Parent Canwest Global Communications may be embattled and U.S. network influence waning, yet Global Television on Monday said it achieved its best fall showing in a half-decade as 2009 drew to a close.

Helped by new PPM measurement, Global saw its primetime audiences rise 48% in fall 2009, compared to fall 2008, according to just-released BBM Canada numbers.

In Global’s key 18-to-49 demographic, the high school musical Glee was the top-rated new show with an average one million viewers. Fox on Monday renewed Glee for a second season.

Global claimed four shows in the top 10 for 18-to-49s, including House in top spot with an average 1.78 million viewers.

CTV, which remained Canada’s primetime ratings king in fall 2009, had the other six places in the 18-to-49 category on the strength of returning hits like Grey’s Anatomy, The Amazing Race and the CSI franchise.

CTV also dominated the 2+ total viewers category with seven of the top 10 positions, and 12 of the top 20 places, including Flashpoint as the most-watched non-sports show of the fall with an average 1.81 viewers.

In CTV’s demo of 25-to-54, the top rated new series was the sci-fi V, with just over one million viewers.

NCIS: Los Angeles was the most-watched new show in total viewers for Global. In the same demo, the CBC saw Battle of the Blades take 20th place in the top 20 table with 1.76 million viewers, just ahead of Flashpoint in 19th place.

The introduction of PPM meters also boosted Canwest’s specialty channels in fall 2009, with HGTV Canada reporting audiences up 20%, National Geographic Channel by 24% and Action by 39%.

From Playback Daily