The Movie Network and Movie Central will debut Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures through its HBO Canada multiplex channel on January 10, 2010, at 8:00 PM ET/MT.  This is the first Canadian show to debut on HBO Canada, which came into being October 30, 2008.

The series is based on Vincent Lam’s Giller Prize-winning 2006 short story compilation.  It centers on three young medical professionals as they balance surgeries, medical emergencies and emotional baggage.  The phrase “sea of emotion” is used in the media release.

TMN and MC are promoting Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures heavily.  Beginning December 22, 2009, the first episode can be viewed online through hbocanada.com, themovienetwork.ca and moviecentral.ca.

Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures‘ first episode will debut December 22 on TMN OnDemand, and through Bell TV’s TMN OnLine service.  Western Canada will have to wait until December 29 for Movie Central On Demand to follow suit.  DVD samplers and Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment network also figure in promotion.

This is a Shaftesbury Films series, Shaftesbury fast becoming a household name in this country.  The company has its hand in Murdoch Mysteries, The Listener, ReGenesis, Life With Derek and The Summit, among other series/miniseries.  It’s even sold a Ken Finkleman series to TMN/MC, something I didn’t know was possible.

I hope Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures is good.  The Movie Network/Movie Central has been on a roll with The Line, Durham County, Sanctuary and ZOS: Zone of Separation.  If the show fails, it won’t be due to lack of marketing.  Considering Shaftesbury’s track record, I’ll be surprised if an American cable channel doesn’t snap B&MC up in a heartbeat.