December 2, 2011

Christmas Comes Early to CTV: 2.1 Million Viewers Make A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS Most-Watched Canadian Holiday Special Ever on CTV

– #1 program Thursday in Ontario with 1.2 million viewers –
– Debut broadcast inspires Top 5 trending topic on Twitter in Canada –
–The Comedy Network premieres A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS, Dec. 10–

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/ryFN6P

“Peters may be shameless, but he's fun, no matter what the Grinches say.”
- Alex Strachan, Postmedia News

“…credit CTV and The Comedy Network for not taking the usual white and bland Christmas route for this special…”
- Bill Brownstein, The Montreal Gazette

“Peters makes an effort to combine his comedy with Christmas warmth.”
- Bill Harris, QMI Agency

Toronto, ON (December 2, 2011) – With 2.1 million viewers, last night’s premiere broadcast of A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS becomes CTV’s most-watched Canadian holiday special of all time, and the highest-rated original Christmas special on Canadian television in 16 years. Peaking with 2.5 million viewers, more than 4.5 million unique viewers watched the hour-long special, which makes its Comedy Network debut Dec. 10.

At 9 p.m., the all-Canadian Christmas special enjoyed a double-digit lead over the U.S. simulcast of BONES (1.63 million, Global/FOX) among total viewers and all key adult demos. As well, A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS was the #1 program Thursday in Toronto, leading THE BIG BANG THEORY in total viewers and all key demos. The program delivered an incredible 10.5 Rating for A18-34 and a 35% Share, meaning that more than one in three young viewers watching television were tuned into the special. Across all metered markets, the Christmas special won its timeslot among A18-34 and A25-54.

Like no other holiday offering, the special also set Twitter abuzz during the broadcast last night, ranking among the Top 5 trending topics in Canada throughout the broadcast.

**Media Note** Photography for A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS available online at www.bellmediapr.ca/comedy

Premiering Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network, Canadians can also enjoy an encore broadcast of A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV and Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV Two.

Helping make merriment in A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS, Peters was joined by Michael Bublé, Pamela Anderson, Ted Lange, Faizon Love, Jon Lovitz, Goapele and Scott Thompson. Inspired by the variety shows of yesteryear, Peters put his own twist on the Christmas special, featuring a mix of stand-up; hilarious sketch featuring guest stars and Peters’ own mother, Maureen and baby daughter, Crystianna; stop-motion animation reminiscent of a Rankin/Bass classic; and show-stopping musical performances from Bublé and Goapele.

A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS is produced by Round 2 It Entertainment and CPI Pictures in association with Insight Productions and Bell Media. Russell Peters and Clayton Peters are Executive Producers/Producers. Insight Productions’ John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby are Executive Producers. Shannon Farr is Supervising Producer and Henry Sarwer-Foner is Director. For Bell Media, Corrie Coe is the Senior Vice-President, Independent Production; Sarah Fowlie is the Director, Independent Production; and Jake Labow is Production Executive.

About CTV
CTV, Canada’s Olympic Network, is also 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 and lead broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games. 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
The Comedy Network
Russell Peters
Michael Bublé
Pamela Anderson
Faizon Love
Jon Lovitz
Scott Thompson

Facebook
CTV
Comedy Network
Russell Peters

Source: BBM Canada.
CTV electronic audience databases incorporate data beginning in 1994.
Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

- CTV -

For more information, please contact:
Renée Dupuis, Bell Media, 416.384.3154 or renee.dupuis@bellmedia.ca
Nicola Krishna, Bell Media, 416.384.5276 or nicola.krishna@bellmedia.ca

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