Biggest Summer Special Ever: 3.9 Million Viewers Watch Nik Wallenda's Historic Tightrope Walk on CTV

- Two-hour special peaks at 6.8 million viewers as Wallenda reaches Canadian soil -
- Almost 10 million Canadians tune into some or all of the history-making broadcast -
- In Toronto, one out of every two people watching television were tuned into the special -

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TORONTO, June 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Nik Wallenda's historic walk over Niagara Falls Friday night made Canadian television history as an average of 3.9 million viewers tuned in to the live two-hour special MEGASTUNTS: HIGHWIRE OVER NIAGARA FALLS-LIVE! on CTV, making it the #1 (non-sports) summer special on record in Canada. The special is now the third, most-watched (non-sports) special of the 2011/2012 season, behind THE 84th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS® and the THE 2012 GRAMMY AWARDS®. With breathtaking views captured from all angles, the special peaked at 6.8 million viewers at 10:41 p.m. ET, just as Wallenda sprinted the final few metres before safely stepping onto Canadian soil. Overall, 9.3 million Canadians tuned in to some part or all of the broadcast from 9-11 p.m. ET on CTV.

MEGASTUNTS: HIGHWIRE OVER NIAGARA FALLS-LIVE! was also the #1 program Friday night in all markets with total viewers and the key A18-49 and A25-54 demos. In Toronto alone, the numbers were staggering, attracting an average audience of 1.5 million with an incredible 20.8 Rating and a 50.4% Share with total viewers, meaning that one out of every two people watching television in Toronto was glued to the special on CTV.

About CTV
CTV, Canada's Olympic Network, is also Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network and lead broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at ctv.ca.

Source: BBM Canada
CTV electronic audience databases incorporate data beginning in 1994.
Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

Jacqui VanSickle, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.5091 or [email protected]
Jim Quan, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.5311 or [email protected]a