Toronto, Ontario, August 19, 2025 – TVO Media Education Group (TVO) is rolling out an exciting Fall programming slate across TVO.org, TVOkids.com and broadcast featuring some of our most anticipated premieres. This September and October, audiences can look forward to new feature documentaries like The Extraordinary Caterpillar, fresh seasons of fan favourites such as Old Enough!, and the return of Big [If True], TVO’s original series that helps viewers separate fact from fiction.
* Images from TVO’s September-October 2025 titles are available upon request. Please credit “Courtesy of TVO.”
New TVO Original Documentaries
The Extraordinary Caterpillar *Documentary* (60 min) Premieres Thursday, September 11. Created for family co-viewing, The Extraordinary Caterpillar takes you on a playful and extraordinary visual journey into the little-known world of this tiny superhero of biodiversity. Scientists and citizens share how these incredible creatures play an essential role in our planet’s food web. A caterpillar narrator guides you with insights into the inner workings of our planet’s food ecosystems and shares ideas for how you can support caterpillars. Broadcast info: Thursday, September 11 at 7 p.m. ET. World premiere.
TVO Docs
Citizen Minutes (Season 3 Compilation) *Short Film Compilation* (1 x 60) Premieres Friday, September 12. This collection of short documentaries spotlights Canadians stepping up, taking action, and transforming their communities for the better. The six featured films include Becoming Ruby (dir. Quan Luong), Crossing the Divide (dirs. Chrisann Hessing, Ashley Brook), La femme equi-LIBRE (Hélène Lebon), Hommes-Relais (dir. Vladimir Chindea), Red Girl Rising (dirs. Kim Stadfeld, Faith Howe), and A Stop Gap Measure (dir. Lulu Wei). Broadcast info: Friday, September 14 at 9 p.m. ET.
Treasures with Bettany Hughes (Season 3) *Returning Series* (6 x 45) Premieres Monday, September 15. With new discoveries and knowledgeable guides, Bettany embarks on another unforgettable journey through the history of human civilization over six fabulous episodes. In season three, she visits a Roman amphitheatre in Bulgaria, an ancient storyboard in Turkey, and a haunted castle in Albania. From the forests of Estonia to the desert of Oman, you’ll learn what humans have achieved through passion, resilience, and collaboration. Broadcast info: Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, starting September 15. Ontario broadcast premiere.
Hope Street (Season 4) *Returning Dramatic Series* (8 x 45) Premieres Friday, September 19. Hope Street is back with a new season of one-off crime stories set in the stunning coastal town of Port Devine. Sergeant Marlene Pettigrew is annoyed that her childhood friend is her new boss, The Commodore’s landlady is pregnant and unsure who the father is, and a new Detective Constable surprises everyone with an unexpected connection to Port Devine. Broadcast info: Fridays at 9 p.m. ET, starting September 19.
Returning Home *Feature documentary* Premieres on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Tuesday, September 30). Explore the legacy of Canada’s residential school system and the decimation of wild Pacific salmon. Returning Home follows Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad on a nationwide educational tour while her family struggles with the multigenerational trauma of Canada’s residential school system. You’ll also learn how a multi-year federal fishing moratorium is affecting Secwépemc communities and traditions. Broadcast info: Tuesday, September 30 at 9 p.m. ET.
Life After *Feature Documentary* Premieres Friday, October 3. Starting with Elizabeth Bouvia’s 1983 public fight for the right to die on her own terms, filmmaker Reid Davenport brings disabled voices to the fore in the discussion around assisted suicide. While the practice is intended to bring dignity and autonomy to the end of someone’s life, Davenport highlights the growing phenomenon of disabled people who are turning to assisted suicide as a way out of suffering from the systemic and social barriers they face every day. Broadcast info: Saturday, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET. North American premiere.
Coronation Girls *Feature Documentary* Premieres Friday, October 10. In the summer of 1953, 50 young women from rural Canada embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to London for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Sponsored by Garfield Weston, they sailed across the Atlantic aboard The Empress of France, eager to witness Princess Elizabeth ascend to the throne. Using rare archival footage, Coronation Girls begins with the excitement of their original journey and follows them decades later as they revisit London to reflect on how the experience shaped their lives. Broadcast info: Premieres Sunday, October 12. Canadian premiere.
How We Celebrate: Halloween *Documentary* Premieres Friday, October 10. Discover the roots of Halloween in the ancient Celtic Samhain festival before it was reinterpreted in America. You’ll also learn about Día de los Muertos, Bocuk Night, and the evolution into a trick-or-treating tradition. How We Celebrate: Halloween traces how pop culture, haunted houses, and Victorian Gothic literature transformed this holiday into spine-tingling fun. Broadcast info: Premieres Saturday, October 11 at 7 p.m. ET. North American broadcast premiere.
Treasures with Bettany Hughes (Season 4) *Returning Series* Premieres Monday, October 27. Travelling to places rich with artifacts from ancient civilizations, this fourth season showcases extraordinary people who broke the rules to change the destiny of humankind and the archaeological wonders that shaped the story of the world. Bettany visits remote communities, archaeological digs, and unexpected stories across Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Broadcast info: Premieres Monday, October 27 at 9 p.m. ET. Ontario broadcast premiere.
