R ecognizable global franchises and drama procedurals were among the top performers in Canadian TV’s linear ratings in 2022.

Broadcasters Bell Media, Corus Entertainment, and CBC have shared their top three rated Canadian programs during the 2022 calendar year, based on data from Numeris. Rogers Sports & Media did not provide ratings data as of press time.

CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada (pictured), produced by Boat Rocker’s Insight Productions, was the top Canadian program for the year, attracting an average audience of 1.6 million. Season eight premiered on July 5, 2022, following a multi-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another top-performing reality franchise was Global’s Big Brother Canada, also produced by Insight Productions, with an average audience of 861,200 for its 10th season.

Murdoch Mysteries (Shaftesbury) continued to lead Canadian TV ratings for CBC, with an average audience of 855,000 for its 15th season. The top-performing Canadian drama overall was Transplant (Sphere Media), according to CTV, with a viewership of 1.1 million for season two.

Of course, these numbers only represent a fraction of Canadian content reach these days, as audiences move toward digital platforms. Bell Media’s parentco BCE reported continued subscriber growth for Crave, coming to 3.1 million subscribers in Q3 2022. Corus says new platform revenue – which includes subscriber revenue from StackTV and Teletoon+ and ad revenue from the Global app – increased by 32% during the previous fiscal year. Meanwhile CBC/Radio-Canada reported a more than 18% increase in subscribers for its digital platforms CBC Gem and Ici.Tou.TV Extra in 2022, according to its 2021-22 annual report.

However, it does offer a much-needed window into what linear viewers are tuning in for. See the lists below for a snapshot of Canadian linear TV’s heavy hitters.

Bell Media

1. The Amazing Race Canada (season eight), CTV – 1.6 million
2. Transplant (season two), CTV – 1.1 million
3. Children Ruin Everything (season one), CTV – 641,000

Source: Numeris, Jan. 1 to Dec. 25, 2022, final data, P2+.

CBC

1. Murdoch Mysteries (season 15, part two) – 855,000
2. Son of a Critch – 705,000
3. Marketplace (season 49, part two) – 682,000

Source: Numeris, Total Canada, CBC Total, Ind. 2+ AMA, Jan. 1 to Dec. 25, 2022, original airings, confirmed audience data.

Corus Entertainment

1. Big Brother Canada (season 10), Global – 861,200
2. Departure (season two), Global – 728,100
3. Island of Bryan (season four), HGTV Canada – 651,800

Source: Numeris, Total Canada, Jan. 1 to Dec.  25, 3+ airings, Ind. 2+, AMA, original airings only, Global total + Corus specialty eng.

Image courtesy of Bell Media