Final year-end ratings data confirms TSN not only dominated the sports airwaves, but experienced significant audience growth in all time periods
and demographics, the speciality service says.
In fact, it was record growth, citing analysis of Nielsen Media Research ratings.
"We're extremely pleased with TSN's audience growth, which in our opinion is a reflection of the breadth and depth of TSN's unparalleled sports lineup
and the quality of our entire team," said Phil King, President, TSN. "We take a lot of pride in the fact that TSN continues to be the best in sports and the fans' number one choice."
According to TSN, audience comparisons for 2005 vs. 2004 show:
1. Substantial audience growth in prime time and over 24 hours
2. Substantial audience growth in all key demographics
3. Substantial audience growth for all major TSN sports properties, news programs and magazine shows
4. TSN has won October over its competitors Rogers Sportsnet and The Score Television Network, in one of the most competitive months of the year in
sports broadcasting
TSN regularly delivers 'conventional audience numbers' across its key properties, such as the most recent IIHF World Junior Championship gold
medal game (3 million viewers*, Jan. 5), NHL opening night (2.1 million, Oct. 5), IIHF World Men's Hockey Championship gold medal game (1.4 million, May 15), and the CFL Labour Day Classic featuring Toronto @ Hamilton (791,000, Sept. 5).
TSN finished 2005 as the No. 1 Canadian specialty service with 45 per cent more overall viewers than the No. 2-ranked service**. Moreover, TSN says it outperformed Rogers Sportsnet by 60 per cent and The Score by nearly 400 per cent.
When comparing 2005 to 2004, TSN's prime time audience increased by 14 percent, boasting a total average audience of 240,000 viewers. This is even
more impressive considering TSN was without NHL hockey from January-May in 2005, as the NHL Lockout was not resolved until mid-July 2005. In key
demographics, the substantial increases are even more notable: the Males 18-34 demographic is up 29 per cent, while the Males 18-49 demo is up 17 per
cent. TSN's full-day viewership also increased: up 8 per cent in total viewers, up 23 per cent in M18-34, and up 13 per cent in M18-49.
The driving force behind TSN's overall audience increase is the remarkable growth in TSN's major sports properties. The examples below prove TSN has a definitive competitive edge:
* NHL (national) - up 77 per cent in total viewers
* NHL (Toronto Maple Leafs regional) - up 38 per cent
* IIHF World Junior Championship (six Team Canada games) - up 7 per cent
* CFL - up 27 per cent
* Golf: Four Majors - up 30 per cent
* Blue Jays Baseball - up 72 per cent
* NASCAR - up 37 per cent
* NFL - up 5 per cent
* Tennis: Four Grand Slam events - up 17 per cent
(Note: Audiences compare 2005 to 2004, except NHL national and regional, which are compared to Fall 2003 due to the lockout.)
TSN started 2006 with a bang as this year's IIHF World Junior Championship was the most successful in network history, averaging a record-setting 1.66
million viewers for the six Team Canada games. The Gold Medal Game attracted a national average audience of 3 million viewers, making it the
third most-watched program in TSN history.
2005 was also a benchmark year for TSN as the network aired more than 300 national and international events in High Definition, delivering 900 hours of coverage in HD. TSN offers more sports coverage, more hours and more events in HD than any other network in Canada, the reinforcing the network's position as Canada's Sports Leader in High Definition. In 2005, TSN became the first network to produce and televise a Canadian golf and figure skating event in HD (Bell Canadian Open, BMO Financial Group Canadian Figure Skating
Championships).
October 2005 finished as TSN's highest viewing month since January 2004, due in large part to the return of the NHL. TSN outperformed Rogers Sportsnet
on a 24-hour basis (TSN at 123,000 viewers vs. 113,000 for RSN) and was also 10 per cent higher than RSN in prime time, achieving higher audiences than RSN's extensive coverage of the MLB Playoffs. TSN's prime time audience of 331,000 was 108 per cent higher than its own October 2004 average, and saw significant audience growth (compared to October 2004) in total viewers (up 60 per cent), Adults 18+ (up 62 per cent) and Males 18+ (up 58 per cent).
Reports of positive ratings continue with TSN's news and information programming, as all weekday editions of SportsCentre experienced significant ratings increases in 2005 compared to 2004:
* Evening edition with Rod Smith (6:30 p.m. ET) is up 27 per cent
* Late edition with Darren Dutchyshen and Jennifer Hedger (10 p.m. ET) is up 9 per cent
* Overnight edition with Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole (11 p.m. PT) is up 17 per cent
* Morning loop (6 a.m. to 12 noon ET) is up 20 per cent
TSN also reports its flagship news program, SportsCentre, was voted the number-one source for sports news by sports fans from across the country***.
*Source: Nielsen Media Research. All audience figures are 2+ unless otherwise specified
**Source: Nielsen Media Research: Jan. 3 '05 - Jan. 6 '06 ***2004/2005 Roper Canada - Winter
http://www.cablecastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=51911&issue=01252006
and demographics, the speciality service says.