Crip Trip *New Series* (6 x 45) Premieres Wednesday, October 29. Quadruple amputee Daniel hits the road with his friend and reluctant caregiver, Frederick. Travelling in a barely functioning RV, they’re trying to keep Daniel out of a long-term care home by turning him into a working television director. They protest and pitch shows, all while navigating the brutal realities of disability, making art, and surviving on the road. It’s a punk rock road trip for justice. Broadcast info: Airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET, starting October 29.
TVOkids Originals
Tiny and Tall (Season 2) *New Season* (26 x 5:30) Premieres Saturday, September 21. Enjoy a whole new season of adventures! Tiny and Tall is about two friends from neighbouring mountaintop villages connected by a rope bridge. They explore the differences of each other’s worlds and solve problems through teamwork, curiosity, and preschool-level math concepts. Season two reminds young viewers that mistakes are okay and highlights the joys of learning together. The first 13 episodes of this preschooler/early school-age series will premiere via digital channels on September 21. Broadcast info: Airs Sundays at 10:15 a.m. ET, starting September 21. World premiere.
Old Enough! (Season 2) *Returning Series* (6 x 30) Premieres Sunday, September 28. Old Enough!, the hit TVO series based on the wildly popular Japanese format and narrated by Canadian comedy legend Colin Mochrie, is back for another season! More precocious kids get their first taste of independence as they embark on impressive errands around their neighbourhood. Simple household tasks turn into hilarious adventures and heartwarming interactions. Broadcast info: Airs Sundays at 6:30 p.m. ET, starting September 28. World premiere.
Green Squad (Season 2) *New Season* (13 x 15) Premieres Tuesday, October 14. Green Squad follows four passionate and eco-savvy young hosts as they help families make fun lifestyle changes for a healthier planet. In each episode, they answer a call for help from one young person eager to make a positive environmental impact in their home or community. Season two kicks off with a Diwali-themed episode. The first seven episodes of this school-age series will premiere via digital channels on October 14. Broadcast info: Airs Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. ET, starting October 14. North American premiere.
16 Hudson (Part 1 of Season 4) *New Season* (13 x 15) Premieres Sunday, October 26. Join four best friends — Lili, Sam, Amala, and Luc — as they embark on inclusive adventures in their apartment complex! Hailing from different backgrounds, these friends always find a way to celebrate what makes them special. Season four features five one-minute digital shorts. You’ll meet two new characters: JJ, who’s nonbinary, and their mother, Bridget, who’s the new Super. The first eight episodes of this preschooler series will premiere via digital channels on October 26. Broadcast info: Airs Sundays at 8:50 a.m. ET, starting October 26. World premiere.
Current Affairs
Big [If True] (Season 2) Premieres this Fall. This bold, weekly half-hour series, hosted by award-winning journalist Molly Thomas, tracks and exposes misinformation, disinformation, frauds, and conspiracies. It also unpacks why these falsehoods are so easy to believe and how they shape our world. Big [If True] includes a dynamic mix of video segments and interviews, featuring prominent journalists, academics, high-profile influencers, and everyday people all tackling one of the most urgent issues of our time. Broadcast info: Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET.
TVO Podcasts
#onpoli *New Episodes* Returns Friday, September 12. Join hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath for candid interviews and a deeper understanding of how politics touches our day-to-day lives. When it comes to #onpoli we’re here to give you the bigger picture.
(MIS)Treated *New Podcast* Premieres Tuesday, September 30. A new weekly podcast hosted by Canadian journalist Nam Kiwanuka that dives deep into the systemic issues affecting women’s health in Canada. Through interviews with experts, advocates and women who’ve lived with and through these experiences, the show explores how gender bias, racial disparities, and institutional neglect have led to widespread mistreatment in healthcare and explores solutions. Nam brings her signature journalistic rigor and empathy to each episode, making (MIS)Treated both informative and emotionally resonant- a must-listen for anyone interested in health equity and women’s rights.
Me & Viv *New Podcast* Premieres Wednesday, October 29. What does a smart capable woman having a mid-life crisis do in 2024? She codes her own AI therapist. Me & Viv follows social scientist, technologist and journalist, Alexandra Samuel’s journey as she creates Viv, a custom AI designed to help her navigate life’s big questions. Voiced by Alex’s mother-in-law (yes there is a story in that choice), Viv is unafraid to share her answers to all of Alex’s big life questions- no matter how dubiously informed. Through Alex’s midlife exploration, the podcast delves into how AI opens new ways of exploring human existence while revealing its own limitations and potential.
Stream TVO programming across Canada:
- YouTube: TVO Docs, TVO Today, TVOkids (Preschool, School-Age, PAW Patrol), TVO Learn
- Smart TV app: TVO Today, TVOkids
- Websites: TVO.org, TVOkids.com
- Podcasts: TVO.org, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
For broadcast details, check the TVO schedule page.
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ABOUT TVO MEDIA EDUCATION GROUP
TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through our brands TVO Today, TVO Learn, TVO ILC and TVOkids, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. TVO is a registered charity funded in part by the Province of Ontario and supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. Visit TVO.me for more information.
Media Contact: Genevieve Grant, TVO| ggrant@tvo.org