Launching with a relatively small slate, CTV has announced it is adding acquisition content to its new online-only platform, Extend.

The network announced Monday that it has acquired the Canadian rights for award-winning web series Blue, starring Julia Stiles, for CTV Extend.

Seasons 1 and 2 are now available for streaming on the free, ad-supported VOD network at CTV.ca and on the CTV Go app, along with the recently launched season 3, which adds Eric Stoltz and Alexz Johnson to the cast.

Blue was created for WIGS, a YouTube network that carries scripted series and documentaries made by high-profile Hollywood stars and filmmakers. It was founded by producer Jon Avnet (Risky Business, Black Swan) and Rodrigo Garcia (In Treatment, Albert Nobbs), the writer/director behind Blue.

Although the first 2 seasons of Blue were originally seen on WIGS in the U.S., the per episode running times in season 3 were extended to about 40 to 60 minutes from under 10 minutes, and they streamed on Hulu, Fox.com and the WIGS website, not YouTube. CTV has exclusive rights to season three in Canada.

In addition to the eight hours of episodes, CTV Extend will also host numerous digital extras for Blue, including behind-the-scenes vignettes with the filmmakers, writers, actors and crew.

Blue joins a still-limited slate of digital-only programming on Extend – featuring Canadian originals such as Guidestones, Backpackers, Space Riders: Division Earth and the upcoming Joke or Choke – but signals continued investment from the network in the site’s library, increasing its attractiveness to advertisers and viewers.

From Stream