(Source: TSN)
With the final audience data of the season now in, the numbers show that curling is one of the most-watched sports properties on Canadian television. Overall, more than 13.7 million Canadians, or close to half the population, have tuned in to watch some of TSN’s extensive curling coverage this season.
Vic Rauter, right, and his fellow TSN curling broadcasters Russ Howard, left, and Linda Moore enjoyed another banner year in the ratings. (Photo, courtesy TSN)
As official broadcaster of the Canadian Curling Association, TSN broadcasts close to 300 hours of live Season of Champions curling each year, including the Tim Hortons Brier and Scotties Tournament of Hearts, along with the Men’s and Women’s World Championships, Capital One Canada Cup, WFG Continental Cup, and M&M Canadian Juniors.
Throughout TSN’s live curling coverage in primetime the network attracted an average audience of 561,000 viewers – making it one of the network’s most popular sports properties.
TSN wrapped up its exclusive Season of Champions coverage with its most-watched draw of the year, attracting an average audience of 1.13 million viewers for the 2013 Ford World Men’s Championship Final on Sunday, April 7.
“Curling is a cornerstone of the TSN schedule and it consistently ranks as one of most-watched sports on TSN every year,” said Stewart Johnston, President, TSN. “We are exceptionally proud of our curling coverage and are thrilled to have such a broad and dedicated audience turn to us time and time again – at all hours of the day – for the biggest events in curling.”
“This is yet another sign of the passion that curling fans have for this sport,” said Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Curling Association. “Our long-term partnership with TSN, which we renewed this season, has taken curling to new heights and we look forward to continued growth down the road.”
Snapshot of Season of Champions Curling on TSN during 2012-13 season:
- Total reach (number of Canadians who watched some curling coverage on TSN this season) – 13.6 million
- Average audience for curling in prime time – 561,000
- Average audience for all draws of Ford Men’s World Championship – 613,000
- Average audience for all draws of Tim Hortons Brier – 594,000
- Average audience for all draws of Scotties Tournament of Hearts – 497,000
- Average audience for all curling events on TSN during the 2012-13 season including morning and afternoon draws (294 hours) – 454,000
- Total hours of live coverage – 294
- Total events – 97
TSN’s top five audiences from the 2012-13 curling season are as follows:
- 2013 Ford World Men’s Championship Final – 1.1 million
- Scotties Tournament of Hearts Final – 1 million
- Tim Hortons Brier Final – 894,000
- Tim Hortons Brier Draw 17 (Alberta vs. Ontario) – 857,000
- 2013 Ford World Men’s Championship Semifinal – 836,000
(Source: BBM Canada)
TSN’s curling coverage is led by the broadcast team of Vic Rauter, Olympic gold medallist Linda Moore, and two-time Brier champion and Olympic gold medallist, Russ Howard. As announced last week, Howard will be inducted to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame – one of our country’s highest sporting honours – for his illustrious curling career.