In fact, it was record growth, citing analysis of Nielsen Media Research ratings.
"We're extremely pleased with TSN's audience growth, which in our opinion is a reflection of the breadth and depth of TSN's unparalleled sports lineup
and the quality of our entire team," said Phil King, President, TSN. "We take a lot of pride in the fact that TSN continues to be the best in sports and the fans' number one choice."
According to TSN, audience comparisons for 2005 vs. 2004 show:
1. Substantial audience growth in prime time and over 24 hours
2. Substantial audience growth in all key demographics
3. Substantial audience growth for all major TSN sports properties, news programs and magazine shows
4. TSN has won October over its competitors Rogers Sportsnet and The Score Television Network, in one of the most competitive months of the year in
sports broadcasting
TSN regularly delivers 'conventional audience numbers' across its key properties, such as the most recent IIHF World Junior Championship gold
medal game (3 million viewers*, Jan. 5), NHL opening night (2.1 million, Oct. 5), IIHF World Men's Hockey Championship gold medal game (1.4 million, May 15), and the CFL Labour Day Classic featuring Toronto @ Hamilton (791,000, Sept. 5).
TSN finished 2005 as the No. 1 Canadian specialty service with 45 per cent more overall viewers than the No. 2-ranked service**. Moreover, TSN says it outperformed Rogers Sportsnet by 60 per cent and The Score by nearly 400 per cent.
When comparing 2005 to 2004, TSN's prime time audience increased by 14 percent, boasting a total average audience of 240,000 viewers. This is even
more impressive considering TSN was without NHL hockey from January-May in 2005, as the NHL Lockout was not resolved until mid-July 2005. In key
demographics, the substantial increases are even more notable: the Males 18-34 demographic is up 29 per cent, while the Males 18-49 demo is up 17 per
cent. TSN's full-day viewership also increased: up 8 per cent in total viewers, up 23 per cent in M18-34, and up 13 per cent in M18-49.
The driving force behind TSN's overall audience increase is the remarkable growth in TSN's major sports properties. The examples below prove TSN has a definitive competitive edge:
* NHL (national) - up 77 per cent in total viewers
* NHL (Toronto Maple Leafs regional) - up 38 per cent
* IIHF World Junior Championship (six Team Canada games) - up 7 per cent
* CFL - up 27 per cent
* Golf: Four Majors - up 30 per cent
* Blue Jays Baseball - up 72 per cent
* NASCAR - up 37 per cent
* NFL - up 5 per cent
* Tennis: Four Grand Slam events - up 17 per cent
(Note: Audiences compare 2005 to 2004, except NHL national and regional, which are compared to Fall 2003 due to the lockout.)
TSN started 2006 with a bang as this year's IIHF World Junior Championship was the most successful in network history, averaging a record-setting 1.66
million viewers for the six Team Canada games. The Gold Medal Game attracted a national average audience of 3 million viewers, making it the
third most-watched program in TSN history.
2005 was also a benchmark year for TSN as the network aired more than 300 national and international events in High Definition, delivering 900 hours of coverage in HD. TSN offers more sports coverage, more hours and more events in HD than any other network in Canada, the reinforcing the network's position as Canada's Sports Leader in High Definition. In 2005, TSN became the first network to produce and televise a Canadian golf and figure skating event in HD (Bell Canadian Open, BMO Financial Group Canadian Figure Skating
Championships).
October 2005 finished as TSN's highest viewing month since January 2004, due in large part to the return of the NHL. TSN outperformed Rogers Sportsnet
on a 24-hour basis (TSN at 123,000 viewers vs. 113,000 for RSN) and was also 10 per cent higher than RSN in prime time, achieving higher audiences than RSN's extensive coverage of the MLB Playoffs. TSN's prime time audience of 331,000 was 108 per cent higher than its own October 2004 average, and saw significant audience growth (compared to October 2004) in total viewers (up 60 per cent), Adults 18+ (up 62 per cent) and Males 18+ (up 58 per cent).
Reports of positive ratings continue with TSN's news and information programming, as all weekday editions of SportsCentre experienced significant ratings increases in 2005 compared to 2004:
* Evening edition with Rod Smith (6:30 p.m. ET) is up 27 per cent
* Late edition with Darren Dutchyshen and Jennifer Hedger (10 p.m. ET) is up 9 per cent
* Overnight edition with Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole (11 p.m. PT) is up 17 per cent
* Morning loop (6 a.m. to 12 noon ET) is up 20 per cent
TSN also reports its flagship news program, SportsCentre, was voted the number-one source for sports news by sports fans from across the country***.
*Source: Nielsen Media Research. All audience figures are 2+ unless otherwise specified
**Source: Nielsen Media Research: Jan. 3 '05 - Jan. 6 '06 ***2004/2005 Roper Canada - Winter
http://www.cablecastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=51911&issue=01252006
