Vanier Cup thriller attracts large audiences on TSN and RDS

TORONTO – The dramatic 2011 VANIER CUP (click to watch) between McMaster Marauders and Laval Rouge et Or at BC Place in Vancouver delivered big audiences for TSN and RDS. Overnight data from BBM Canada Research confirms that an average audience of 660,000 watched McMaster defeat defending champion Laval 41-38 in double overtime during Friday night’s game on TSN and RDS, marking McMaster’s first Vanier Cup victory.

Overall, close to 3 million Canadians tuned in to watch some or all of Friday night’s broadcast on TSN and RDS.

The audience for the thrilling game peaked at more than 1 million viewers on TSN and RDS during the last moments of the fourth quarter as Laval completed a dramatic comeback with a late touchdown, sending the game into overtime tied at 31-31.

This year’s VANIER CUP on TSN attracted an average audience of 372,000 – up 16% compared to last year.

The 2011 VANIER CUP was part of TSN’s 25 hours of special Grey Cup programming in celebration of the 99th GREY CUP.

TSN is Canada's Sports Leader and Canada’s most-watched specialty network. Delivering more sports coverage in High Definition than any other network in Canada, TSN's comprehensive broadcast schedule features an exciting lineup of sports including NHL, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLS, the IIHF World Junior Championship, Season of Champions Curling, Golf’s Majors, F1, NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, Grand Slam Tennis, EURO 2012 and 2016, the Tour de France, NCAA March Madness tournament and Championship Boxing events.  TSN properties include TSN2, TSN MOBILE and the industry-leading sports website TSN.ca.  Official broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games, TSN is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. 

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