TSN: 9.3 million Canadians tuned in for Gold Medal game

http://tsn.ca/world_jrs/story/?id=262167&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

Team Canada's gold medal victory at the World Junior Hockey Championship last night has made ratings history for TSN as the most-watched broadcast of all time on the network.

Preliminary data revealed 3.7 million viewers watched Canada take its fifth consecutive gold medal in a 5-1 victory over Sweden. The audience surpassed TSN's previous audience high of 3.5 million viewers for the gold medal game at the 2003 World Junior Championship in Halifax.

The gold medal game on TSN is the most-watched program ever on a Canadian specialty channel and is also the most-watched program overall across all Canadian television this broadcast season. Audience levels for the game peaked at 4.7 million viewers at 9:58pm et, as Team Canada celebrated its victory in Ottawa.

With 602,000 viewers, RDS also had a record audience for the gold medal game. TSN and RDS's total combined viewership for the game was a record 4.3 million. The game was watched in whole or in part by 9.3 million Canadians, or nearly 30% of the country's population.

Overall, the World Junior Championship in Ottawa has been the most successful tournament ever for TSN. The network averaged 1.7 million viewers over Team Canada's six games (four preliminary round games, one semifinal game and the gold medal final), surpassing the previous high of 1.6 million in the 2006 event in Vancouver by 5%.

TSN.ca also scored big with Team Canada's gold medal win with an additional 100,000 viewers watching live streams of the championship game online.

So 1/3 of the country was watching this game:amazed:

This tournament is growing to sizes that no one could have hoped to imagine even 10 years ago
This is fantastic news for Hockey Canada, and the strength of those young men:handclap:

Well, Canada loves it's hockey.

Would it be possible for next year's tournament to beat those numbers?

Not too shabby!

We Canadians have a mad love for this game it would seem. 30% is really strong ratings, especially on a week day.

Would it be possible for next year's tournament to beat those numbers?

Ahh....I wouldn't imagine....

This one had the drive for five and Tavares vs. Hedman going for it...


I don't think you can underestimate Tavares...

Wasn't the Olympic gold medal game in 2002 something like 11 million viewers?

When is the schedule announced for the next WJ in Regina/Saskatoon. I want to buy tickets but I want to know the games. If anyone could help it would be appreciated!

Would it be possible for next year's tournament to beat those numbers?

I think they just might.

The hype's just going to build...but they're going to have to market Hall or Kane or somebody pretty hard to get some extra watchers.

Ahh....I wouldn't imagine....

This one had the drive for five

And drive for six won't be as popular because it doesn't rhyme? But I agree it will be very hard to beat these numbers.

I'd be curious to hear the Swedish television numbers, if they are available anywhere. Any Swedes out there with said #'s?

Would it be possible for next year's tournament to beat those numbers?

Attendance wise probably not since Ottawa has an NHL rink, but for viewers who knows here in Canada.

3.7 million real number <_>

but yeah that still isn't close to Gold Medal 2010.

but yeah that still isn't close to Gold Medal 2010.

provided - of course - that Canada is indeed in the final...

3.7 million real number <_>

but yeah that still isn't close to Gold Medal 2010.

Real number? 9.3 million Canadians watched parts of the game.

I'd be curious to hear the Swedish television numbers, if they are available anywhere. Any Swedes out there with said #'s?

Considering the game started at around 2 a.m i'm guessing the numers will be very limited if it was even televised.

Does anyone know if the hats that the boys wore during the awards ceremonies are available for sale to the general public anywhere??

And drive for six won't be as popular because it doesn't rhyme? But I agree it will be very hard to beat these numbers.

In the mix for six?

Sixkatoon should be fun.

Really I'm just not that surprised. We're a hockey nation.

Considering how incredible the previous two games were, im not really all that surprised.

God 1/3 the country. Thats so awesome

Not counting those watching online because of no TSN -_-.

God 1/3 the country. Thats so awesome

Has there been an event with 100 million viewers in the US?

Does anyone know if the hats that the boys wore during the awards ceremonies are available for sale to the general public anywhere??

Not anywhere yet, but I'd be very surprised if Ice Jerseys or Rivercity Sports doesn't have them by weeks end.

God 1/3 the country. Thats so awesome

Yeah so when you think of it, this game was as popular in Canada as the Superbowl is for Americans.

Has there been an event with 100 million viewers in the US?

Basically it just comes down to the superbowl really. I'm not sure of what the numbers are for that. But considering how many people have parties and go to bars for the game, I don't think tv ratings would really be accurate.

