike Lobel as Jay; Miriam McDonald as Emma; Adamo Ruggiero as Marco; and Cassie Steele as Manny. Also returning are Dalmar Abuzeid as Danny and Shenae Grimes as Darcy. Jamie Johnston will be a new addition to the cast as Peter.
 
Also returning are Stefan Brogren as Archie "Snake" Simpson; Pat Mastroianni as Joey Jeremiah; and Amanda Stepto as Snake's missus, Christine "Spike" Nelson.

After four years following the teens of Degrassi, this is the year that viewers will see the first class of students graduate. Season Five begins with Manny anxious to pursue an acting career. Unfortunately, she is not prepared for the harsh realities of living out her Hollywood dream. Meanwhile, Craig receives an unwelcome birthday present from Ashley.

Always prepared to tackle tough issues in a realistic way - a key element in the broadening of the audience age range - this season's Degrassi will deal with topics including sexuality, drugs, religion and self-esteem.

Fans of the show are encouraged to check out the award-winning Degrassi Web site www.degrassi.tv <http://www.degrassi.tv>, including the 2003 Gemini for Most Popular Website (with registered nearly 400,000 users) and Best Interactive Award in 2003 and 2002. Produced in association with CTV and Snap Media Corp., www.degrassi.tv <http://www.degrassi.tv> provides enhanced storytelling on the web in synchronization with CTV's television broadcasts. Degrassi's online community continues to create lockerpages, journal entries, send d-mails and post messages on the club message boards in record numbers. In addition, "students" are able to visit the "guidance office" for assistance from the online "guidance counselor" (hyper-linked to sites such as Health Canada, Kids Help Hotline, Media Awareness Network, etc.) for help and advice on a huge range of topics that includes everything from gossip to gay parents.

Degrassi: The Next Generation is produced by Epitome Pictures in association with CTV. The series was co-created by Linda Schuyler, co-producer of the original Degrassi series, and Yan Moore. Schuyler and Stephen Stohn serve as Executive Producers.

Degrassi: The Next Generation has been successfully licensed in Britain, France, the U.S and Australia by AAC Kids, an Alliance Atlantis Division.

Epitome Pictures and its affiliate companies have been producing quality Canadian programming since 1976, including the multi-award winning, internationally recognized Degrassi franchise, The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, which still air throughout the world. Epitome Pictures has also produced the series Liberty Street and Riverdale as well as several MOWs. For more information, please visit www.epitomepictures.com.

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It boasts the number-one national newscast, CTV News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTV owns 21 conventional television stations across Canada and has interests in 14 specialty channels, including the number-one Canadian specialty channel, TSN. CTV is owned by Bell Globemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company. More information about CTV may be found on the company site at www.ctv.ca.

*(Source: BBM)