TV and streaming coverage of the 2022 BC Men’s and Scotties BC Women’s Championships has engaged curling fans in a big way.

“We were really happy to be able to share the championships with such a large number of people online and on broadcast TV,” said Curl BC CEO Scott Braley. “Since COVID protocols prevented us from having in-person spectators, it was really wonderful to be able to provide so many viewing opportunities to so many curling fans.”

The championships, which took place in Kamloops from January 4th to 9^th, were broadcast over a number of platforms. Preliminary games were streamed live on Curl BC’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/curlbctv, with the semi-finals and finals broadcast live on CHEK-TV and simulcast on www.cbcsports.ca.

Along with the on-ice action, viewers were treated to expert play-by-play analysis from Olympic medalist Melissa Soligo, as well as colour commentary from competitive curler and stand-up comedian John Cullen.

For the live preliminary draws, there were a total of 99,675 views on YouTube. For the two semi-final games, there were 22,327 combined views on YouTube and www.cbcsports.ca, and 33,876 combined views for the two championship finals. For the final four games, that’s a 71% increase in viewership over the 2020 BC Men’s and Scotties BC Women’s Championships*.

For the live over-air broadcasts on CHEK, each of the four semi-final and final games garnered impressive ratings. The women’s semi-final saw an average of 18,300 fans tuned in at any given minute, while the men’s semi-final garnered 52,500. The two final championship games saw the women pull in 38,700 viewers, while the men drew an average audience of 25,000**.

Overall, that’s an 85% increase in live over-the-air broadcast viewership over 2020.

*Sources: CBC + Youtube analytics

** Source: NLogic 2+ Total Canada