TORONTO – An uptick in Sportsnet’s television, radio and digital audiences make 2016 as the best year in the brand's history, Rogers said Friday.
Sportsnet reached 30 million Canadians, with an average weekly reach of 12 million, the company said citing data from Numeris.
Highlights from the year include:
– For the period January 1 to December 31, 2016, Sportsnet networks delivered a 5.7 audience share and an average minute audience of 232,000, marking 10% and 7% increases, respectively, over last year;
– A total of 127 Sportsnet broadcasts surpassed the 1 million viewer mark in 2016, with two surpassing 4 million viewers, and five surpassing 3 million viewers;
– The prime-time edition of Sportsnet Central was the most-watched sports news program in 2016, delivering an average minute audience 70% higher than its closest competitor;
– The 2016 Blue Jays regular season was the most-watched Blue Jays season in network history, reaching 20 million Canadians and delivering an average audience of 1,011,000 viewers;
– Sportsnet.ca saw average monthly audiences up 42% year-over-year, with October 2016 the highest month in its history with 4.28 million unique visitors, due to the Blue Jays’ postseason run and the start of the NHL season;
– Paid subscriptions for Rogers NHL GameCentre Live increased 11%, while Sportsnet Now, which launched direct-to-consumers in April 2016, grew its paid subscriber base 205% in the second half of the year.
"Storytelling remains at the heart of what we do, from grassroots and local sports to Canada's national teams and professional leagues," said Rogers Media’s president of Sportsnet & NHL Properties Scott Moore, in the news release. "Canadians have a deep passion for sports and we look forward to bringing fans the stories and games in new and exciting ways in 2017."
More of Sportsnet's 2016 highlights are available here.
