2.03 Million Viewers Watch Friday's Yankees vs. Blue Jays Showdown on Sportsnet, Delivering Highest Audience in Network History

- 3-game weekend set between Toronto and New York becomes Sportsnet's most-watched Blue Jays series ever -

TORONTO, Aug. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Friday night's nail-biting series opener between the Blue Jays and the Yankees set a network record for Sportsnet as the most-watched program in its history, as an average audience of  2.03 million viewers (2+), tuned into the broadcast. Sportsnet's previous all-time most-watched program was the 2014-15 NHL season opener on October 8, 2014 between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, which delivered an average audience of 2.01 million.

Audience levels on Friday night peaked at 3.14 million at 10:19 p.m. ET, during Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's 12-pitch at-bat with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The highly-anticipated weekend series between Toronto and New York at Rogers Centre (Aug. 14-16) delivered an average audience of 1.53 million viewers on Sportsnet, with average audiences of 1.23 million tuning in on Saturday, Aug. 15 and 1.27 million tuning in on Sunday, Aug. 16. This marks the most-watched Blue Jays series in network history, surpassing the previous series record featuring Toronto vs the Yankees in New York on Aug. 7-9 (1.29 million average audience).

Rounding out the network record trifecta, season-to-date, Sportsnet is delivering an average audience of 727,000 for its Blue Jays broadcasts, the highest average audience for Blue Jays broadcasts in network history, up 24% over the average audience, season-to-date in 2014.

Other key audience highlights for Sportsnet's Blue Jays broadcasts this season:

• Friday's record-setting audience was 37% higher than the previous highest Blue Jays broadcast on Sportsnet, set on Wednesday, Aug. 12 vs the Oakland Athletics (1.48 million)
• Since the MLB Trade Deadline (July 31), Sportsnet's Blue Jays broadcasts are averaging 1.27 million viewers
• Sunday's game vs the Yankees marks the 16th Blue Jays broadcast to eclipse the one million viewer mark this season

Source: Numeris: Overnights Data, Ind 2+, Total Canada. AMA(000), Mar 31 – Aug 16/14 v. Apr 6 – Aug 16/15, Sportsnet National; Total Canada. All audiences are 2+, unless otherwise noted. 

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Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Delivering storytelling on a local, regional, national and global level, the multiplatform brand consists of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and Sportsnet NOW. Sportsnet consists of four regional channels (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific), and the nationally-distributed Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet World, and Sportsnet 360. Sportsnet is the official Canadian NHL national broadcast rights holder, and is also the official regional television broadcast rights holder for the Calgary Flames (including radio rights on Sportsnet 960 The FAN), Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs (including radio rights on Sportsnet 590 The FAN), Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens. In addition, Sportsnet is also the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights holder of the CHL, including the Memorial Cup. Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in MLB television broadcasts and is home to all 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series. Sportsnet also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, Toronto Raptors, NBA, CIS Vanier Cup, Grand Slam of Curling, IndyCar, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, and extensive soccer programming including Barclays Premier League, Bundesliga, CONCACAF and Canadian national team matches for men and women. Sportsnet Central is the network's news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day's events in the world of sports.

SOURCE Rogers Media

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