ION Television is bringing Canadian hospital drama Saving Hope back home to American audiences.
Through the pact with studio Entertainment One Television (eOne), ION has the exclusive U.S. television network rights to the first two seasons of Saving Hope, as well as the 18-episode third season. Production began on the new season in Canada back in June.
The one-hour medical series, led by Erica Durance, had aired on NBC during summer 2012 in the U.S. before being pulled due to lackluster ratings.
Saving Hope is set at Hope Zion Hospital after its chief of surgery (Michael Shanks) falls into a coma, putting his fiancee and fellow surgeon in a state of shock. Daniel Gillies (The Originals),Huse Madhavji, Julia Taylor Ross and Kristopher Turner also star.
“We’re excited to begin this collaborative partnership with eOne to bring viewers another high-quality original series,” said Brandon Burgess, chairman and CEO of ION Media Networks. “ION has had success through its unique approach to original program production, and Saving Hope represents the next step in the company’s long-term strategy.”
"We're delighted that the full series including new episodes of Saving Hope will soon be available to American audiences through ION Television, one of the largest broadcast television station groups in the U.S.," said Stuart Baxter, president of eOne Television International. "We're looking forward to expanding on our already successful relationship with ION following their acquisition of our other series, Rookie Blue."
With the Saving Hope acquisition, ION's scripted library includes Blue Bloods, Rookie Blue, Criminal Minds, Cold Case, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Psych and Leverage. Its previous original programs included The Listener and Flashpoint.