Raps season opener gets terrible ratings (54,000 viewers)

[West Rouge]

The demographic of basketball fans are young adults and immigrants are less likely to have the expanded cable package of TSN2, SNT2.

They have really missed the boat not only on building the brand but keep the core audience involved

[The Duke]

Word to the Wise --- Don't go up against Corner Gas

[Sherlock]

I agree with the majority of folks that putting the game on TSN2 is part of the problem. The raps being an awful team are also a big issue.

But the other problem as others have mentioned is that there is very limited discussion/highlights of the Raptors and the NBA more broadly on Sportscentre, Sportsnet Connected, etc. It's even worse when you consider the sports segments from the local 6pm newscasts. It's close to impossible to find NBA highlights or coverage on TV.

If Bell and Rogers want to make some money from the Raptors, they need to invest in getting NBA highlights some airtime on these sportscasts. Come March/April, these shows need to be spending at least reasonable amounts of time talking about the NBA playoff race instead of just the NHL. The TNT double-headers should be simulcast on one of the standard national channels every Thursday.

Things like this are critical if MLSE ever hopes to make the Raptors and the NBA relevant in this country.


I also find those Argos TV ratings very hard to believe!

[ForeverTFC]

TSN saved the CFL. If they wanted to, they could do the same for the Raptors.

However, the NBA goes up against the NHL, which features a number of Canadian teams. TSN invested in CFL and MLS due to Rogers hoarding Jay's rights. TSN needed summer hometown content. The NBA does not have that luxury.