Canadian television received a welcome boost this week as the CBC confirmed new seasons for five of its homegrown dramas. The network announced that popular series – “Heartland,” “Murdoch Mysteries,” “Wild Cards,” “Saint-Pierre,” and “Allegiance” – will all return. It’s a positive sign for original Canadian storytelling in a market often filled with US shows. But what about viewers watching from the States?
Good news there, too, as several of these renewed series have already found an audience south of the border. “Heartland,” the long-running family drama set in the Alberta Rockies, is coming back for an impressive 19th season (with 10 episodes) and will continue to be available on Up Faith & Family in the US. Similarly, “Murdoch Mysteries,” the popular period detective show, also hits its 19th season (this time with 21 episodes) and can be found on Acorn TV.
Then there’s “Wild Cards,” the police procedural with a hockey connection that airs on The CW in the US. It received a strong vote of confidence with a two-season pickup, meaning seasons 3 and 4 (10 episodes each) are locked in. Plus, the show’s creator, Michael Konyves, recently picked up a 2025 WGC Screenwriting Award.
Back in Canada, “Saint-Pierre,” which was the CBC’s most successful new series last season, gets a green light for its second season (12 episodes). And police procedural “Allegiance” is also returning for a third season (10 episodes).
It’s also worth noting that three of these returning shows – “Heartland,” “Murdoch Mysteries,” and “Wild Cards” – are currently nominated for the 2025 Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award.
