Well, getting CBC press releases enables me to get info on its reality show, Battle of the Blades, its mix of hockey stars attempting to become a pairs figure skater.
The ratings for its premiere episode on Sunday were insane.
BATTLE OF THE BLADES SCORES WITH VIEWERS
OVER 1.95 MILLION TUNE IN TO CBC-TV SUNDAY NIGHT
Live event broadcast wraps up strong weekend programming
More than 1.95 million viewers tuned in to the entire 90-minute first episode of BATTLE OF THE BLADES (the second highest debut for a homegrown series since CBC Television’s Little Mosque on the Prairie). Viewership peaked at 2.482 million. The seven week 14-part series continues tonight with the live skate-off results show at 8 p.m. on CBC Television.
“I’m very proud that CBC is being watched by so many Canadians, BATTLE OF THE BLADES is yet another big hit in what is turning out to be a stellar fall lineup,” said Kirstine Stewart, General Manager, CBC English Services.“We knew that the combination of two iconic Canadian sports was an irresistible premise for a reality television show. We’re thrilled that audiences agree and watched in such large numbers.”
Sunday evening began with CBC Television’s family drama HEARTLAND drawing 1.06 million, the highest audience in the show’s three season history.
BATTLE OF THE BLADES wasn’t the only CBC program with viewers glued to their televisions. According to preliminary overnight data, Game One of the first Saturday night broadcast of the regular season on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA featuring the Maple Leafs/Capitals, Canadiens/Sabres and Senators/Rangers match-ups drew an average audience of 1.740 million. Game Two between the Flames and Oilers reached an average audience of 1.153 million. Pre-game show Hockey Tonight welcomed 628,000 viewers to the broadcast.
*All numbers based on overnight unconfirmed PPM Data.
The first skaters were booted last night.
KRISTINA LENKO AND BOB PROBERT FIRST TO
BE ICED ON CBC-TV’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES
Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer back for another week
Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer are the first pair to be saved in the BATTLE OF THE BLADES figure skating competition, joining the six remaining pairs for a chance to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice. Kristina Lenko and Bob Probert were the first eliminated, as the results were revealed during tonight’s broadcast.
The two pairs with the fewest votes in the first week of BATTLE OF THE BLADES were Dubreuil and Richer, who skated to Queen’s We Will Rock You and, Lenko and Probert, who performed their routine to Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild. Both pairs performed again before the panel of judges, Sandra Bezic, Dick Button and guest judge Kelly Hrudey, for a final chance to remain in the show. All three praised Monday’s performances and were impressed with both pairs’ improvement from Sunday’s skate. For their efforts, Lenko and Probert’s Canadian charity, Wounded Warriors, will receive a $25,000 donation.
The seven pairs returning to compete on October 11 are: Shae-Lynn Bourne and Claude Lemieux, Isabelle Brasseur and Glenn Anderson, Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer, Jodeyne Higgins and Ken Daneyko, Christine Hough-Sweeney and Tie Domi, Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson, Barbara Underhill and Ron Duguay.
Viewers can learn more about the competitors at www.cbc.ca/battle, the official online portal for the series and the source for everything about BATTLE OF THE BLADES. In addition to competition recap videos and behind-the-scene photos, the site offers viewer
s the opportunity to become fans of their favourite pair and track each participant’s activity as they strive to be the final pair remaining at the end of the series.BATTLE OF THE BLADES is the brainchild of Kevin Albrecht with development by Sandra Bezic. BATTLE OF THE BLADES executive producers are John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby and Kevin Albrecht. It is produced by Insight Productions in association with CBC Television.
That’s it for this press release theme. And we’ll have one more press release post coming up.
