Sportsnet: Canada’s #1 Sports Media Brand in 2015

TORONTO (January 6, 2016) Sportsnet closed out 2015 as Canada’s #1 sports media brand of the year, solidifying its position as the destination for Canadian sports fans.  An unforgettable year in sports led to record Sportsnet television and radio audiences, an award-winning year for Sportsnet magazine, plus triple-digit growth on Sportsnet.ca and mobile.  It was a record year for Sportsnet, and marked the best year in the brand’s history.

“There is an insatiable appetite for sports content in Canada, and in 2015 it continued to grow,” said Scott Moore, President of Sportsnet & NHL Properties, Rogers. “It has been a rewarding journey, and I am proud that Sportsnet is now Canada’s #1 choice for sports fans.  Our NHL and baseball coverage, along with the best sports news coverage, new initiatives such as Tim & Sid, and our wide variety of event programming, led to a record year across all Sportsnet platforms.  We are well positioned to continue our leadership into 2016 and beyond.”

Highlights from Sportsnet’s 2015 record-setting year include:

Television:

Sportsnet Overall

• For the period Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2015, Sportsnet delivered a 5.2 audience share (vs. 3.9 to TSN) and an average minute audience of 216,000 (vs. 162,000 to TSN), marking a year-over-year increase of 40%
• For December 2015, Sportsnet delivered a 3.9 audience share and an average minute audience of 165,000, marking 11% year-over-year growth
• A total of 10 Sportsnet broadcasts surpassed the 3 million viewer mark in 2015; 3 surpassed 4 million viewers; and 1 surpassed 5 million viewers

 Sportsnet Central

• The prime-time edition of Sportsnet Central was the most-watched sports news program in 2015, delivering an average minute audience 44% higher than its closest competitor
• Also in 2015, Sportsnet Central delivered double-digit year-over-year growth across the morning (12%), prime time (66%) and overnight (18%) timeslots

Blue Jays

• The 2015 Blue Jays regular season was 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
• The Blue Jays historic run in the 2015 MLB post-season delivered Sportsnet’s top 10 most-watched broadcasts of all time:

1. 1. ALCS Game 6, Toronto @ Kansas City (Oct. 23, 2015) 5.12 million
   2. ALDS Game 5, Texas @ Toronto (Oct. 14, 2015): 4.88 million
   3. ALDS Game 4, Toronto @ Texas (Oct. 12, 2015): 4.38 million
   4. ALDS Game 3, Toronto @ Texas (Oct. 11, 2015): 4.2 million
   5. ALCS Rain Delay in Game 6, (Oct. 23, 2015): 4 million
   6. ALCS Game 1, Toronto @ Kansas City (Oct. 16, 2015): 3.94 million
   7. ALCS Game 2, Toronto @ Kansas City (Oct. 17, 2015): 3.85 million
   8. ALCS Game 3, Kansas City @ Toronto (Oct. 19, 2015): 3.64 million
   9. Blue Jays Central Postseason Post-Game Show (Oct. 14, 2015): 3.51 million
   10. ALCS Game 5, Kansas City @ Toronto (Oct. 21, 2015): 3.45 million

NHL

• As of December 30, 2015, Sportsnet delivered year-over-year growth across the following NHL broadcasts during the 2015-16 NHL season:
  • Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey is up 12%
  • Calgary Flames regional broadcasts are up 25%
  • Edmonton Oilers regional broadcasts are up 12%
  • Montreal Canadiens regional broadcasts are up 6%
  • US/US matchups (national broadcasts) are up 11%

• Sportsnet’s coverage of the 2015 NHL Draft on June 26 delivered an average audience of 1 million viewers, marking a 47% increase in comparison to the 2014 NHL Draft (694,000 average audience on TSN)

Digital:

Sportsnet.ca

• Sportsnet.ca demonstrated record-setting, exponential growth in 2015, delivering increases of 200% for unique visitors andpage views, and an increase of 300% for video starts, in comparison to the same period in 2014
• In October, Sportsnet.ca delivered a record month, reaching 4 million unique visitors across all digital platforms – and surpassing TSN.ca for the first time. The exclusive mobile audience for Sportsnet.ca increased by 211%, more than triple the audience recorded in October 2014
• For the month of December, Sportsnet.ca delivered an increase of unique visitors (162%), page views (165%) and video starts driven by NHL (325%) year-over-year

Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE

• Year-over-year, paid subscriptions for Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE have increased 117%
• Total active users are up 21% in comparison to the entire 2014-15 NHL season average
• Average stream minutes per user have increased 77% in comparison to last season at this time

Radio:

Sportsnet 590 The FAN (Toronto)

• Canada’s #1 sports radio station delivered 31% year-over-year growth overall, as well as 9% year-over-year growth in the coveted Men 25-54 demographic
• Brady & Walker (Jan. 1 to March 2, 2015) / Dean Blundell & Co. (as of March 2, 2015) (5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET) – increased overall average audience by 11%
• Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET) – Canada’s most-listened to sports afternoon drive show in Toronto increased its overall average audience by 47%

Sportsnet 960 The FAN (Calgary)

• Increased overall audience by 8% year-over-year and delivered 7% year-over-year growth in the Men 25-54 demographic

 *All radio information is for the time period Jan. 1 – Nov. 29, 2015 and is compared to the same period in 2014

Sportsnet magazine:

• It was a multiple award-winning year for Canada’s only regular source for long-form sports journalism, as Sportsnet magazine was recognized with 1 gold and 3 silvers at the National Magazine Awards, and 1 gold and 1 silver at the Canadian Online Publishing awards
• Sportsnet magazine garnered a combined total of 17 award nominations for the two events

 TV Source: Numeris, AMA(000) & Share of Total TV English, Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2015 (confirmed up to Dec 20, 2015), vs. Jan 1 – Dec 31/14; Total Canada. All audiences are 2+, unless otherwise noted. Radio; Numeris; Toronto & Calgary CTRL 5a-1a (YOY growth)

Digital Source: comScore Media Metrix, Multiplatform November ‘15 vs. November ’14, Total Canada

Adobe Analytics (Segment: RMI Sports exclu. RGCL): Jan to Dec’14 vs. Jan to Dec’15

Social Media Links

Official website, Sportsnet www.sportsnet.ca

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About SportsnetSportsnet 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.