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Maybe that All-Star Game thing can help the Toronto Raptors. With Toronto hosting the first NBA all-star game outside the United States last weekend, television ratings went way beyond expectations. The Saturday night competitions almost broke the million mark on TSN and Sportsnet One, bringing in an audience 377 per cent higher than the one that witnessed last year's broadcast. The game itself was the second most-watched in Canadian history on Sunday, falling just short of what Michael Jordan drew in his return to the game in 1996. Friday's Rising Stars Challenge was 182 per cent above the 2015 version. Overall, 3.1 million viewers watched some or all of the game and 2.6 million the Saturday night competition. Canada even outperformed the U.S., where TNT saw its audience grow 6 per cent to 7.6 million. In fact, the NBA dominated the weekend ratings in the Great White North. And when was the last time that happened? (Hint: never.) It's amazing how much more popular an event becomes when your country or your city is hosting it. But a weekend full of big ratings isn't the only thing the NBA and its broadcasters got out of this. No doubt the two networks who own a chunk of the team are hoping the all-star euphoria rubs off on the Raptors, who needed a little euphoria spread their way. So far, the season has been a major disappointment for the Raptors. Despite being one of the top teams in the NBA, the Raptors have watched their TV ratings decline. In fact, they're averaging 197,000 viewers a game on Sportsnet channels -- down 14 per cent from last year. (TSN's ratings aren't available at this time, but it's hard to imagine they're much different.) So what's going on? If a team is better, shouldn't its ratings be better, too? Shouldn't the Raptors being drawing bigger audiences than skiing and bobsledding? Sportsnet president Scott Moore is as baffled as anyone. Unlike his network's Canadian NHL properties, this one is a winner. Some of it might have to do with the trend away from regular TV viewing toward mobile devices and semi-legal websites. Those trends are even stronger among young viewers, who make up a big portion of the Raptors’ fan base. "It's difficult to explain ratings these days," he said. "We're seeing a certain amount of sports viewership migrate to different platforms. That could be one thing. Another real issue is that Toronto basketball fans are die-hards, but they're also waiting and seeing." That may mean no dividends until next season. "To me, it looks like if they were ever going to prove it, it's this year," Moore said. "If they win a playoff round this year, then you'll see an immediate effect on ratings this year and it will have a trailing effect next season." The Raptors and their broadcasters are hoping he's right. Here are the most-watched English-language sports broadcasts from the past weekend, according to Numeris overnight ratings: 1. NHL, Leafs-Canucks/Sens-Jackets, Saturday, CBC-City: 1,470,000 2. NBA, All-Star Saturday Night, Saturday, TSN-Sportsnet One: 992,000 3. NHL, Jets at Oilers, Saturday, CBC-Sportsnet: 965,000 4. NBA, All-Star Game, Sunday, TSN-Sportsnet One: 948,000 5. NBA, Celebrity Challenge, Friday, TSN-Sportsnet One: 731,000 6. NBA, Rising Stars Challenge, Friday, TSN-Sportsnet One: 376,000 7. Skiing, World Cup freestyle aerials, Saturday, CBC: 232,000 8. Bobsled, Skeleton and bobsleigh world championships, Saturday, CBC: 210,000 9. Curling, Alberta men's final, Sunday, Sportsnet: 181,000 10. NHL, Bruins at Wild, Saturday, Sportsnet: 180,000 11. NHL, Canadiens at Sabres, Friday, Sportsnet East: 168,000 12. Speed skating, World single-distance championships, Saturday, CBC: 154,000 13. Curling, Alberta men's semifinal, Sunday, Sportsnet: 150,000 14. NHL, Flyers at Rangers, Sunday, Sportsnet: 137,000 15. Snowboarding, World Cup Big Air, Saturday, CBC: 126,000 16. Biathlon, World Cup, Saturday, CBC: 114,000 17. NHL, Kings at Devils, Sunday, Sportsnet One: 109,000 18. Curling, B.C. Men's semifinal, Sunday, Sportsnet: 104,000 19. Soccer, Sunderland at Manchester United, Saturday, TSN: 103,000 THREE TO WATCH Back to reality: After Toronto basked in all that world attention, even though basking while the temperature hovers around -20C isn't easy, it's back to business for the city's basketball team. The Raptors will kick off the unofficial second half of the season against the Chicago Bulls (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, TSN) while hoping all that cold didn't cool them off. Sweep dreams: Cold is more linked to curling than basketball, which makes Grande Prairie, Alta., the perfect setting for this year's Tournament of Hearts. The best women's curling teams in the country will try to unseat defending champion Jennifer Jones of Manitoba. It all starts Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, TSN). Vroom with a view: While Chase Elliott may seem like the perfect name for a NASCAR drive, the 20-year-old certainly won't be doing any chasing to start the Daytona 500. He's the youngest pole-sitter in the event's history. All the revving and banging kicks off the 2016 season Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Fox).   Continue to Article

