History Television’s unstoppable line-up of stellar entertainment continues to dominate the ratings, with the premiere of The Kennedys sweeping away audiences and delivering exceptional viewership for the channel. The most anticipated television event of the year earned the top spot of the day for a non-sports specialty, garnering outstanding audience numbers with 889,000 (2+) and 335,000 in the key adults 25-54 demo, further asserting History Television’s AMA powerhouse status and unrelenting audience growth.

During the two-hour premiere event, 2.3 million Canadians (2+) sampled part of the premiere, peaking at an astonishing 1.1 million viewers at 9:55 pm ET/PT.

The Kennedys also triumphed over its competition, including the second episode of The Borgias. The premiere more than tripled the Bravo series’ 2+ numbers and quadrupled its adults 25-54 audience.

The channel’s first foray into dramatic entertainment is clearly a resounding success, becoming the second highest-rated series premiere of all-time on History Television (2+), behind Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads, which earned over 1 million viewers on January 12, 2011. The series also becomes the highest-rated movie or special presentation on the channel.

The successful Canadian launch comes hot on the heels of the April 3, 2011 U.S. premiere on ReelzChannel, which exceeded 1.9 million total viewers (2+), breaking records for the cable service.

History Television’s spring schedule features an outstanding line-up of new and returning series that offer big characters and stories that bring a high level of entertainment to the subject of history. The new schedule, which launched on Monday, March 28, features the Canadian broadcast premieres of Top Gear US (Wednesdays at 10 pm ET/PT) and the world broadcast premiere of Canadian Pickers (April 12 at 10pm ET/PT). The schedule also welcomes new seasons of Outlaw Bikers (Thursdays at 9 pm ET/PT) and Urban Legends (Fridays at 8 pm ET/PT).

Viewers can continue to watch the drama and intrigue in The Kennedys, Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT.

Source: BBM Canada (NMR/PPM overnight data 4/10/11)