The Viewers Are Out There: THE X-FILES Debuts as the Most-Watched Series Premiere of the Season with 2.4 Million Believers on CTV

– THE X-FILES is the #1 program Sunday with all key demos –
– Part 1 of two-part premiere episode delivers largest audience of any X-FILES episode on record in Canada –

– Two in three A18-34 viewers in Vancouver tuned in –
– Part 2 of the series premiere airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO –

To tweet this release: http://bmpr.ca/1RJFTCT

TORONTO, Jan. 25, 2016 /CNW/ - The truth is, Canadians still believe, as preliminary overnight data from Numeris reveals 2.4 million viewers watched Part 1 of THE X-FILES two-night, out-of-this-world debut last night on CTV. With playback data still to be released, it was the most-watched premiere on Canadian television this season, the most-watched X-FILES episode than any other on record in Canada, and the most-watched new series debut since MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2013.

Marking the return of iconic FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny, CALIFORNICATION) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson, THE FALL), THE X-FILES was the #1 non-sports program Sunday with total viewers, second by a slight margin to the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, which delivered 2.45 million viewers on CTV. It was also the #1 program overall on Sunday among the key demos. Overall more than one in three English Canadians watching TV Sunday tuned into THE X-FILES.

THE X-FILES returned to its "home town" of Vancouver in a big way, with the premiere delivering an incredible 67% share for A18-34 and 61% for A18-49, as well as impressive double-digit ratings with A25-54 (11.2), A18-49 (11.5), and A18-34 (11.0).

Part 2 of THE X-FILES series premiere airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO, where it will continue for the next four weeks. Last night's premiere is available on demand on CTV.ca and CTV GO.

**MEDIA NOTE** – Photography for THE X-FILES is available online at BellMediaPR.ca.

In last night's episode of THE X-FILES,  Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are approached by Tad O'Malley (Joel McHale, COMMUNITY), a popular conspiracy theorist web-TV show host, who believes he has uncovered a significant government conspiracy. Through O'Malley, they are introduced to Sveta (Annett Mahendru, THE AMERICANS), a possible alien abductee who shared shocking information with them that challenged everything Mulder believes about the existence of aliens and the government's role in covering them up.

In the second half of the season premiere of THE X-FILES (airing tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO), when a scientist suddenly commits suicide, Mulder and Scully investigate what unseen force may have driven him to it. What they uncover is a laboratory, where extreme genetic experimentation has been going on for decades, breeding subjects who possess unexpected and dangerous powers – and who harbour deep resentments.

THE X-FILES is immediately followed by the series premiere of the devilish new crime drama LUCIFER at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO, where Tom Ellis (MIRANDA) stars as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningtar. Having retired from hell to run a piano bar in LA, Lucifer experiences conflicting new feelings when a pop star is murdered, and works with an LAPD detective to investigate the case. 

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About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 14 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. 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: Numeris, Overnight vs. overnight, shares based on CTV Total
CTV electronic audience databases and Top 20 records incorporate data beginning in 1994 and 2004, respectively.
Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

SOURCE CTV

Jessica Charbonneau, CTV Networks, 416.384.3016 or [email protected]; Jim Quan, CTV Networks, 416.384.5311 or [email protected]