Toronto-headquartered marblemedia’s unscripted series All-Round Champion is getting a fifth season (10 x 60 minutes) that will feature a cast of para-athletes — competitors with physical disabilities.

In keeping with the format of the series (pictured), the participants will compete in each other’s sports to see how proficient they can become in them, with the All-Round Champion title going to the athlete with the most points at the end. The new season will air first on BYUtv in the U.S. on Jan. 15, followed by TVOkids on Feb. 8, according to a news release.

The show is adapted from the Norwegian series Best i mest (NRK) and is executive produced by Matthew Hornburg, Mark Bishop, and Steve Sloan, with co-executive producer Donna Luke for marblemedia, Jeff Simpson and Andra Johnson Duke for BYUtv, and Kirsten Hurd for TVO.

Olympian and world champion Perdita Felicien returns as host and a producer this season, which will also feature British Paralympic sailor Helena Lucas; Paralympic swimming gold medalist McKenzie Coan; Canadian track champion Josh Cassidy; and Matt Scott, a Paralympic champion in wheelchair basketball who is billed as the first disabled athlete featured in a Nike commercial.

CPAC partners with BSO program

The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) has partnered with the Black Screen Office (BSO) on its Career Accelerator program, which aims to establish Black professionals in mid- to senior-level decision-making roles in Canada’s screen media industries.

Christa Dickenson, president and CEO of CPAC, made the announcement on Tuesday (Dec. 6) as she received the Special Jury Award of Distinction at the Crystal Awards from Women in Film & TV Toronto.

The recently launched BSO Career Accelerator matches experienced professionals with employers that are ready to support Black talent to move into positions of influence, by providing on-the-job learning experiences, mentorship and growth opportunities. The program runs four to six months and the BSO helps the companies throughout the process with processes such as identifying organizational gaps and relevant projects that can offer critical experiences.

Maestro Fresh Wes series set for Bell Fibe TV1

Bell Fibe TV1 has acquired a cooking show featuring Canadian hip-hop artist, actor and author Wes Williams — a.k.a. Maestro Fresh Wes. Maestro Chef Wes created, written, and produced by Williams and Lauchlan Ough, with Chet Wesley as executive producer.

The six-episode series will premiere Jan. 26 and see Williams travelling the Maritimes, cooking with local ingredients and having conversations with celebrity guests to turn each episode into a classic East Coast kitchen party.

TARO PR rebrands

Toronto-based agency TARO PR, which has represented many films, has rebranded to The TARO Group. The new brand identity reflects the company’s diversity of skill sets and services, as well as its “exponential growth and expansion in marketing and communications services to meet evolving client needs,” says a news release.

The company, which specializes in arts and entertainment, plans to continue to provide publicity and communications strategy and initiatives under the rebrand. The TARO Group, co-founded by Robyn Mogil and Tamar Gibbert, has also announced the hiring of Hailey Price, formerly of Veritas Communications, and Michelle Hossari, who began within The TARO Group internship program.