It was a momentous first quarter for TSN, which, after airing its first Grey Cup and launching a new package of NHL and NBA games, saw its overall audiences increase 27% compared to last season.

The channel’s flagship news program, Sportscentre, also saw substantial increases in Q1, which ended Nov. 30. The evening and late editions of the daily show were up more than 30%, while the overnight, which airs at 2 a.m., was up 62% over last season, according BBM Nielsen Media Research. (All ratings 2+; all times Eastern.)

BBM Nielsen ranks TSN ahead of Rogers Sportsnet and The Score over the same period in all key advertising demographics.

The 21 NHL games that aired on the CTVglobemedia channel averaged 496,000 viewers — up 21% compared to the average for the 2007/08 regular season. In November, Raptors games on TSN averaged 209,000 viewers — up 27%.

Regular season CFL games, which this fall aired exclusively on TSN, were up 6% over last season, when it shared games with CBC.

Online, tsn.ca saw a 23% increase in web traffic from September to November, while its on-demand video player averaged more than five million plays per month. The sportscaster last month revamped its TSN Mobile, with up-to-the-minute sports news, scores and statistics.

The quarter also saw the sportscaster secure distribution deals for its TSN2, extending the new channel’s reach into more than 3.2 million homes.

From Media in Canada