Canadians were eager to hear the pitches from the leaders vying to be the country’s next prime minister, according to Numeris data for the week of Sept. 6 to 12.
CTV’s broadcast of the federal leaders’ debate on Sept. 9 drew 104.1 million viewers – the top-rated single-night broadcast of the week – with CBC’s drawing 974,000 and Global’s 549,000. Combined, the total national Anglophone audience across the three networks came to 2.564 million.
Meanwhile, the previous evening’s French language debate on Radio Canada drew 557,000 viewers, well outside of the top five (though the previous week’s French debate on TVA drew 635,000 viewers, the second-most watched program among Francophones that week).
That makes for a total of 3.2 million Canadians who watched either the English or French leaders’ debate during the week of Sept. 6. Combined with the previous week’s French debate on TVA, the total climbs to 3.84 million.
Outside of politics, the penultimate episode of America’s Got Talent’s sixteenth season was the top-rated non-debate program in the country, topping the ratings in three major urban markets.
In Quebec, C’est la rentrée TVA – the network’s annual look at upcoming programs for the year ahead – was the top program, drawing 1.61 million viewers. It was followed closely by the season premiere of Radio Canada music show En direct de l’univers at 1.116 million.
National
1. CTV News Special: Federal Leaders English Debate on CTV Thursday at 9 p.m.: 1.041 million
2. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Tuesday at 8 p.m.: 1.006 million
3. Canada Votes: Federal Leaders English Debate on CBC Thursday at 9 p.m.: 974,000
4. Big Brother on Global Thursday at 8 p.m.: 943,000
5. CTV Evening News Weekend on CTV Saturday at 6 p.m.: 913,000
Quebec (Francophone)
1. C’est la rentrée TVA on TVA Sunday at 7:30 p.m.: 1.161 million
2. En direct de l’univers on SRC Saturday at 7 p.m.: 1.116 million
3. 19 minutes: L’exploit Piché on TVA Monday at 9 p.m.: 852,000
4. L’Île de l’amour on TVA Sunday at 9 p.m.: 825,000
5. Special Bloopers on TVA Sunday at 7 p.m.: 737,000
Toronto/Hamilton
1. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Tuesday at 8 p.m.: 253,000
2. Big Brother on Global Thursday at 8 p.m.: 244,000
3. Big Brother on Global Sunday at 8:34 p.m.: 230,000
4. Canada Votes: Federal Leaders English Debate on CBC Thursday at 9 p.m.: 211,000
5. Bachelor in Paradise on Citytv Monday at 8 p.m.: 210,000
Montreal
1. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Tuesday at 8 p.m.: 48,000
2. CTV Evening News Weekend on CTV Saturday at 6 p.m.: 46,000
3. CTV News Special: Federal Leaders English Debate on CTV Thurday at 9 p.m.: 44,000
4. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Wednesday at 8 p.m.: 37,000
5. Coronation Street on CBC Friday at 7:30 p.m.: 34,000
Calgary
1. Federal Leaders’ Debate 2021 on Global Thursday at 7 p.m.: 79,000
2. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Tuesday at 9 p.m.: 71,000
3. CTV Evening News Weekend on CTV Saturday at 6 p.m.: 61,000
4. CTV Evening News Weekend on CTV Sunday at 6 p.m.: 59,000
5. Fantasy Island on Global Tuesday at 10 p.m.: 51,000
Edmonton
1. CTV Evening News Weekend on CTV Sunday at 6 p.m.: 54,000
2. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Wednesday at 9 p.m.: 51,000
3. Big Brother on Global Wednesday at 9 p.m.: 50,000
4. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Tuesday at 9 p.m.: 50,000
4. Global News Morning on Global at 7 a.m.: 50,000
Vancouver/Victoria
1. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Tuesday at 8 p.m.: 150,000
2. Federal Leaders’ Debate 2021 on Global Thursday at 6 p.m.: 147,000
3. America’s Got Talent on Citytv Wednesday at 8 p.m.: 134,000
4. 60 Minutes on Global Sunday at 7 p.m.: 113,000
5. NFL Football (Early Games) on CTV Sunday at 10 a.m.: 88,000