February 18, 2016 11:21:am EST

Maybe that All-Star Game thing can help the Toronto Raptors. With Toronto hosting the first NBA all-star game outside the United States last weekend, television ratings went way beyond expectations. The Saturday night competitions almost broke the million mark on TSN and Sportsnet One, bringing in an audience 377 per cent higher than the one that witnessed last year's broadcast. The game itself was the second most-watched in Canadian history on Sunday, falling just short of what Michael Jordan drew in his return to the game in 1996. Friday's Rising Stars Challenge was 182 per cent above the 2015 version. Overall, 3.1 million viewers watched some or all of the game and 2.6 million the Saturday night competition. Canada even outperformed the U.S., where TNT saw its audience grow 6 per cent to 7.6 million. In fact, the NBA dominated the weekend ratings in the Great White North. And when was the last time that happened? (Hint: never.) It's amazing how much more popular an event becomes when your country or your city is hosting it. But a weekend full of big ratings isn't the only thing the NBA and its broadcasters got out of this. No doubt the two networks who own a chunk of the team are hoping the all-star euphoria rubs off on the Raptors, who needed a little euphoria spread their way. So far, the season has been a major disappointment for the Raptors. Despite being one of the top teams in the NBA, the Raptors have watched their TV ratings decline. In fact, they're averaging 197,000 viewers a game on Sportsnet channels -- down 14 per cent from last year. (TSN's ratings aren't available at this time, but it's hard to imagine they're much different.) So what's going on? If a team is better, shouldn't its ratings be better, too? Shouldn't the Raptors being drawing bigger audiences than skiing and bobsledding? Sportsnet president Scott Moore is as baffled as anyone. Unlike his network's Canadian NHL properties, this one is a winner. Some of it might have to do with the trend away from regular TV viewing toward mobile devices and semi-legal websites. Those trends are even stronger among young viewers, who make up a big portion of the Raptors’ fan base. "It's difficult to explain ratings these days," he said. "We're seeing a certain amount of sports viewership migrate to different platforms. That could be one thing. Another real issue is that Toronto basketball fans are die-hards, but they're also waiting and seeing." That may mean no dividends until next season. "To me, it looks like if they were ever going to prove it, it's this year," Moore said. "If they win a playoff round this year, then you'll see an immediate effect on ratings this year and it will have a trailing effect next season." The Raptors and their broadcasters are hoping he's right. Here are the most-watched English-language sports broadcasts from the past weekend, according to Numeris overnight ratings: 1. NHL, Leafs-Canucks/Sens-Jackets, Saturday, CBC-City: 1,470,000 2. NBA, All-Star Saturday Night, Saturday, TSN-Sportsnet One: 992,000 3. NHL, Jets at Oilers, Saturday, CBC-Sportsnet: 965,000 4. NBA, All-Star Game, Sunday, TSN-Sportsnet One: 948,000 5. NBA, Celebrity Challenge, Friday, TSN-Sportsnet One: 731,000 6. NBA, Rising Stars Challenge, Friday, TSN-Sportsnet One: 376,000 7. Skiing, World Cup freestyle aerials, Saturday, CBC: 232,000 8. Bobsled, Skeleton and bobsleigh world championships, Saturday, CBC: 210,000 9. Curling, Alberta men's final, Sunday, Sportsnet: 181,000 10. NHL, Bruins at Wild, Saturday, Sportsnet: 180,000 11. NHL, Canadiens at Sabres, Friday, Sportsnet East: 168,000 12. Speed skating, World single-distance championships, Saturday, CBC: 154,000 13. Curling, Alberta men's semifinal, Sunday, Sportsnet: 150,000 14. NHL, Flyers at Rangers, Sunday, Sportsnet: 137,000 15. Snowboarding, World Cup Big Air, Saturday, CBC: 126,000 16. Biathlon, World Cup, Saturday, CBC: 114,000 17. NHL, Kings at Devils, Sunday, Sportsnet One: 109,000 18. Curling, B.C. Men's semifinal, Sunday, Sportsnet: 104,000 19. Soccer, Sunderland at Manchester United, Saturday, TSN: 103,000 THREE TO WATCH Back to reality: After Toronto basked in all that world attention, even though basking while the temperature hovers around -20C isn't easy, it's back to business for the city's basketball team. The Raptors will kick off the unofficial second half of the season against the Chicago Bulls (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, TSN) while hoping all that cold didn't cool them off. Sweep dreams: Cold is more linked to curling than basketball, which makes Grande Prairie, Alta., the perfect setting for this year's Tournament of Hearts. The best women's curling teams in the country will try to unseat defending champion Jennifer Jones of Manitoba. It all starts Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, TSN). Vroom with a view: While Chase Elliott may seem like the perfect name for a NASCAR drive, the 20-year-old certainly won't be doing any chasing to start the Daytona 500. He's the youngest pole-sitter in the event's history. All the revving and banging kicks off the 2016 season Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Fox).   Continue to Article

February 18, 2016 11:21:am EST

With their best player likely sidelined until March and the season slipping away, the Chicago Bulls are reportedly considering selling off a couple of their major pieces. Trending in a positive direction, the Cleveland Cavaliers could be looking to add some frontcourt help given Kevin Love's shoulder injury. The clubs may be returning from the All-Star break with a different look Thursday night when the host Cavaliers try to avoid their third straight loss to the Bulls. Continue to Article

February 17, 2016 9:21:pm EST

With their best player likely sidelined until March and the season slipping away, the Chicago Bulls are reportedly considering selling off a couple of their major pieces. Trending in a positive direction, the Cleveland Cavaliers could be looking to add some frontcourt help given Kevin Love's shoulder injury. The clubs may be returning from the All-Star break with a different look Thursday night when the host Cavaliers try to avoid their third straight loss to the Bulls. Continue to Article

February 17, 2016 9:21:pm EST