When the NHL free agent market opened for business on Canada Day, all eyes were on TSN2, as preliminary overnight data from BBM Canada confirms that an average audience of 215,000 viewers watched the digital network’s five-hour (12 noon to 5 p.m. ET) live FREE AGENT FRENZY broadcast – the most ever in TSN2 history and up 82% compared to last year.
Overall, nearly 1.2 million unique viewers tuned in at some point to FREE AGENT FRENZY on TSN2. Audience levels peaked at 349,000 viewers at 3:26 p.m. ET.
TSN.ca was also the definitive destination for breaking news on free agent signings as Canada’s industry-leading sports website recorded nearly 12 million page views across all platforms (web and the TSN MOBILE app for BlackBerry, iPhone and iPad) – making it the seventh busiest day in TSN.ca history and the second busiest day for the website this year after NHL Trade Deadline Day in February.
In addition, TSN.ca registered 500,000 video views, including more than 70,000 fans watching a live stream of FREE AGENT FRENZY online, and saw more than 90,000 fans participating in the FREE AGENT FRENZY live blog throughout the afternoon.
“The record audience numbers on TSN2 and exceptional page views on TSN.ca further demonstrates that we are the country’s first choice and leader when it comes to breaking NHL news on one of the most exciting and lucrative days on the hockey calendar,” said Stewart Johnston, President, TSN. “Once again, hockey fans have shown they can’t get enough of Canada’s favourite pastime and we’re more than happy to deliver the NHL coverage that they crave all year round.”
FREE AGENT FRENZY debuted on TSN in 2006 and has since become a Canada Day tradition for hockey fans across the country. For the first time ever, the show integrated social media into the coverage with reactions from NHL players and fans on Twitter featured during the live broadcast. Fans in the U.S. were also able to keep tabs on their favourite players by watching TSN2’s FREE AGENT FRENZY broadcast on NHL Network.
