'When Calls the Heart' Off to a Strong Start with 2.3 Million Total Viewers in Live+3

Jack Wagner stars in When Calls the Heart. Photo Credit: Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Eike Schroter

The season 2 premiere of Hallmark Channel's original scripted series, When Calls the Heart, launched this weekend to a 2.1 HH rating and 2.3 million total viewers, according to Live+3 data. The Saturday, April 25th 2-hour world debut out-delivered the season 1 premiere by 25% among HHs and 21% among total viewers. In the 8-10 p.m. time period, When Calls the Heart boosted Hallmark Channel to be the most-watched and highest-rated network among households and total viewers, outside of sports. Additionally, the season 2 opener reached over 3.2 million unduplicated viewers.

The Saturday night premiere engaged audiences across multiple platforms, generating the highest tweets of any Hallmark Channel original series or movie premiere in network history. Of the night's record number of tweets, 84% contained #hearties. The Season 2 debut also outperformed the Season 1 average, noting a boost in tweets of +548% and registering growth of +96% among unique authors and +155% among unique audiences. Topping it off, Hallmark Channel's Facebook page skyrocketed to 796,000 unique users and 29,000 unique engaged users on the season 2 premiere day.

"Viewer engagement surrounding When Calls the Heart is stronger and more immersive than ever and this weekend's successful opening performance demonstrates the power of the network's storytelling," said Michelle Vicary, executive vice president, programming & network publicity. "We look forward to sharing more of what's to come in Hope Valley over the course of the season as well as continuing to entertain and connect with the show's loyal fans."

In "Trials of the Heart," Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Jack (Daniel Lissing) are closer than ever after their first kiss, but their budding union barely has time to begin when Elizabeth receives a distressing telegram from home requesting her return. As Jack gains a new understanding of Elizabeth's high-society family life, Abigail (Lori Loughlin) remains in Coal Valley where she nervously awaits the mining disaster trial, and finally confronts investigator Bill Avery (Jack Wagner) about a shocking discovery that could put their own romantic future on hold.

Source: Nielsen, April 20th - April 26th, Live+3 ratings and impressions.