CTV’s TRANSPLANT Debuts As Most-Watched New Canadian Series Since 2017

Tags: @RealLaurenceLe, @JohnHannah, @Ayisha_Issa, @jjwow11, @TransplantCTV, @CTV_PR, @TheLede_CA, @CTV, #Transplant

“… superior to the usual and disarmingly different. And this column recommends it.” – John Doyle, The Globe and Mail

 “… a brisk and ultimately very moving hour, one of the best network opening episodes I’ve seen in a long time.” – Bill Brioux, brioux.tv

“TRANSPLANT is so loaded with drama and double meanings … I’m hooked. This is SUCH a timely series.” – Amber Dowling

“#Transplant is a unique show focusing on the experience of refugees who arrive and resettle in Canada. We can’t wait for the next episode!” – The UN Refugee Agency in Canada, @UNHCRCanada

TORONTO (March 4, 2020) – In advance of Episode 2 premiering tonight, CTV announced today that the series premiere of its Original Drama TRANSPLANT last Wednesday has become the most-watched English-language Canadian series debut since CTV’s THE INDIAN DETECTIVE in 2017 with total viewers and in the key A25-54 demo. With two days of playback data still to be confirmed, the premiere has a current average audience of 1.3 million viewers, winning its competitive 9 p.m. timeslot against both CHICAGO FIRE (Citytv) and SEAL TEAM (Global). Debuting to critical and audience acclaim, TRANSPLANT ranked #3 for the night overall with total viewers and all key demos, behind only SURVIVOR (Global), and CTV’s THE MASKED SINGER, and drew 430,000 viewers in the key A25-54 demo (live + five days). Combined with the French-language debut of TRANSPLANTÉ on VRAK, 2.8 million unique viewers have so far watched the premiere episode. With the debut of the series now streaming on CTV.ca and Crave, an all-new episode of TRANSPLANT premieres tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and everywhere CTV content can be found. In the lead-up to the series premiere of TRANSPLANT, CTV executed a robust marketing and PR campaign seen nationally and in key markets on multiple platforms including TV, digital, social media, radio, and out-of-home advertising. Beginning in December, CTV leveraged marquee events to promote the new show, including CTV’s broadcast of the 77^TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE^® AWARDS, SUPER BOWL LIV, and THE 92nd OSCARS^®, as well as TSN’s extensive coverage of the 2020 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Series stars Hamza Haq and John Hannah also enjoyed the Raptors take on the Bucks on Feb. 25, with the series receiving in-game promotion from TSN. On social media, a mixture of organic and paid support earned 2.9 million impressions for TRANSPLANT across @TransplantCTV and @CTV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, significantly helping drive awareness.* In addition, a red carpet premiere screening was held at Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox to a packed house, featuring a Q+A for attendees with lead cast members moderated by THE SOCIAL and ETALK’s Lainey Lui. Leading up to the premiere, series stars Haq, Laurence Leboeuf, Hannah, Jim Watson, and Ayisha Issa conducted extensive media interviews.

Sample out-of-home advertising creative, designed and coordinated by the Bell Media Agency

In “Tell Me Who You Are,” following a new episode of THE MASKED SINGER tonight on CTV, when Bash (Hamza Haq) and Mags (Laurence Leboeuf) work together to treat a patient with a tricky diagnosis, Mags realizes that Bash’s experience as a doctor in Syria has led to an instinct-based approach. Head nurse Claire Malone (Torri Higginson) is concerned that Dr. Bishop (John Hannah) is already working following his accident. June (Ayisha Issa) struggles to put her foot down with Dr. Singh (Sugith Varughese) concerning the needs of a patient, and Theo (Jim Watson) works to build a connection with Bash. Developed at CTV, TRANSPLANT is produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Bell Fund, and the IPF’s Cogeco Television Production Fund. The series is created and written by Joseph Kay (FRONTIER, LIVING IN YOUR CAR). For Sphère Média Plus Executive producers are Bruno Dubé, Virginia Rankin, Tara Woodbury, Joseph Kay, Jeremy Spry, and Jocelyn Deschênes; and Holly Dale is Co-Executive Producer and Director of the pilot. For NBCUniversal International Studios, Amal Baggar is VP Scripted Programming. TRANSPLANT is produced by Sphère Média Plus in association with CTV and NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of NBCUniversal Content Studios. For CTV, Michele McMahon and Gosia Kamela are Production Executives; Tom Hastings is Director, Drama, Original Programming; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media; Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, Programming, CTV and Specialty, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media. Source: Numeris, Feb. 26, 2020, Live+5 days PB date. Rankings based on English Canadian programs. Preliminary data subject to change. *Feb. 14 – 26: Facebook Insights and Ads Manager, Twitter Analytics, and Instagram Insights