CBC's The Border heads for U.S. TV screens

Canadian action drama The Border will soon be telecast in the U.S.

The drama about an elite Canadian Immigration and Customs Security unit, based in Toronto and working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has been sold to ION Television of Florida.

ION, which claims it reaches 94 million U.S. homes via cable, satellite and its broadcast network, said it plans to begin airing The Border later this year.

The gritty series, in its second season on CBC-TV, stars James McGowan, Sofia Milos, Grace Park, Graham Abbey, Jonas Chernick and Nazneen Contractor.

The Border is also broadcast under licence in Britain, Italy, Germany, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden, Estonia, Bulgaria and South Africa.

Produced by White Pines Pictures Production, in association with the CBC, The Border won two Gemini Awards in its first season.

ION also bought exclusive U.S. original broadcast rights for The Guard, a Canadian action series about a coast guard rescue unit.

The Guard is produced by Halifax Film and Brightlight Pictures Inc. and is shot in the scenic Squamish, B.C., region.