I told my friend last night when he said "what the hell are you watching Montreal (he thought the red team was montreal) play S-W-E for" that this is basically the superbowl in Canada.

Non-hockey fans just will never understand how amazing the sport is and especially this event. Watching the WJC is just a pleasure.

Not counting those watching online because of no TSN -_-.

Very good point.

From a completely personal perspective, I was in a 7pm -10pm class (University obviously) along with about 30 other people who were all watching the game online.

God bless TSN and their online streaming. :handclap:

Haha why go to class at all if you are going to watch online. They take attendance?

Haha why go to class at all if you are going to watch online. They take attendance?

First day. Dont want to miss anything important. Some profs go full steam and you cant miss a class. Even if youre paying minimal attention its still better than skipping outright ("let that be a lesson to you kids out there" -Don Cherry impersonation).

And no, attendance is not taken.

It was really funny though to see the game on everyones laptop. I guess that'd be something uniquely Canadian. :laugh:

It was really funny though to see the game on everyones laptop. I guess that'd be something uniquely Canadian. :laugh:

Hey, Latvia suspended it's Parliament so they could go watch them play Russia, so we're not the only crazy nuts out there.

I'd be interested in seeing the Saturday night numbers. Hockey Night in Canada vs. Canada/Russia. Did anyone even see Don Cherry that night? Or the Leafs?

Ahh....I wouldn't imagine....

This one had the drive for five and Tavares vs. Hedman going for it...


I don't think you can underestimate Tavares...

Honestly I think it will. Keep in mind that Hamilton in 1986 was the best until Winnipeg in 1999 when they hit some insane levels. Then Halifax in 2003, then Vancouver in 2006. Now Ottawa of 2009. In Canada at least it improves every time they host the tournament

There are 9.3 million of us? Holy crap!

Has there been an event with 100 million viewers in the US?

Check superbowl numbers, they are pretty crazy high.

When is the schedule announced for the next WJ in Regina/Saskatoon. I want to buy tickets but I want to know the games. If anyone could help it would be appreciated!

I have the full 21 game ticket package, but I would like to know this as well!

Attendance wise probably not since Ottawa has an NHL rink, but for viewers who knows here in Canada.

Definitely not.... With the added seats CUC will top out at a little over 15,000 I think.

Attendance wise probably not since Ottawa has an NHL rink, but for viewers who knows here in Canada.

tv numbers would likely be better because of fewer people in attendence.

Wikipedia says the the most whom have ever watched a Superbowl (XLII last year) is 97.5 million. That's pretty comparable, and I'm sure 5million or so are Canadians (I know a lot of people who watch it and don't even like football).

When the MVP of the entire tournament arrived there were only about 5 fans there to greet him.

Why would Tavares go to Saskatoon on his way back to Oshawa?

If for some odd reason you're calling Tokarski the MVP of the entire tournament, then you need a serious wake up call.

That is awsome that that many people tuned in. However I was shocked today when I was at the Saskatoon airport to get a shot of Dustin Tokarski arriving to a crowd full of fans for the news company I work for. When the MVP of the entire tournament arrived there were only about 5 fans there to greet him. It was downright embarrassing actually, I would have figured way more team Canada fans would be out to welcome him in. If this is any indication of how Saskatoon will greet there players when they host next years tourney, we may be in trouble.

I should also add that he was in no way phased by the lack of fans and gladly took the time to talk with us and pose with his medal and sign autographs for those who did show up.

Why did Tavares come to Saskatoon?

That is awsome that that many people tuned in. However I was shocked today when I was at the Saskatoon airport to get a shot of Dustin Tokarski arriving to a crowd full of fans for the news company I work for. When the MVP of the entire tournament arrived there were only about 5 fans there to greet him. It was downright embarrassing actually, I would have figured way more team Canada fans would be out to welcome him in. If this is any indication of how Saskatoon will greet there players when they host next years tourney, we may be in trouble.

I should also add that he was in no way phased by the lack of fans and gladly took the time to talk with us and pose with his medal and sign autographs for those who did show up.

Unless one is being paid they should be embarrassed to wait for someone at an airport.

Now if only people in other countries cared half as much as we did...Not ragging on the tourney or anything (still amazing hockey) but its more exciting if you know there are millions of people cheering for the other side.

I'd like to see the US get better in the WJC, it'd be great to see a few Team Canada vs Team USA in the gold medal game.