Talented Alberta teens are going primetime this summer thanks to Pyramid Productions’ latest non-fiction series, The Big Pitch — a series of television specials highlighting the achievements of young entrepreneurs. The Big Pitch: Calgary and The Big Pitch: Edmonton premiere at 7:00PM (MT) August 6th on CBC Alberta.

The Big Pitch specials follow enterprising teens as they present their business plans to a judging panel of top business executives. The participants are part of Junior Achievement’s Company Program where students aged 15-19 learn business skills by creating, manufacturing and selling their own products.

Each year, JA’s student companies put on trade shows to sell their wares and, for the first time this year, CBC Radio listeners in Calgary and Edmonton selected five teams from each city to pitch their products live on stage.

The judges included Karl Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of FortisAlberta, Ruth Kelly, President and CEO of Venture Publishing and Richard Andersen, President and CEO of Northlands.

“We were amazed by these young people,” says The Big Pitch producer Buddy Day. “Their products are inventive and their commitment to becoming successful business leaders is inspiring. The competition was tough, but they rose to the challenge.”

The winning teams won a special lunch with Calgary business leader, and longtime Junior Achievement supporter, Brett Wilson.