Global wins the night with a powerhouse combo

    
                SUMMER SMASH HIT BIG BROTHER BLASTS BACK WITH
                             1.9 MILLION VIEWERS

            ROOKIE BLUE CONTINUES TO PACK HEAT IN WEEK THREE WITH
                           1.7 MILLION LOYAL FANS

              For artwork, please visit: www.canwesttvmedia.com
    

TORONTO, July 9 /CNW/ - Last night, Global Television's sizzling Thursday night lineup outperformed the competition with the eagerly-awaited season 12 premiere of Big Brother and another striking episode of Rookie Blue. Kicking off at 8pm ET/PT, Big Brother welcomed 1.9 million viewers (Ind 2+, national) followed at 9pm ET/PT by the new hit series Rookie Blue, which booked 1.7 million viewers (Ind 2+, national).

All eyes were on Big Brother as the 13 houseguests met each other and moved into the compound for the first time. Amongst the participants this season is a saboteur whose sole purpose is to wreak havoc in the house. Then, Canada's No.1 new drama, Rookie Blue, continued to prove its hit status growing week-to-week and returning close to premiere levels.

    
    BIG BROTHER DATA HIGHLIGHTS (All data Adults 18-49):
    ----------------------------------------------------

    -   Won the night with 1,044,000 viewers
    -   Big Brother won its timeslot in each of the key Toronto, Vancouver
        and Calgary markets
    -   Year over year, 57% more viewers tuned in versus last summer's
        premiere

    ROOKIE BLUE DATA HIGHLIGHTS (All data Adults 18-49):
    ----------------------------------------------------

    -   692,000 viewers in key A18-49 demo
    -   Won its timeslot in each of the three key markets
    -   Rookie Blue increased its audience by 42% versus last week's episode
    -   Outperformed the closest time-slot competitor, So You Think You Can
        Dance (CTV), with 51% more viewers
    

Viewers who missed last night's episodes of Big Brother and Rookie Blue can catch up on GlobalTV.com.

Next time on Big Brother, (Sunday, July 11 - 8pm ET/PT), nominations for the first eviction of the season take place. Then, next Thursday, July 15 - 8pm ET/PT, the identity of the saboteur will be revealed in the first live episode of the season.

And the Rookie Blue drama continues in "Signals Crossed" (Thursday, July 15 - 9pm ET/PT), as Andy (Missy Peregrym) trades in her uniform for something more risqué when she goes undercover as a prostitute. Tensions run high when Dov (Gregory Smith) puts an informant's life in jeopardy and it's up to Andy to infiltrate a risky gun deal in progress to save her. John Pyper-Ferguson (Caprica) guest stars.

Source: All data, as of August 31st 2009, BBM Canada PPM Overnight Data based on Adults 18-49 unless otherwise indicated. BBM NMR Data is used for dates prior to August 31st, 2009.

For further information: Media Contact: Sónia Brum, Global Television, 416-934-7071, [email protected]