Topics: Press Release, MLS Cup, Toronto FC, Seattle Sounders, TSN, RDS
Toronto FC breaks all-time audience record yet again, with 1.5 million viewers tuning in to the MLS CUP 2016 on TSN and RDS.

Milestones:

  1. Historic MLS championship marks a 10% audience increase on TSN and RDS over previous all-time record, set last month during the MLS Eastern Conference Championship
  2. MLS CUP 2016 marks the third new all-time audience record set during the AUDI 2016 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS on TSN and RDS
  3. TSN was the most-watched network in Canada on Saturday, ahead of all conventional networks 

Toronto FC has broken the all-time MLS audience record yet again, after their storybook run through the AUDI 2016 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS culminated with a penalty kick showdown in the MLS CUP 2016, one of 60+ iconic championships that live on TSN. Overnight data from Numeris confirms that an average audience of more than 1.5 million viewers tuned in to TFC’s penalty kick loss to the Seattle Sounders on TSN (1.43 million*) and RDS (92,000*) to become Canada’s most-watched MLS game in history. The game was the most-watched television program – including sports broadcasts – in Canada on Saturday night.

The MLS CUP 2016 marked a 10% increase in average audience over the previous record, set on Nov. 30 in the MLS Eastern Conference Championship matchup between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, with the TSN audience for Saturday night’s match almost doubling that of the conference final.

Audience levels peaked at 11 p.m. ET with 2.7 million viewers as Sounders defender Román Torres slotted home his penalty kick to seal the victory for Seattle. Overall, 4.2 million individual Canadians watched some part of Saturday night’s championship game on TSN and RDS.

TFC fans rallied around the Reds on Saturday night, as the MLS CUP 2016 was the most-watched program in the Greater Toronto Area – more than doubling the audience of the next-highest broadcast in the team’s home market and delivering a 35% share.

As well, TSN’s official Instagram and Snapchat stories attracted 270,000 and 250,000 views, respectively, bringing fans closer to the game with behind-the-scenes content from the TFC-Sounders clash at Toronto’s BMO Field.

MLS All-Time Canadian Audience Records

Throughout the thrilling AUDI 2016 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS, Canadian teams have broken the all-time MLS audience record three times:

  • 1 million viewers: Toronto FC-Montreal Impact, Eastern Conference Championship Leg 1
  • 1.4 million viewers: Toronto FC-Montreal Impact, Eastern Conference Championship Leg 2
  • 1.5 million viewers: Toronto FC-Seattle Sounders, MLS CUP 2016