Sportsnet Sets Record for MLB Division Series; Audiences Up 21%

– Game 5 duel between Tigers and Yankees produces network’s most-watched Division Series games with 771,000 (2+) viewers –

TORONTO (October 12, 2011) – Sportsnet has hit a home run with its coverage of the 2011 MLB Division Series, establishing a network record average audience of 490,000 (2+)* viewers for each game in the four series, up 21 per cent compared to the 2010 average of 404,000 viewers.

Previously, the network’s largest average audience for the MLB Division Series was 434,000 (2+) viewers in 2009.

The most-watched MLB Division Series game this year is also the most-watched ever on Sportsnet, with an average of 771,000 (2+)* viewers tuning in to last Thursday’s series clinching 3-2 win by the Detroit Tigers over the New York Yankees.

Sportsnet’s most-watched MLB Division Series this year was the Tigers vs. Yankees series with an average of 533,000 viewers per game (note: Game 2 of the series aired only on the Sportsnet West and Pacific channels).

MLB Playoff coverage continues on Sportsnet with Game 4 of the American League Championship Series with the Detroit Tigers hosting the Texas Rangers at 3:30 p.m. (ET)/12:30 p.m. (PT) and Game 3 of the National League Championship Series with the St. Louis Cardinals visiting the Milwaukee Brewers at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT).

Sportsnet’s MLB playoff coverage features a half-hour pre-game show with host Jamie Campbell and analyst Gregg Zaun.

For the full 2011 American and National League Championship schedule on Sportsnet, please click here.

Sportsnet’s live coverage of the World Series begins on Wednesday, Oct. 19th.

* Source: Preliminary data from BBM Canada

About Sportsnet

Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Sportsnet is Fuelled By Fans, and delivers storytelling on a local, regional, national and global level. The multiplatform brand consists of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and the Sportsnet iPad app. Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in NHL and MLB television broadcasts and is home to 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series. Sportsnet is an official broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, the Memorial Cup, and soccer programming with UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League, MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Canadian national team matches for men and women. Sportsnet Connected is the network’s nightly news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.

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