August 21, 2009

CP24’s Breaking Storm Coverage: 1.2 Million Viewers Set a Prime-Time Record for CP24 Most Watched Night in Station’s History*

- New record set for viewer video submissions on CP24’s Filemobile technology, station flooded with Spectacular Viewer Footage and Photos -
- CP24.com received more than 1 million page views yesterday driven by viewer photos and viewer video of on-the-ground images of tornadoes, house fires and lightning strikes -

Toronto, ON (August 21, 2009) – Last night, 1.2 million total viewers watched CP24’s BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE during the super-cell storm that hit the GTA with tornadoes, house fires and lightening strikes BBM Nielsen Media Research, Preliminary Overnight Data, Toronto confirms. The storm coverage made Thursday, August 20th, 2009 the most viewed day during the 7 - 11:30 p.m. hours since the station’s inception. Viewer tune in from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. was up 150 per cent over an average summer week night**. For the key demo of A25-54, CP24 was second in the hour at 8 p.m. and won the 9 p.m. hour in Toronto. CP24’s special coverage received an average minute audience of 144, 000 total viewers, who tuned in to see videos and photos in their communities.

Yesterday’s unprecedented coverage also set a new record for viewer video submissions*. CP24 captured the storm’s progression, from emerging tornadoes and post-storm destruction, at one point relying almost 100 per cent on viewer footage harnessed by Filemobile technology. With more than one million page views yesterday, Torontonians headed online to see first-hand perspectives of dramatic lightning strikes and falling trees***. Over a hundred thousand visitors and more than 1,000 viewer picture and video submissions made it the busiest day to date on CP24.com for viewer submitted material.

“The people of Toronto and the GTA told their own story last night, acting as assistant producers of last night’s coverage on CP24, CP24 RADIO 1050 and CP24.com,” said Bob McLaughlin, Vice President of CP24. “The video and pictures provided were the equivalent of having hundreds of camera people on the ground. More than ever CP24 has become the go to channel for breaking news in Toronto.”

Viewer footage continues to drive today’s post-storm coverage, as images from clean-up efforts across the province are submitted to Filemobile.

About CP24
CP24 is Toronto’s source for breaking news. Following the mantra “we’re always with you,” viewers can watch CP24 on television, listen on the radio, and follow along online at CP24.com. The station is owned by CTV Inc, a division of CTVglobemedia.

*Source: Nielsen Media Research 3/30/98-8/28/05, Toronto DMA, Media Advisor. BBM Nielsen Media Research 8/29/05-8/20/09, Toronto DMA
**Source: BBM Nielsen Media Research, Preliminary Overnight Data, Toronto DMA, Summer STD Average 5/25/09-8/16/09
***Source: Media Factory (August, 20, 2009)

-CP24-

For more information, contact:
Shannon Gallagher, CP24, 416.384.4623 or shannon.gallagher@ctv.ca
Laura Heath Potter, CTV Inc., 416-384-4633 or laura.heathpotter@ctv.ca

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