New Series Playdate Leads Family Jr. to Sweep Top 10 with Preschoolers

TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2015 /CNW/ - Family Jr.'s first original series, Playdate, from Sinking Ship Entertainment, captured the attention of viewers across the country on Saturday, October 3, when its premiere episode was the #1 show of the day with the network's target demo of kids 2-6.¹ The series, which debuted with four new episodes over the course of the day, took three of the Top 10 spots, with the fourth episode appearing in the Top 20.² This outstanding performance from the new Canadian show led DHX Television's recently rebranded English-language preschool network to claim every spot in the Top 10 rankings for All Stations this past Saturday.³

Ratings highlights from Saturday, October 3 for Family Jr. include:

• Playdate was also the #1 non-sports program with the K2-11 audience.⁴
• Family Jr. held the Top 10 spots for All Stations (sports excluded) in the K2-6 demo and of these programs, eight were new acquisitions including The Save-Ums!, Kate & Mim-Mim and Thomas and Friends properties or episodes from the original series Playdate;⁵
• Family Jr. dominated the Top 20 with K2-6, claiming 14 spots; of the programs that appeared in the Top 20 belonging to Family Jr., 12 of the listings were occupied by original series Playdate and Stella and Sam, or newly acquired properties including The Save-Ums!, Kate & Mim-Mim, Thomas and Friends, Twirlywoos, Sarah & Duck, Thomas and Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure and Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!;⁶

Family Jr. is a commercial-free channel available to English-language subscribers across Canada. Committed to capturing young minds and engaging young hearts, Family Jr., and its complementary French service, Télémagino, inspires imagination and make-believe at every turn with renowned Canadian series and popular preschool brands. Ensuring access is available to subscribers when they want it, where they want it, Family Jr. is also available through Family Jr. OnDemand and Family Jr. Online at no additional cost. Visit us at FamilyJr.ca. 

DHX Television is comprised of Family Channel, Family CHRGD, Family Jr. and Télémagino, and is part of DHX Media Ltd., a leading creator, producer, marketer and broadcaster of family entertainment. Dedicated to celebrating family fun, DHX Television delivers best-in-class programming through premium subscriptions and its original production mandate, and creates and produces captivating in-market events that appeal to Canadian families. DHX Television is home to world-renowned series including The Next Step, Degrassi: Next Class and Teletubbies. DHX Media Ltd. has offices globally, and is traded on the NASDAQ and Toronto Stock Exchange.

Source:
1-3. Numeris (BBM Canada)/Total Canada/All Stations, excludes sports/Saturday, October 3, 2015, 2am-2am, K2-6 AMA(000). Based on overnight data with Live + PB 2 Days.
4. Numeris (BBM Canada)/Total Canada/All Stations, excludes sports/Saturday, October 3, 2015, 2am-2am, K2-11 AMA(000). Based on overnight data with Live + PB 2 Days.
5-6. Numeris (BBM Canada)/Total Canada/All Stations, excludes sports/Saturday, October 3, 2015, 2am-2am, K2-6 AMA(000). Based on overnight data with Live + PB 2 Days.

SOURCE DHX Television

Joanna Landsberg, Publicist - DHX Television, [email protected], 416.977.7458; Jaime Bassett, Director, Communication - DHX Television, [email protected], 416.977.7416