Big Brother Canada's highly-anticipated premiere reaches 3.3 million Canadians

Wednesday's Most Watched Program - Second Only to Global's Own Survivor *

Record Breaking Audience on Slice^TM

Fans Drive Massive Conversation Online

For more information visit the media site at: www.shawmediatv.ca

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TORONTO, Feb. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - There may have been only 15 houseguests that entered the Big Brother house last night but millions checked in to watch them!  Yesterday Big Brother Canada opened its doors to Canadians reaching 3.3 million viewers for the premiere episode broadcast on Slice^TM and Global.

Combined across both channels, the premiere episode was the most watched program of the night, second only to Global's Survivor, for the core demo of A18-49, achieving audiences of 1.4 million (A2+) and 735,000 (A18-49). Amongst adults 18-49, Global won the 9pm hour nationally, solidly beating American Idol. With a record breaking AMA of 340,000 on Slice^TM  (A2+) alone, Big Brother Canada achieved the highest audience in channel history.

Big Brother Canada is a uniquely social series and last night excited fans were vocal. Conversation exploded on Twitter at the onset of the premiere with #BBCAN trending nationwide within minutes of the premiere starting and continued trending into today. Bigbrothercanada.ca reached a landmark 1 million page views to the site since just yesterday and already over 10,000 fans have registered to play the Big Brother Power Play game.***

Tonight fans will find out who will be Big Brother Canada's first ever evicted houseguest during the live eviction episode at 10pm ET/PT on Slice^TM. Slice^TM is currently available on free preview in nearly 10 million homes across the country.

Big Brother Canada will continue to air on Slice^TM three nights a week on Wednesdays at 9pm ET/PT, Thursdays at 10pm ET/PT and Sundays at 9pm ET/PT, with eviction episodes on Thursdays. Big Brother Canada After Dark will air on Slice^TM seven days a week from 2am-5am ET/ 11pm-2am PT. Fans can eavesdrop on the houseguests all day via 24 hour live feeds at www.bigbrothercanada.ca.

*Source: BBM Canada PPM Data, Feb27/13 overnights, Total Canada, 18-49 demographic
**Source: BBM Canada PPM Data, Feb27/13 overnights, Total Canada
***Source: Adobe Site Catalyst

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@Slice_TV
@BigBrotherCA
#BBCAN

Facebook:
Slice https://www.facebook.com/Slice
Big Brother Canada https://www.facebook.cim/BigBrotherCA

Slice^TM and Global Television are Shaw Media networks.

About Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 18 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

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SOURCE: Shaw Media

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Julia Wilkinson
Publicist, Slice and Twist TV
Shaw Media
[email protected]
416.966.7700

Jaclyn Atwood-Powell
Senior Publicity Manager, Lifestyle Channels
Shaw Media
[email protected]
416.966.7293