The Toronto Raptors’ Victoria Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers produced some ratings fireworks for TSN.
Toronto’s 105-99 win over the Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern Conference finals Monday attracted an average audience of 1.8 million on the Bell Media specialty channel, according to overnight numbers from Numeris.
It was the most-watched program of the night on Canadian television. The broadcast also garnered a massive 36.5% share in the Greater Toronto Area.
Audiences peaked at 3.2 million in the fourth quarter, as the Raptors withstood a large surge by LeBron James and his Cleveland teammates to hang on for a 105-99 victory.
In total, 5.5 million unique Canadians watched at least part of Monday’s game, which saw the Raptors’ dynamic duo of Kyle Lowry (above right) and DeMar DeRozan (left) combine for 67 points.
The Cavaliers clobbered the Raptors 116-78 in Game 5, but the series returns to Toronto for game six on Friday (8:30 p.m., TSN). If the Raptors force a seventh and deciding game, it will air on Sportsnet at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday.
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TSN’s coverage of Sunday’s gold medal game between Canada and Finland at the IIHL World Championship attracted an average audience of 1.56 million on TSN and RDS. The game saw Canada claim its second straight gold medal with a 2-0 victory.
Audience levels peaked at 2.6 million late in the game, while more than 4.6 million unique viewers watched at least part of the game.
More than 11 million Canadians watched at least part of the tournament, with ratings for Team Canada’s quarter-final, semi-final and final games up 13% over last year.
TSN recently announced a new broadcast deal with Infront Sports & Media, the International Ice Hockey Federation’s exclusive media and marketing partner, that will see it broadcast the annual tournament until 2023.
