From a media release:
CBC CELEBRATES ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL SEASON PREMIERE WEEK EVER
Numerous time slots won with innovative, exciting Canadian television – 5 shows drew more than one million viewers
CBC Television is celebrating its most successful season premiere week ever, with a number of new and returning CBC comedy, drama, unscripted and current affairs programs winning their time blocks – and several with audiences of more than one million viewers.
“This record-setting week is a testament to great programming made for – and made by – Canadians,†said Kirstine Stewart, CBC Executive Vice-President, English Services. “At CBC, we’d like to thank our partners for creating such amazing hit shows, and we thank Canadians for choosing to watch them.â€
On four different occasions, CBC’s Canadian programs won their time blocks over U.S.-produced content (MARKETPLACE, the fifth estate, MR. D and DRAGONS’ DEN). REPUBLIC OF DOYLE placed second in its time block just behind the People’s Choice Awards while HEARTLAND came behind only the NFL Playoffs.
Among the ratings highlights:
- CBC’s new action/adventure drama ARCTIC AIR won the largest audience for the premiere of a new drama series in 20 years, with total viewership of 1.05 million.
- New comedy MR. D premiered to 1.23 million viewers – the largest for a comedy since the debut of LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE in January, 2007.
- Five shows captured audiences well over the one million mark – MARKETPLACE, MR. D, ARCTIC AIR, DRAGONS’ DEN and REPUBLIC OF DOYLE – while four others notched audiences of more than three-quarters of a million (the fifth estate, HEARTLAND, REDEMPTION INC and THE RICK MERCER REPORT.)
(All data from Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM)).
For a full list of CBC’s winter programs, visit www.cbc.ca/seasonpreview
