from Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star,

For the season so far on Sportsnet, the Leafs are delivering an average audience of 478,000, a decrease of eight per cent from last year’s average or 518,000. Regular season regional numbers for the Leafs have long hovered around the half million mark. Sportsnet recorded its best numbers of the year (515,000) with Toronto versus Carolina on Nov. 20.

“While the ratings haven’t been where we would like them to be, they certainly are ahead of where they were at the end of last season,” said Sportsnet president Scott Moore. “I think the hardcore fans are buying into a plan, and they haven’t given up the way the fans did at the end of last year.”

“We’d always be happier to have the Leafs in contention and vying for a Stanley Cup, but I think the team was very clear with the fans with what to expect. I’m not personally all that surprised that they’ve had some success, as it’s not such a bad idea to lower expectations and then hopefully exceed them.”

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