Bombers-Alouettes draw best single-game TV rating of 2023 as CFL produces highest average week

The CFL played only three games this past week and broke away from the schedule it established to start the year, yet Week 4 generated the best TV ratings of the season so far.

Saturday’s rain-delayed game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes led the way with an average audience of over a half-million on TSN plus an additional 200,000 eyeballs on RDS, TSN’s French-language affiliate. The combined rating of 735,000 was relatively close to Sportsnet’s ratings for the Toronto Blue Jays that afternoon, which started at 3 p.m. ET and brought in an average of 856,900 viewers.

The Blue Jays crushed Friday’s night matchup between the Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks, which snapped Ottawa’s 13-game home losing streak. Canada’s lone MLB franchise drew an average audience of 921,000, while the Elks and Redblacks drew barely one-third of that.

With the help of a strong Monday night rating from the Lions and Argos, the CFL had its best week on television so far this season. Ratings were up 5.9 percent from Week 3 and 21.7 percent from Week 1. This is especially notable given that the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who typically draw strong ratings, were on a bye week.

2023 Week 4 TV ratings:

Friday
Edmonton at Ottawa — 344,700

Saturday
Winnipeg at Montreal — 534,400 TSN and 200,600 RDS for 735,000 total

Monday
B.C. at Toronto — 573,000

Total Week 4 average: 484,000 (French included: 550,900)