2024 CFL Week 1 English TV ratings jump 22 percent year-over-year

June 12, 2024

The Canadian Football League got off to a fast start in 2024.

English television ratings from Week 1 were up 22 percent compared to the first week of regular season CFL action in 2023, while French viewership on RDS, TSN’s French-language affiliate, increased by five percent year-over-year.

There was competition for attention during three games in Week 1, though the CFL did itself a favour by moving the start time of Roughriders at Elks up two hours to avoid overlapping with the Oilers playing Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in Florida. The Panthers’ series-opening 2-0 win drew 3,480,300 average viewers on Sportsnet and CBC.

The Blue Jays won 6-5 in a matinee at home on Thursday and posted 347,400 viewers, while Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics had 300,300 onlookers. The Jays produced audiences of 541,800, 550,600, and 604,000 over the weekend, while Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix brought in 632,300 F1 fans, and Game 2 in the NBA Finals drew 276,100 viewers.

It’s worth noting the Argonauts had a bye week to begin the season last year and the Redblacks were left off the season-opening slate this time around.

2024 Week 1 TV ratings:

Thursday
Montreal at Winnipeg — 507,500 TSN and 183,700 RDS (691,200 total)

Friday
Hamilton at Calgary — 495,500

Saturday
Saskatchewan at Edmonton — 453,400

Sunday
B.C. at Toronto — 438,400

Total average: 473,700 (French included: 519,625)

2023 Week 1 TV ratings:

Thursday
B.C. at Calgary — 226,900

Friday
Hamilton at Winnipeg — 511,500

Saturday
Ottawa at Montreal — 278,500 TSN and 174,000 RDS (452,500 total)

Sunday
Saskatchewan at Edmonton — 535,300

Total average: 388,050 (French included: 431,550)