CTV’s THE FOLLOWING is the #1 new series of the year in Canada with an average audience of 1.74 million viewers, it was confirmed today. Among A25-54 and A18-49, the hit series actually lands in the Top 10 list of themost-watched programs of the season in Canada. THE FOLLOWING led another year full of big moments and bigger audiences as Canada’s favourite network continued to pull away from the competition, gaining momentum and increasing its lead over its next closest competitor in all key demos (see below). And with the 2012-13 television season now at a close, BBM Canada data confirms CTV finished the season with 13 out of the Top 20 programs in Canada, one more than last year.
The data reveals that CTV is the most-watched Canadian television network among A18-34 and A18-49 demos for an incredible 11 years running. Among total viewers and the key A25-54 demo, the record extends to 12 straight years. And, once again, CTV ends the season with more Top 20 and Top 30 programs (see below) than all others networks combined for both total viewers and A25-54.
“This has been another winning year for CTV. We have demonstrated strength and stability by focusing on quality,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “CTV delivers mass audiences, desirable demographics, and depth and consistency not found anywhere else. The numbers say it all – if it’s big, it’s on CTV.”
Among original Canadian productions, CTV also delivered the most-watched Canadian series of the year, FLASHPOINT (1.65 million viewers), and the #1 new Canadian series, MOTIVE, which ended its first season with 1.04 million viewers.
CTV wraps up the 2012-13 television season with three of the Top 4 new programs with A25-54 and A18-49, including the #1 new drama (THE FOLLOWING) and the #1 new comedy (ANGER MANAGEMENT). CTV has now delivered the #1 new program of the year for eight of the past 11 years.
Canada’s Top 5 New Programs, 2012-13
| Rank | A25-54 | Rank | A18-49 |
| 1. | THE FOLLOWING (CTV) | 1. | THE FOLLOWING (CTV) |
| 2. | ELEMENTARY | 2. | ELEMENTARY |
| 3. | ARROW (CTV) | 3. | ARROW (CTV) |
| 4. | ANGER MANAGEMENT (CTV) | 4. | ANGER MANAGEMENT (CTV) |
| 5. | CHICAGO FIRE | 5. | CHICAGO FIRE |
Source: BBM Canada, Aug 27/12 – May 19/13 (Weeks 1-38), Conventional Television (Final Data).
Demonstrating the strength and depth of its schedule, CTV has more returning programs than any other network. As a result, the network grew its lead in primetime in all key demos over its next closest competitor, especially among younger viewers.
CTV vs. Global in Primetime (7-11 p.m.)
| Demo | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | Growth |
| A18-34 | +57% | +68% | +11 %pts |
| A18-49 | +67% | +71% | +4 %pts |
| A25-54 | +66% | +68% | +2 %pts |
Source: BBM Canada, BY2012-13 (9/24/2012 to 5/19/2013) vs. BY2011-12 (9/19/2011 to 5/20/2012).
A look back at the 2012-13 season reveals that CTV delivered four out of the Top 5 programs among A25-54 and A18-49, and had more Top 20 and Top 30 programs among total viewers and A25-54 than all other networks combined. In fact, among A25-54, CTV (18) had more than twice as many Top 30 programs as Global (7), and six times that of City (3).
Canada’s Top 30 Most-Watched Programs, 2012-2013
| Total Viewers | A25-54 | |||
| Rank | Program | Audience | Program | Audience |
| 1 | THE BIG BANG THEORY (CTV) | 4.01 million | THE BIG BANG THEORY | 2.09 million |
| 2 | THE AMAZING RACE 21 & 22 (CTV) | 2.6 million | THE AMAZING RACE 21 & 22 (CTV) | 1.26 million |
| 3 | NCIS | 2.57 million | TWO AND A HALF MEN (CTV) | 1.25 million |
| 4 | TWO AND A HALF MEN (CTV) | 2.54 million | SURVIVOR: PHILIPPINES & CARAMOAN | 1.24 million |
| 5 | SURVIVOR: PHILIPPINES & CARAMOAN | 2.42 million | GREY’S ANATOMY (CTV) | 1.11 million |
| 6 | GREY’S ANATOMY (CTV) | 2.33 million | HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA (EAST) | 999,000 |
| 7 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | 2.31 million | NCIS | 981,000 |
| 8 | HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA (EAST) | 2.25 million | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | 903,000 |
| 9 | CSI (CTV) | 2.04 million | HAWAII FIVE-0 | 866,000 |
| 10 | HAWAII FIVE-0 | 2.01 million | THE FOLLOWING (CTV) | 831,000 |
| 11 | BONES | 1.96 million | BONES | 830,000 |
| 12 | DANCING WITH THE STARS 15 (Performance) (CTV) | 1.93 million | ELEMENTARY | 815,000 |
| 13 | CASTLE (CTV) | 1.88 million | CSI (CTV) | 792,000 |
| 14 | BLUE BLOODS (CTV) | 1.84 million | CASTLE (CTV) | 763,000 |
| 15 | THE MENTALIST (CTV) | 1.78 million | THE VOICE (Results) (CTV) | 747,000 |
| 16 | THE FOLLOWING (CTV) | 1.74 million | THE MENTALIST(CTV) | 709,000 |
| 17 | ELEMENTARY | 1.73 million | THE X FACTOR (Performance) (CTV) | 706,000 |
| 18 | AMERICAN IDOL (Performance) (CTV) | 1.7 million | AMERICAN IDOL (Performance) (CTV) | 702,000 |
| 19 | THE X FACTOR (Performance) (CTV) | 1.69 million | GLEE | 698,000 |
| 20 | FLASHPOINT (CTV) | 1.65 million | ONCE UPON A TIME (CTV) | 686,000 |
| 21 | CTV EVENING NEWS (CTV) | 1.62 million | CRIMINAL MINDS (CTV) | 661,000 |
| 22 | VEGAS | 1.54 million | 2 BROKE GIRLS | 660,000 |
| 23 | CSI: NEW YORK (CTV) | 1.51 million | HELL’S KITCHEN | 657,000 |
| 24 | CRIMINAL MINDS (CTV) | 1.5 million | FLASHPOINT (CTV) | 654,000 |
| 25 | THE VOICE (Results) (CTV) | 1.49 million | DANCING WITH THE STARS 15 (Performance) (CTV) | 652,000 |
| 26 | BIG BANG THEORY (Syndication) (CTV) | 1.43 million | GAME OF THRONES | 626,000 |
| 27 | ARROW (CTV) | 1.41 million | THE BIG BANG THEORY (Syndication) (CTV) | 620,000 |
| 28 | ONCE UPON A TIME (CTV) | 1.33 million | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | 611,000 |
| 29 | GLEE | 1.31 million | BLUE BLOODS (CTV) | 601,000 |
| 30 | GOLDEN BOY (CTV) | 1.18 million | ARROW (CTV) | 593,000 |
Source: BBM Canada, Sept 24/12 – May 19/13 (Weeks 5-38, final data).
Nationally, CTV takes the lead in primetime with double and triple-digit advantages over its competitors. From 7 – 11 p.m., CTV delivered a 70% lead over Global and 274% over City.
CTV led primetime with 20 of 28 timeslots with the key A25-54 demo, and increased the number of hourly wins versus last year among total viewers to 23 of 28 hours (7 – 11 p.m.).
