TORONTO – CBC Television says it has broken viewership records with this season’s programming line-up, reeling in a prime-time share so far of 7.9, the highest in six years.
With Canadian content rising significantly over the last two years, by 68 per cent among drama series and 41% among comedy series, the CBC says their viewer success means several new hit shows will return, as will some old favourites.
“This has been an outstanding year for CBC Television,” said Kirstine Layfield, CBC-TV’s executive director of network programming, in a statement. “These returning shows will be the cornerstone for next season. We’ll be announcing our new shows in the coming weeks.”
CBC’s new homegrown drama, “The Border”, will be back with James McGowan in his role as Major Mike Kessler, as will “Heartland”, the heart-warming family drama based on the international best-selling novels of the same name.
Debuting on CBC to nearly one million viewers, CBC’s steamy co-production, “The Tudors”, which debuted to nearly one million viewers, will return for a second season. The drama will continue with the marriage of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The comedy series “Sophie”, picked up by ABC Family, will also return.
Returning comedies include “Rick Mercer Report”, which is averaging one million viewers weekly, “Little Mosque on the Prairie”, “This Hour has 22 Minutes”, “Air Farce Live”, “Just For Laughs”. “Halifax Comedy Festival”, and “Winnipeg Comedy Festival”.
CBC will also bring back current affairs programs “The Fifth Estate”, “Marketplace”, “Doc Zone”, and “the Nature of Things”.
Reality fans will see the return of the series “Dragons’ Den”, “Triple Sensation”, “Test the Nation”, and “Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister”.
“The Hour” with George Stroumboulopoulos will also return, along with daytime’s “Steven and Chris”.
