Canada Goes to the Polls Monday, Sept. 8 for Final Canadian Idol Vote

For Immediate Release (September 5)

-- It's East vs. West as Mitch and Theo battle for Canadian Idol title --

-- Mariah Carey, John Legend, Hedley, Brian Melo and Jully Black to perform as Top 10 reunite in Season Finale, Wednesday, Sept. 10 -

-- Grammy winner John Legend and JUNO nominees Hedley mentor Top 2 in final performance episode, Monday, Sept. 8 --

Toronto, ON (September 5, 2008) - They've been canvassing for votes all summer. Campaign teams are at the ready. Nearly 29 million votes have already been cast in weekly public opinion surveys. The race is tight, with no clear frontrunner. Only one man can win. Canadians will elect the newest Canadian Idol next week, and today CTV announced details regarding Canadian Idol Campaign 2008. It all begins Monday, Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV with the great debate: the final performance episode of the season featuring a six-song showdown between Top 2 finalists Mitch MacDonald and Theo Tams. Two nights later, the country's decision is revealed in a live, nail-biting, two-hour election night celebration featuring headliners Mariah Carey and John Legend on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. ET (visit idol.ctv.ca to confirm local broadcast times).

** Media Note ** - For Media Accreditation to the Canadian Idol Season Finale on Sept. 10, contact Christy Sullivan at chsullivan@ctv.ca or 416.526.3052. Photography and audio clips of Mitch and Theo are available online at the Canadian Idol Media Centre at www.idolpix.ca.

Canadian Idol Campaign 2008 Details:

Top 2 Performance Episode (Sept. 8)

Mitch MacDonald, 22, a carpenter and musician from Port Hood, NS, and Theo Tams, a 23-year-old student from Lethbridge, AB, are the final two competitors in a season that saw more male competitors audition - and advance - than ever before.

The race is tight: Mitch has never landed among the bottom group of competitors while Theo has on one occasion, during Top 7 week.

Mitch and Theo sing three songs each - one selected by the judges, a song of their choice and the winner's single.

This is the first East/West Top 2 battle since Season 3, when Alberta's Melissa O'Neil triumphed over Newfoundland's Rex Goudie. Alberta has produced a Top 2 finalist for four out of six seasons and claims two Canadian Idol winners.

The Top 2 are jetting to New York City today to work with Grammy Award-winner John Legend. Legend will provide the finalists with advice and offer feedback before they take to the Idol stage for their last competitive performance.

For the first time ever, a former Canadian Idol competitor mentors the Top 2. No stranger to what life is like on the Idol stage, Hedley front man Jacob Hoggard, along with his bandmates, imparts his wisdom on both performing and life post-Idol when they also workshop with the final two competitors.

For the first time in Canadian Idol history, each finalist will perform a winner's single chosen to reflect their own individual styles. Theo Tams performs "Sing" and Mitch MacDonald takes to the stage with "Where We Begin". The winner's track will be released to radio stations across the country on Thursday, Sept. 11 beginning at 5 a.m. ET, with the winner's local community receiving the world premiere at midnight, local time. The singles are produced by JUNO Award-winner Gavin Brown, who has worked with Canadian artists Billy Talent and Three Days Grace.

Viewers go to the polls in a two-hour vote immediately following the conclusion of the broadcast in their time zone - but the results are not revealed for another 48 hours.

Season Finale (Sept. 10)

The star-studded finale features performances from not only Mariah Carey, the most successful female artist of all time, but also five-time Grammy winner John Legend, multiple MMVA winner and JUNO nominated Hedley, and JUNO winner Jully Black.

The powerhouse show also reunites the Canadian Idol Top 2 with their fellow eight eliminated competitors in several performances for the final time.

Returning to the stage where he was crowned, and fresh from his performance at the Angra Rock Festival in Portugal, Wednesday's finale also features a live performance by last year's Canadian Idol winner, Brian Melo from his hit CD, Livin' It. Brian's latest single, "Summertime," is currently in rotation on radio stations across the country.

Throughout the broadcast, Canadian Idol host Ben Mulroney throws to live feeds from local CTV stations in Port Hood, NS, and Lethbridge, AB, hometowns of the Top 2 finalists, as their communities rally to support the contenders. Lethbridge gathers with CTV anchor Jacquie Scantlebury at the University of Lethbridge Sport and Wellness Facility beginning at 4:30 p.m. MT, while CTV Atlantic host Liz Rigney heads up the festivities at the Bayview Education Centre in Port Hood beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Immediately following Wednesday's broadcast, the newly-minted winner signs a recording contract with Shane Carter and Neil Foster, co-presidents of SONY BMG MUSIC (CANADA) Inc. Then, they're whisked off to the star-studded Canadian Idol Wrap Party at CTV's Queen Street headquarters to celebrate their victory with the entire cast and crew of Canadian Idol. Tune into eTalk on Thursday, September 11 at 7 p.m. ET, to check out the exclusive signing and highlights from the party.

As their winning single hits radio stations across the country, the winner then gets ready to record their debut CD, to be released in Spring 2009.

In-person interviews with the 2008 Canadian Idol winner and runner-up are available directly following the finale. To request an interview, please contact Christy Sullivan at chsullivan@ctv.ca. Finale interviews must be confirmed in advance as space is limited. The winner and runner-up are also available for interviews on Thursday, September 11.

Canadian Idol is sponsored by Kraft, Pantene Pro-V, Gillette Venus Embrace, and Gillette Fusion Power.

Canadian Idol was created by Simon Fuller and is produced in association with CTV by Insight Productions. John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby are Executive Producers. Mark Lysakowski is Supervising Producer. Senior Producer is Sue Brophey. Jane Rimer is Executive Consultant for FremantleMedia. Ed Robinson is Executive Vice-President, Programming, CTV Inc. Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

About FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia is one of the largest international creators and producers of programme brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories. FremantleMedia has production offices in over 20 countries worldwide, providing local sales and production support for its international TV brands such as Idols and the world's longest running game show, The Price is Right.

The company's licensing operation, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, exploits FremantleMedia's many strong brands across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing. Fremantle International Distribution, the company's international distribution division licenses over 19,000 hours of programming to 150 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is the content arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. For further information please see FremantleMedia's website www.fremantlemedia.com.

About 19 Entertainment

Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful music based entertainment, or "entertainment brands". The company has attracted a unique collection of expertise in people who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording, artist / writer and producer management, sponsorship and promotion. Simon Fuller is the most successful British music manager of all time having sold over 116 million CDs in North America alone, and is known as the creator of "American Idol", the most valuable TV format in the world with an estimated value in excess of $2.5 billion.

About CTV

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV National News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.