It's a Yes for Canada: Citytv's Canada's Got Talent Becomes Most-Watched Premiere in Network History

- Average of 1.5 million viewers tuned in for series debut -
- Citytv wins the night in Toronto; No. 1 new series of the mid-season in key market  -
- Canada's Got Talent dominated Canada's Twitter-verse as a top trending topic from 7pm-9pm ET on Sunday -

TORONTO, March 5, 2012 /CNW/ - Last night, viewers proved that Canada does indeed Got Talent, as an average of 1.5 million viewers (2+) tuned in to the highly-anticipated series debut of Canada's Got Talent on Citytv, making it the most-watched premiere in network history.  The original Citytv series beat out the national broadcasts of the highly-touted premieres of CTV's GCB and CBC's new Don Cherry movie, Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story II, as well as the finale of Global's Napoleon Dynamite.  Viewers didn't press the buzzer last night as Canada's Got Talent skyrocketed to 2.8 million viewers across Canada tuning into some or all of the episode.

Plus, Citytv also won the night in the key Toronto market in P2+ and the A18-49 demos (7pm -11pm), catapulting the program to top spot as the No. 1 new series of the mid-season in Toronto.

Beyond the television screen, Canadians were a-twitter with CGT as a leading trending topic on Twitter in Canada last night.  In addition, CanadasGotTalent.com had more than 134,000 page views during the broadcast, with viewer engagement on iPad, PlayBook and on the web.  Plus, a live chat with judge Stephan Moccio generated more than 2,100 comments within the broadcast hour. A new fan-favourite, the buzzer feature on the Canada's Got Talent app (available on BlackBerry^® PlayBook™ and iPad) experienced overwhelming viewer response with Canadians buzzing acts more than 700,000 times over the course of the broadcast.

Canada's Got Talent airs Sundays at 8pm and Mondays at 7pm local time on Citytv. Tonight's episode - "Calgary Auditions" - follows the judges as they stampede to Western Canada for a look at the talent Calgary has to offer.

Viewers who missed last night's premiere can catch up on Citytv.com or by downloading the free Citytv video app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch at iTunes Canada.  Visit www.canadasgottalent.com, follow us on Twitter @CGTCitytv, and "like" us on Facebook for the latest updates, info and announcements.

About Citytv
Citytv™ television stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg offer viewers intensely-local, urban-oriented, culturally-diverse television programming. A distinct alternative to other conventional television stations, Citytv engages its viewers with dynamic on-air personalities and delivers an entertaining mix of news, local-interactive formats such as: Breakfast Television and CityLine; as well as local Canadian and US acquired prime time entertainment programming. Citytv is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited, a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI) which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For more information on Citytv stations and programming, visit www.citytv.com.

Follow us on Twitter @Citytv_PR

Source:  BBM Canada, March 4 overnight data.

Sónia Brum, Citytv, 416.764.3194, [email protected]
Michelle Lomack, Citytv, 416.764.3190, [email protected]