A Season and a September to Remember: Sportsnet Delivers Most-Watched Blue Jays Season Ever and Best Month in Network History

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2015 /CNW/ - They pitched, they hit, they conquered. And we watched. The 2015 Blue Jays regular season set a record for Sportsnet as the most-watched Blue Jays season in network history, delivering an average audience of 973,000 viewers (2+). This marks an increase of 68% over the 2014 regular season average audience (580,000), the previous most-watched Blue Jays season on record.

It was also a September for the ages on Sportsnet, as the Blue Jays clinched the 2015 American League East Division title, and bolstered Sportsnet to post its best month in network history, delivering a record 7.9 audience share and an average audience of 320,000 – a year-over-year increase of 114%. September was also a record-setting month on the digital side, as Sportsnet.ca delivered a 200% year-over-year increase in page views.

Sportsnet was the second most-watched Canadian network in prime time (conventional and specialty combined) in September, second only to CTV. And, for the second month in a row, Sportsnet was Canada's highest-ranked specialty channel.

Here are more audience highlights:

OK, Blue Jays!

• Sportsnet's Blue Jays broadcasts in September delivered an average audience of 1.61 million, representing an increase of 190% over the average audience in September 2014 (555,000)
• Blue Jays fans also flocked to radio as audiences for Sportsnet 590 The FAN's Blue Jays broadcasts in August were up 159% year-over-year
• For the 2015 regular season overall on Sportsnet TV, the following key sales demos delivered significant year-over-year increases:
  • Adults 18-34: 58% increase
  • Adults 25-54: 75% increase
  • Females 18+: 66% increase
• 57 Blue Jays broadcasts surpassed the one-million viewer mark during the 2015 regular season
• 2 Blue Jays broadcasts surpassed the two-million viewer mark
• Blue Jays Central , the pre-game show hosted by Jamie Campbell and Gregg Zaun, delivered an average audience of 290,000 this season, marking a 90% increase year-over-year (153,000 average audience in 2014)

Sportsnet in September – Sportsnet Central, NHL Pre-Season and Digital
Sportsnet Central (Prime-Time Edition)

• The prime-time edition of Sportsnet Central delivered an average audience of 341,000 in September, an increase of 145% year-over-year

NHL Pre-Season on Sportsnet

• Sportsnet's 2015-16 NHL pre-season audiences delivered an average audience of 413,000, marking an increase of 19% over the 2014-15 pre-season

Digital

• Sportsnet's historic month also extended online, with Sportsnet.ca recording its highest month ever for page views – 200% higher than September 2014
• Video views increased 450% year-over-year, while unique visits increased 125% year-over-year

TV Source: Numeris, AMA(000) & Share of Total TV English, Jan 1/15 – September 31/15 for YOY (confirmed up to September 20/15), Apr 6 – Oct 4/15 v. same time last season for Blue Jays, Total Canada. All audiences are 2+, unless otherwise noted. 

Digital Source: Source: Adobe Analytics and Brightcove Sept 14 – Sept 15

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About Sportsnet
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 Sportsnet

Media Contacts: Jennifer Neziol, [email protected], (w) 416.764.6361, (m) 416.275.9182; Sebastian Gatica, [email protected], (w) 416.764.6368, (m) 416.710.9953; Jennifer Cram, [email protected], (w) 416.764.6364, (m) 416.804.1683; Meghann Cox, [email protected], (w) 416.764.6362, (m) 416.258.3296