THE OSCARS® Reign Supreme as 6.1 Million Viewers Watch on CTV

- Homegrown special CTV AT THE OSCARS grows to 1.1 million viewers, while 2.5 million watch OSCARS RED CARPET LIVE -
- ETALK has a full OSCAR^® recap, and an exclusive interview with Sir Elton John at 7 p.m. ET on CTV -

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TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - THE 84^th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS^® proved once again its status as one of television's premiere broadcasts when 6.1 million viewers watched THE OSCARS^® last night on CTV. Marking his ninth time as host, Billy Crystal drove more younger viewers to the just over three-hour broadcast, up 8% among A18-34, while total viewers remained steady compared to last year (6.11 million). THE 84^th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS becomes the second-most watched broadcast of the year, following SUPER BOWL XLVI (7.3 million, CTV), and the #1 entertainment broadcast of the season.

• In all, more than one in two viewers (54.1%) watching television last night in English Canada were watching the OSCARS on CTV.
• Overall, the broadcast attracted 14.1 million unique viewers, peaking at an incredible 7.03 million viewers at 10 p.m. as the legendary Christopher Plummer graciously accepted his OSCAR^® for Best Supporting Actor.
• The broadcast attracted 2.7 million A18-49 viewers and 2.6 million A25-54 viewers, and had double-digit ratings in all key markets with total viewers and A25-54, including a 25.2 Rating in Toronto (A25-54).

** Media Note ** Download photos of THE 84^th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS at BellMediaPR.ca

Kicking off OSCAR night was Canada's official red carpet show CTV AT THE OSCARS at 6 p.m., which grew 24% compared to last year to 1.1 million viewers on CTV. With the coveted second position on the carpet, CTV had the red carpet covered with ETALK's Ben Mulroney on the ground and Leah Miller and ELLE magazine creative director Joe Zee reporting on all the arrivals and fashion hits and misses from the balcony. Not only did Mulroney get George Clooney laughing, but he also chatted with numerous nominees and presenters including Canadians Christopher Plummer and Philippe Falardeau, Jean Dujardin, Michelle Williams, Viola Davis, Rooney Mara, Nick Nolte, Bérénice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Demián Bichir, Gary Oldman, Kristen Wiig and Tina Fey. CTV AT THE OSCARS is available on demand at OSCARS.CTV.CA, where viewers can relive all the arrivals and fashion choices.

The red carpet coverage continued on CTV at 8 p.m. with 2.5 million viewers watching OSCARS RED CARPET LIVE, up 11% from last year. Hsted by Robin Roberts, Tim Gunn, Louise Roe, Jess Cagle and Nina Garcia, they chatted with all the A-list stars and took viewers into the Hollywood and Highland Centre^® prior to the awards.

With 323,000 viewers watching LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET: THE 2012 ACADEMY AWARDS, E! became the #1 non-sports specialty channel last night among all key adult and female demos (5:30-8:30 p.m.). Featuring E! host Ryan Seacrest's run-in with Sacha Baron Cohen, who appeared in character from his upcoming movie The Dictator, LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET reached more than 1.1 million unique viewers. Combined, E!'s Sunday night Oscar coverage (Countdown to the Red Carpet, Live from the Red Carpet, Red Carpet Roundup, CTV at the Oscars, E! After Party) reached nearly two million unique viewers overall.

Lainey's Live Blog from inside the press room at the Hollywood & Highland Center on OSCARS.CTV.CA had movie and fashion lovers generating nearly 33,000 page views and enjoying behind-the-scenes insight during the Awards.

ETALK has a full OSCAR recap tonight at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, including all the red carpet highlights and an exclusive reaction from E!'s Ryan Seacrest immediately following his moment with Cohen. ETALK also has an exclusive interview with Sir Elton John from The 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, where he talks to Tanya Kim about his upcoming role with Fashion Cares. ETALK's L.A. correspondent Jessi Cruickshank is joined by Joe Zee, as they break down the night's best and worst fashion choices.

ETALK also talks fashion hits and misses during ETALK FASHION FIX: OSCARS 2012. Hosted by Tanya Kim, the special airs Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. ET on CTV and 1:30 p.m. ET on CTV Two.

E!'s OSCAR red carpet coverage also caps off tonight with style queen Joan Rivers and her hilarious crew of fashion critics on FASHION POLICE at 10 p.m. ET (visit eonline.ca to confirm local broadcast times). Rivers, alongside her outspoken panel of fashion judges Kelly Osbourne, Giuliana Rancic, and George Kotsiopoulos, dish on all the red carpet looks from this year's OSCARS, from every sky-high slit, low-rise neckline and hot coral colour in between.

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, vs. 2011 Overnight

For more information, please contact: Christy Sullivan, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]
Allie Page, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.4596 or [email protected]
Amanda Rinaldo, E!, 416.384.5325 or [email protected]