This autumn, TV content is available on all kinds of screens. Traditional linear TV still brings in millions of viewers weekly, while connected TV (CTV) is growing fast. In this new mix, broadcasters are blending big live events and fresh shows. The aim: satisfy both people who love watching live and those who prefer on‑demand. For advertisers, this means getting both wide reach and precise targeting.
In this article, we’ll look at the new shows and returns that will shape Fall 2025.
Linear TV and CTV: Working Together
In 2025, people will watch TV in two main ways.
Linear TV is the old way — shows broadcast live on a set schedule via cable, satellite, or antenna. It’s ideal for big events: sports, news, galas, and prime‑time shows. These create collective viewing moments, like Bye Bye, La Fureur, NHL games, or the ADISQ Gala.
La Fureur is a good example: it brings people together and can’t be streamed because of broadcast rights.
Connected TV (CTV) means a TV connected to the internet — through smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, etc. It offers streaming, so viewers can watch when they want. It combines the big screen with digital features: tight targeting, performance tracking, flexible viewing. CTV is especially popular with young adults (25–49) and “cord‑cutters” who no longer use traditional TV. That lets advertisers reach audiences they might miss on linear TV.
A Video Ecosystem Pulling Together
According to ThinkTV – TV Basics Fall 2024, 83% of adults watch traditional TV weekly — including 71% of people aged 18–34. On average, Canadians spend 17.3 hours per week watching it. The idea of “Total TV” (linear + broadcasters’ digital platforms) reaches up to 93% of adults monthly. Television still commands about 70% of total screen time, far ahead of YouTube (14%) and Netflix (5%).
CTV is smaller in usage but growing fast, thanks to more smart TVs and rising on‑demand content. Advertisers no longer have to choose between linear and CTV. They should use both to get broad coverage, manage frequency, and measure impact accurately.
Fall 2025: TV Adapts Gently
With time, audiences are moving toward digital platforms, which better fit today’s habits. But traditional TV is still betting on strong, high‑quality content. As linear and digital platforms merge, broadcasters can keep loyal viewers while testing new ideas in flexible spaces.
French‑Language Fall Highlights
New shows and returning hits will define the francophone lineup:
- Radio‑Canada launches Antigang, a fast‑paced daily set in special police operations, and L’Indétectable, a sharp psychological thriller. It also reworks its hit STAT into a weekly format for stronger stories.
- TVA bets on Société Distincte, a flagship drama exploring tensions in modern Québec, while continuing sends like Indéfendable and Alertes.
- Noovo goes bold: Bellefleur (from Crave to linear TV), Le retour d’Anna Brodeur, and OD – Chypre (a travel‑style reality show) all debut.
- Télé‑Québec stays true to culture with La dernière communion and Une époque formidable, stories rooted in Québec life.
TV5 & Unis TV open up the francophone world with the documentary Peuples des sommets and the engaged series Les Décarbonés, focused on environmental challenges.
Bellefleur, originally from Crave, now airs on Noovo — a good example of success moving from digital to linear.
English‑Language Viewers: Favorites and Fresh Stories
English viewers don’t miss out:
- CBC brings back Murdoch Mysteries, Heartland, and Dragons’ Den (20th anniversary). New: Locals Welcome, a docuseries led by Suresh Doss that explores hidden Canadian street food.
- CTV adds 9‑1‑1: Nashville (a spin‑off), Boston Blue, a police show in Massachusetts, and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, a human drama about second chances.
- CityTV introduces The Price Is Right Tonight Canada, a primetime twist on the classic game show, and continues its local link with Law & Order Toronto.
Streaming with a Local Twist
CTV’s rise is linked to booming streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Crave. These services changed how we watch: bingeing, original content, personal recommendations, frequent drops.
Since Netflix launched ad‑supported plans in 2022, rivals followed suit and broadened their offerings.
Empathie – The beloved, award-winning phenomenon that’s setting conversations ablaze.
- Crave offers fiction, documentaries, and reality. Big names: Empathie (award‑winning, returning for season 2), Jérémie: rendez‑vous à la plage (summer fiction), La reconstruction (inside stories of the Montréal Canadiens).
- Netflix goes local with North of North (from CBC), a gentle comedy about life in an Inuit community. It’s already renewed for season 2.
- Prime Video leans on pop culture: Faceoff: Inside the NHL, Karaoké Club with Québec celebs, Vitrerie Joyal tells a local entrepreneur’s story, and the return of LOL (hosted by Patrick Huard) in season 4.
These moves show that platforms are betting on Canadian original content to build loyalty and reach younger audiences active in CTV. For advertisers, it means premium environments and powerful engagement through local content.
In Summary: A Strong Fall, and Winter Is Coming
Fall 2025 brings a strong mix of new shows, returns, and local production — across linear TV, CTV, and streaming. And there’s more on the horizon: winter season planning is already underway, with surprises coming in specialty channels.
Article co-written with Mathieu Ladouceur.
To receive our full fall programming guide and discover the season’s new releases and major comebacks, contact vickie@espace.ca.
For more information about our media planning services, feel free to reach out to us at info@espace-m.ca.
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