This was just released by Fox Sports Ohio:
The Columbus Blue Jackets enjoyed the best season in franchise history in 2008-09, setting numerous team records on the ice and making their Stanley Cup Playoff debut. The live telecasts of the club’s regular season games on FOX Sports Ohio have also broken records with the highest television ratings in franchise history.
The network televised 76 regular season games and local broadcast ratings averaged a 1.86, which is the highest for a season since the network began televising Blue Jackets games during the inaugural 2000-01 season. 1.86 translates to an average of over 17,000 households in the Columbus market tuned in to the Jackets. This regular season’s average rating is a 62 percent increase from last season’s (1.15).
FOX Sports Ohio also televised all Jackets Stanley Cup Playoff games, which averaged a 4.66 household rating (over 43,000 households or 97,000 at-home viewers). In addition, ratings for Game 1 of the club’s first round Stanley Cup Playoffs series vs. the Detroit Red Wings on April 16 was the most-watched Blue Jackets game on FOX Sports Ohio ever, as it registered a 5.73 rating (over 53,000 households and 119,000 at-home viewers).
“As the cable home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, FOX Sports Ohio is proud of the season this young team enjoyed. While the network enjoyed record ratings this year, the excitement for the fans is where the real satisfaction lies,” said Henry Ford, senior vice president and general manager of FOX Sports Ohio. “The Blue Jackets not only delighted their local fan base, but have also made NHL hockey relevant and exciting in the Columbus market and FOX Sports Ohio’s larger footprint.”
Eighteen of the top 20 rated Blue Jackets telecasts on FOX Sports Ohio have occurred this season, including nine of the top 10 and top seven of all time:
Top 10 Rated Blue Jackets games on FOX Sports Ohio
Rk. Date Opponent Rating
1. * Thursday, Apr. 16, 2009 at Detroit Red Wings 5.73
2. Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2009 at Chicago Blackhawks 4.64
3. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 vs. Detroit Red Wings 4.53
4. * Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2009 vs. Detroit Red Wings 4.44
5. * Thursday, Apr. 23, 2009 vs. Detroit Red Wings 4.38
6. * Saturday, Apr. 18, 2009 at Detroit Red Wings 4.10
7. Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2009 vs. Nashville Predators 4.02
8. Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001 at Pittsburgh Penguins 3.28
9. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 at Calgary Flames 3.19
10. Friday, Apr. 10, 2009 at St. Louis Blues 3.07
"This season, watching games on FOX Sports Ohio was one of the most popular ways for our fans to follow the Blue Jackets and we are very appreciative of that," said Blue Jackets Vice President of Marketing Marc Gregory. "We are extremely pleased that a record number of viewers were able to share in the excitement of our most successful season to date and that they did so, in part, on FOX Sports Ohio."
Fans also showed a record response to the FOX Sports Ohio’s Jackets telecast on the final home game of the regular season this year, Saturday, April 11, when they hosted Viewer Appreciation Night, a texting promotion presented by Central Ohio Toyota Dealers. Viewers at home had the opportunity to text in to win great prize packs, and winners were announced live on the air. FOX Sports Ohio received over 16,000 text messages. The network’s average amount of text messages received per game up until this event was 1,000.
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Eric Smith
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