Linear television remains a central hub for live programming, especially during major events that capture the attention of millions. This spring season was marked by a series of high-profile events that kept audiences engaged, from thrilling sporting events like the Super Bowl to NHL playoffs to prestigious award ceremonies such as the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Grammys. These broadcasts draw millions of viewers who tune in to watch not only the action on screen but also to engage in the cultural conversation that surrounds them. Additionally, the Canadian federal election also drew significant viewership, with news channels serving as a key platform for real-time updates and political discussion. Together, these events highlight how linear television continues to be a crucial medium for live entertainment, sports, and news programming.
In this blog, we’ll share key insights powered by our industry-leading analysis tools, which access both Numeris’ broadcast and cross-platform video data. By analyzing these data sources with our advanced tools, we provide the industry with a deeper, more precise understanding of audience behaviour.
The Enduring Power of Linear Television in a Digital Age
Understanding the significance of broadcast TV is crucial in today's evolving video landscape. While subscription numbers may suggest a shift towards digital platforms, Numeris’ Cross-Platform Video Audience dataset (VAM) provides a more comprehensive understanding of video viewing habits in Canada. The data from January to May 2025 reveals that 68.1% of viewership across Ontario and Quebec Franco is dedicated to Linear TV, while 31.9% is spread across various digital platforms, including YouTube.
After every TV season, we use our API, Conex, to craft a comprehensive audience analysis report for our clients, giving them quick and convenient access to the most up-to-date television viewing trends in Canada. Here are some key highlights from our latest report:
Spring 2025 TV Viewing Overview
- On average, Canadians 2+ watched 15.4 hours of TV per week, a 1.3% increase compared to the fall. Quebec Franco still has the heaviest viewing with Canadians, watching 22.8 hours per week, on average.
- This spring, TV reached 80.6% of individuals 2+, up 1.3% compared to the fall and consistent to what we saw a year ago, proving linear television is still a popular choice for Canadians. This is especially true in Quebec Franco, where TV reaches 88% of Canadians in that market alone.
- 37.7% of all TV viewing was to Canadian conventional stations, consistent with what we saw the previous spring season, while Canadian specialty is quite a bit higher at 51%. On the other hand, US specialty stations contribute 8.3% of Total TV viewing, with an increase of 1.6% compared to a year ago.
- This spring included the year's highest rated program thus far, the Super Bowl, reaching 16.6 million Canadians. Other big events included the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, numerous award shows, such as the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and the Grammys, as well as the Canadian federal election.
Spring 2025 Station & Program Highlights
- CTV Total takes the top spot for national conventional stations this season, while Sportsnet National+ is number one for Canadian specialty.
- When comparing to the previous spring, CBC News Network+ jumps from 9th to the 4th most watched Canadian specialty station, with an increase of 64.5%, year over year. It was helped, no doubt, by the Federal Leaders Debate in mid-April, followed by Election Night on April 28th.
- The increase in viewing to US specialty has been driven by news coverage of the US Presidential Inauguration, which was held on January 20th, followed by the Presidential Address to Congress in March. CNN+ is the most watched station in this group, with an increase of 13.3% year over year.
- This spring included the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament featuring NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States, with Canada defeating the U.S. 3-2 in overtime to claim the championship. This event reached 11.5 million Canadians with an average audience of 5.8 million.
- Global aired SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special, a three-hour celebration of the iconic sketch comedy show. With an average audience of 2 million Canadians, it was one of the most watched SNL shows in years.
- Excluding news and sports, the top program goes to High Potential on CTV Total, with an average audience of 1.6 million Canadians over 6 episodes. When looking at other markets, High Potential was #1 in Toronto and Edmonton, while Calgary and Vancouver’s top show was Survivor, with 13 episodes.
Top 10 Canadian TV shows for spring 2025
(English Canada)
- HIGH POTENTIAL CTV Total
- 9-1-1: LONE STAR CTV Total
- MATLOCK Global Total
- 9-1-1 Global Total
- ELSBETH Global Total
- TRACKER CTV Total
- SURVIVOR Global Total
- THE ROOKIE CTV Total
- FBI Global Total
- FBI: MOST WANTED Global Total
(Québec Franco)
- STAT SRC Total
- Indéfendable TVA Total
- Star académie 2025 – Le variété TVA Total
- Dumas SRC Total
- En direct de l’univers SRC Total
- Sortez-moi d’ici! TVA Total
- Passez au salon TVA Total
- Alertes TVA Total
- Infoman SRC Total
- Les armes TVA Total
Source: Numeris TV PPM, Total Canada, English Canada, Quebec Franco, 12/30/2024 to 5/25/2025, Ind 2+, AvHrsWk(Cap), AMA(000), AvWkRch%, CumRch(000), Program Rankings based on 3+ airings
At NLogic, we offer a multitude of tools for delving into video viewing habits:
- Lens Video Planner serves as our cutting-edge cross-platform reach and frequency calculator for Total Video strategies.
- Lens for TV provides an effortless way to access key linear TV statistics.
- InstarTV enables a deeper exploration of linear TV audience behaviours.
- InstarVAM taps into the Numeris VAM dataset to unveil a comprehensive view of video consumption.
- Conex stands as our API solution for seamless access to linear TV data for your analytical needs.
To access this report please get in touch with your Account Executive
