The Wild West Semi-Final between the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders was a hit on television.
TSN drew an average audience over 1 million for the double overtime drama-filled tilt. Riders kicker Brett Lauther split the uprights from 34 yards out to send Saskatchewan to the West Final with a 33-30 win.
The game featured six lead changes, eight turnovers and 756 yards of offence with a punt return touchdown from Jamal Morrow. Bo Levi Mitchell and Cody Fajardo combined to throw six interceptions with just one passing touchdown between the starting quarterbacks while No. 7 added 89 yards with one major on the ground.
Both East and West Semi-Final were going against the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. slate of games in the NFL and the CFL rated higher in each case. 689,000 viewers watched Lamar Jackson throw four picks but still lead the Baltimore Ravens over Cleveland on Sunday Night Football.
In the East, the Alouettes and Tiger-Cats outperformed the same post-season slot from two years ago and the final digits would certainly be boosted by the RDS total audience. When Montreal hosted the East Semi-Final in 2019 the combined rating was over 1 million.
Semi-Final Sunday TV ratings 2021:
Montreal at Hamilton — 684,000
Calgary at Saskatchewan — 1,061,000
Average: 872,500
2019
Edmonton at Montreal — 626,900 (RDS 405,000)
Winnipeg at Calgary — 1,100,800 (RDS 75,000)
Average: 863,850
2018
B.C. at Hamilton — 697,800
Winnipeg at Saskatchewan — 1,280,000
Average: 988,900
2017
Saskatchewan at Ottawa — 975,000
Edmonton at Winnipeg — 1,128,000
Average: 1,051,500
