TORONTO – TSN’s flagship hockey magazine show, Molson That’s Hockey, will be shot and sent in high definition when it begins its 12th season this September.
This is the second in-house program TSN will produce and deliver in HD as the sports network previously announced it will launch its news show, SportsCentre, in high definition on September 5th, too.
The shows’ HD transitions include the design and creation of a new Molson That’s Hockey HD set within the SportsCentre working newsroom.
With so many more games – the majority, in fact – being shot in HD, making sure that what’s often the lead-in program for an evening game was high-def too was a no-brainer for the CTV-owned network, said its president.
"Hockey fans have come to recognize Molson That’s Hockey as an important extension of TSN’s hockey coverage, and last season’s ratings reflect that direct association," said Phil King, president of TSN, in a press release. "With an aggressive NHL HD broadcast schedule on the horizon for 2006/07, it is logical and complementary to have TSN’s signature hockey show also available in HD."
With the addition of Molson That’s Hockey in HD, TSN now projects that by fall 2006, nearly 50% of its 24-hour broadcast schedule will be presented in HD.
Molson That’s Hockey enjoyed a record average audience of 168,000 viewers during this year’s NHL regular season (says Nielsen figures), marking a 46% increase over 2003/04. The show maintained its momentum through the playoffs, averaging 144,000 viewers, a 31% increase over the 2003/04 post-season.
TSN had a successful hockey season overall as game ratings rose 48% to average 476,000 viewers in the regular season and also grew in the playoffs.
