What's a Hockey Fan to Do? CTV Launches "BIG BANG Night in Canada" Saturday Nights, Beginning Oct. 13

- All-new THE BIG BANG THEORY stunt block aims squarely at Canada's millions of despondent hockey fans -

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TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - CTV announced today plans to launch "BIG BANG Night in Canada," a timely, new two-hour block featuring back-to-back episodes of Canada's #1 television series, THE BIG BANG THEORY, Saturdays from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT, beginning Oct. 13 on CTV. Each Saturday, the two-hour block will feature four, fan-favourite episodes from the hit series.

Aimed squarely at the millions of hockey fans coast-to-coast-to-coast, the Saturday-night initiative has been created to provide a weekly distraction from despair, while offering a few laughs along the way.

"If anything can fill the void felt today by every hockey fan in Canada, it's humour from Canada's most-watched series," said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. "From a scheduling perspective, this weekly stunt is an unmissable opportunity to bring even more viewers and advertisers to CTV on Saturday nights in primetime. Like hockey, THE BIG BANG THEORY has mass appeal with viewers whose statistics are similar when it comes to age, demographics, and loyalty, so there is natural synergy in this scheduling move."

CTV will support "BIG BANG Night in Canada" with a cross-platform promotional blitz in advance of and during the Season 6 premiere of THE BIG BANG THEORY, airing Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The "BIG BANG Night in Canada" comedy block leads into new comedy THE NEIGHBORS at 10 p.m. ET/PT and last year's most-watched new comedy series WHITNEY at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.

** Media Note ** Download new photos THE BIG BANG THEORY at BellMediaPR.ca

Last season, THE BIG BANG THEORY averaged more than 3.6 million viewers each week and grew by double digits in total viewers and all key demos compared to the season before to remain the country's most-watched program for the second year in a row. The series delivered a massive 4.7 million viewers for its season finale on May 10 to become the seventh most-watched broadcast in 2011-2012. Even in repeats, the series continues to perform well with CTV's THE BIG BANG THEORY strip (Monday-Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on CTV) averaging 1.3 million viewers daily and consistently winning its timeslot.

Catch up on full episodes of THE BIG BANG THEORY across CTV's digital platforms on CTV.ca, the CTV App, the CTV Mobile channel and through video on demand.

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About CTV
CTV is 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. 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: CTV

Tonia Addison, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]
Jim Quan, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.5311 or [email protected]