Sportsnet Delivers Historic Ratings in August, Powered by Record Blue Jays Audiences

TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - Sportsnet, home of everything Blue Jays, continues its 16-month reign as Canada's #1 sports brand on TV, bolstered by the team's winningest month in franchise history.  For August, Sportsnet delivered a network record 6.8 audience share and an average minute audience of 266,000 – 113% higher than its closest competitor.

Sportsnet was also Canada's highest-ranked specialty channel in August (three spots higher than its closest competitor) and the third most-watched of all Canadian networks (conventional or specialty).

Highlights from Sportsnet's audience growth in August is as follows:

How about 'dem Blue Jays?

• Sportsnet's Blue Jays broadcasts in August delivered an average audience of 1.29 million, which represents an increase of 112% over the average audience of the same month in 2014 (609,000)
• 23 Blue Jays broadcasts in August surpassed the one million viewer mark, marking a total of 26 Blue Jays broadcasts to eclipse the one million viewer mark, season-to-date
• Blue Jays Central, the pre-game show hosted by Jamie Campbell and Gregg Zaun, delivered an average audience of 422,000 in August, marking a 139% increase year-over-year
• Jays in 30, the popular condensed-replay of Sportsnet's game broadcasts, attracted an average audience of 137,000 viewers in August, up 213% year-over-year
• Season-to-date, Sportsnet is delivering an average audience of 793,000 for its Blue Jays broadcasts in 2015, up 36% over the average audience, season-to-date in 2014

MLB on Sportsnet

• For the month of August, MLB coverage on Sportsnet (non-Blue Jays) is up 94% vs. same time last year, delivering an average audience of 189,000

Tim & Sid

• In its second full month on the air, Tim & Sid have experienced an 18% increase (2+) and currently sit as the most-watched sports program in the country during the 6–7 p.m. ET timeslot

Sportsnet Central (Prime-Time Edition)

• The prime-time edition of Sportsnet Central delivered an average audience of 278,000 in August – 191% higher than its closest competitor

*Sportsnet channels include Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific; Sportsnet ONE; and Sportsnet 360
**Sportsnet channels include Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific; Sportsnet ONE; and Sportsnet 360

TV Source: Numeris, AMA(000) & Share of Total TV English, Jan 1/15 – August 31/15 for YOY (confirmed up to August 23/15), Apr 6 – Aug 31/15 v. same time last season for Blue Jays, Total Canada. All audiences are 2+, unless otherwise noted. Comparisons based on all Sportsnet stations unless otherwise noted.

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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 Rogers Media

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