Sportsnet is Now the #1 Sports Brand on TV in Canada

TORONTO, June 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Following a year of double-digit audience growth and record-setting ratings, Sportsnet has now become the most-watched sports brand on TV in Canada.  For the first time in the brand's 17-year history, more Canadians are turning to Sportsnet channels than the competition, according to data from Numeris over the last 13 months.* The announcement was made today as part of the annual Rogers Upfront.

"Five years ago, we made significant investments to build upon our strong sports foundation and declared our goal of making Sportsnet the #1 sports media brand in Canada.  We secured the most coveted content, acquired the right assets, enhanced production elements, hired the best talent in front of and behind the camera, and integrated content across all five of our Sportsnet platforms with our NHL and Blue Jays offerings leading the way.  The result is first-rate coverage of premium sports programming and a win for all Canadian sports fans with more choice of where, when and how to watch the content they want," said Scott Moore, President of Sportsnet & NHL Properties, Rogers.  "It's been a great run – and we're not done yet."

From May 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015, the Sportsnet brand had the largest share and average minute audience of any sports brand on TV in the country, in the three key demos that matter most in sports: 2+, Men 18-34, and Adults 25-54.  The numbers measure viewing on Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet 360 compared to all TSN channels (TSN1-5).  Here are the facts:

On its rise to #1, Sportsnet experienced double-digit growth for all of its television assets during this same timeframe: Sportsnet (East, Ontario, West and Pacific) is up 13% in average audience, Sportsnet ONE is up 49%, while Sportsnet 360 is up 27%.

April 2015 marked Sportsnet's best month on TV in network history.  During the month, Sportsnet aired more than 501 hours of live sports programming.  Driven by the stretch run of the 2014/15 NHL regular season, the highly-anticipated first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the start of the 2015 Blue Jays season, Sportsnet finished April with a share of 5.8 (vs. 3.1 to TSN) and average minute audience of 246,000 (vs. 133,000 for TSN). 

*Source: Numeris, AMA(000) & Share of Total TV English, May 1, 2014–May 31, 2015 (confirmed up to May 17, 2015), Total Canada. All audiences are 2+, 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, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, 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