NBC has scheduled The Listener for Thursday nights this summer, just as Fox International Channels has called its own early March rollout of the Canadian drama across 180 countries a major success.

Los Angeles-based FIC said the Shaftesbury Films series doubled or tripled the average share of its time period in most markets it bowed in over the last seven days in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.

The U.S.-based broadcaster did not provide hard ratings, as audience measurement differs greatly in the 180 markets, rendering comparisons with the Canadian market useless.

But in Italy, a key FIC market, The Listener grew its Fox Italy timeslot on March 5 by 470% for a 12.24% share of the cable audience in that market, according to Auditel/AGB.

The 13 x 60 drama, about a young paramedic who can read minds, was rolled out like a Hollywood blockbuster movie on a staggered basis overseas to build buzz before its North American bow on NBC and CTV.

‘FIC took a risk on launching The Listener ahead of North America. But it paid off,’ Christina Jennings, chairman and CEO of Shaftesbury Films, said Wednesday.

The drama finished first in its timeslot in most of FIC’s territories, the U.S. broadcaster said, and built on its lead-in in all territories for which overnight ratings were available at press time, including Britain, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, Greece, Japan and Hong Kong.

NBC will debut The Listener on Thursday nights at 10 p.m., from June 4, replacing the crime drama Southland. Besides being the original slot for Flashpoint over on CBS, the late-night Thursday spot will help NBC promote Conan O’Brien when he takes over as host of The Tonight Show on June 1.

FIC VP of development Sharon Tal Yguado said the near-simultaneous multi-territory launch of the Canadian drama delivering well before its North American bow was a first-time ‘phenomenon.’

‘It’s exciting to see how international audiences are embracing the show so passionately. The launch results are impressive compared to any show,’ she said.