SPORTSNET AUDIENCES REACH 5.4 MILLION VIEWERS ON CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

Sportsnet attracted 544,000 (2+) for MasterCard Memorial Cup Final

TORONTO (May 31, 2011) – Rogers Sportsnet audiences hit an eye-popping 5.4 million viewers (A2+, reach) for “Championship Weekend”, highlighted by the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup final and the UEFA Champions League final.

Below are the following live event audiences for Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 on Sportsnet, according to BBM Canada's overnight preliminary data:

Sunday, May 29 – 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup Final: 544,000 (2+)

Sunday, May 29 – Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox: 526,000 (2+)

Saturday, May 28 – UEFA Champions League Final: 438,000 (2+)

Saturday, May 28 – Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox: 325,000 (2+) (Sportsnet ONE) Sportsnet’s MasterCard Memorial Cup final between Saint John and the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors peaked at 852,000 (2+) as the Sea Dogs won their first ever championship. Sportsnet’s highest-rated MasterCard Memorial Cup broadcast was 806,000 (2+) in 2005 when the host London Knights captured the championship over Sidney Crosby and the Rimouski Oceanic.

Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Manchester United secured the UEFA Champions League crown and an audience of 438,000, 45 per cent above last year’s Champions League final of 303,000 viewers. Saturday’s championship match peaked at 731,000 (2+). The game also garnered 140,000 (2+) viewers for the replay later that evening.

The Jays on Rogers Sportsnet broadcast attracted 526,000 viewers who watched Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill hit a first-inning grand slam in a 13-4 blowout over the White Sox. The Sportsnet audience also peaked at 718,000 (2+).

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