EXCLUSIVE PRESENTATION OF FULL LENGTH ORIGINAL EPISODES FROM THE BEGINNING AND EVERY WEEKNIGHT STARTS MONDAY, JUNE 5TH AT 11PM/ET

AND INTRODUCING "SOPRANOS 101" WITH PROFESSOR WILLIAM AND ELMI

Friday April 21, 2006 (TORONTO, ON) – In a move to further establish its growing reputation as the source of the world’s best ethnocultural television, TLN has acquired the exclusive Canadian specialty television rights to broadcast The Sopranos. Widely considered among the few masterpieces of dramatic television ever produced, The Sopranos debuts on TLN Monday June 5th at 11:00pm/et. Full length original episodes starting from the pilot will air every weeknight in English (with Spanish language SAP). Later this year, TLN also plans to premiere the Italian language version of the series which originally aired on Italy’s most popular TV network Canale 5.

The first 52 episodes of The Sopranos will air consecutively this summer, followed by Season 5 in September. Later next year, TLN will add the Season 6 episodes currently premiering on pay TV as well as the Season 6 ‘bonus episodes’ which series creator David Chase agreed to produce for HBO.

As an added value feature, TLN presents Sopranos 101, original segments hosted by Dr. William Anselmi from The University of Alberta. Professor Anselmi will reveal hidden references in select episodes that connect to pop culture, Italian history and literature through his inspired interpretation of The Sopranos. For instance, Anselmi will use references to Dante’s The Divine Comedy to explain Carmela Soprano’s relationship with Father Phil, the family priest, as well as highlight the many veiled ironies and references in names, places and scenes (such as Tony’s nephew’s last name, Moltisanti, which literally means ‘many saints’).

“The Sopranos is not just about a particular crime family,” explains Professor Anselmi, “it is so much more and brings to life the conflict between modern-day America’s economic and moral values which is really the final critique of the American dream.”

“TLN is thrilled to be the first to establish a nightly programming strip of this entire Italian-American masterpiece,” states TLN President, Aldo Di Felice. “We are also proud to be able to add value by providing viewers with Professor Anselmi’s wonderfully revealing observations and insights.”

The Sopranos – original full length episodes, from the beginning, weeknights at 11:00pm/et
Starting June 5th on TLN.

Professor William Anselmi is available for interviews and will be in Toronto April 28 & 29.
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About The Sopranos: Winner of 6 Golden Globes® and 17 Emmy® Awards, The Sopranos has enjoyed unprecedented critical appeal and popularity. This modern day mob story takes a dark yet humorous look at the dysfunctional members of a New Jersey Crime family, starring Golden Globe® winner James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) alongside an all-star cast including Golden Globe® winner Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano), Emmy Award® winner Drea de Matteo (Adriana La Cerva), Golden Globe® nominee Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and many more unforgettable characters. The creative force behind the series is Italian-American David Chase.

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Since 1984, TLN Telelatino has been Canada’s premier Latino specialty TV service providing unparalleled programming in Italian, Spanish and English which can be seen by nearly 10 million Canadians. As the #1 source among Hispanic and Italian media, TLN offers a variety of domestic and international programming including daily news reports from Italy and Latin America, international sports, music and fashion coverage, award-winning novelas, variety shows and feature films and series. The thousands of hours of top Italian language programming on TLN are complemented by the launch of the Super Trio Italiano, 3 premium digital TV channels direct from Italy: Sky TG 24, Video Italia and Leonardo World. The Super Trio Italiano is available in Ontario on Rogers and Mountain Cable and in Quebec on Videotron. TLN is majority owned by Corus Entertainment, a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Other shareholders of TLN include prominent members of the Italian Canadian business community. For further information, please check out our website at www.tlntv.com.

For additional information interviews or images, please contact:
Bruna Aloe
Media Relations Supervisor, TLN
416-744-8200 ext. 279
bruna@tlntv.com

Christian Darbyshire
PR Consultant
416-419-9953
tinepublic@shaw.ca