NBC Sports is crowing about the ratings for Game 6 of the Boston Bruins-Washington Capitals series which went to overtime. The Group’s strategy to put all games on its national platforms is apparently working. NBC saw an average viewership of 3.52 million people for the Bruins win over the Caps making it the most viewed NHL non-Stanley Cup Final playoff game in 15 years. The previous high had been an average audience of 3.61 million for an Eastern Conference Final game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers on Fox in 1997.
NBC Sports says viewership on the NBC Sports Network through 12 days is up 17% compared to the games on Versus last year.
Tonight, NBC Sports Network airs just one game, Game 6 of the Florida at New Jersey series.
We have The Group’s press release.
BRUINS-CAPITALS GAME 6 ON NBC IS MOST-WATCHED NHL PLAYOFF GAME IN 15 YEARS
2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS – DAY 14Playoff Coverage Continues Tonight with Florida-New Jersey Game 6 @ 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (Florida leads 3-2)
Coverage begins with NHL Live at 6:30 p.m. ET
Bruins-Capitals Game 6 on NBC is Most-Watched NHL Playoff Game in 15 Years
Total Viewership of NHL Playoffs on NBC, NBCSN & CNBC up 37%NEW YORK – April 24, 2012 – Day 14 – With the Western Conference first round completed, the Eastern Conference continues with a possible elimination game tonight on the NBC Sports Network as the NBC Sports Group presents Day 14 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with NHL Live on NBC Sports Network.
TONIGHT
Tonight at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network, the #3 Florida Panthers, leading the series 3-2, look to advance to the second round when they host the #6 New Jersey Devils. With a victory tonight, the Panthers will win their first playoff series since 1996. Tonight’s schedule (all times ET):
7:30 p.m. #3 Florida Panthers @ #6 New Jersey Devils (Game 6) NBCSN Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire VIEWERSHIP NOTES
BRUINS-CAPITALS GAME 6 ON NBC IS MOST-WATCHED NHL PLAYOFF GAME IN 15 YEARS: The Bruins at Capitals Game 6 last Sunday on NBC drew 3.52 million viewers, making it the most-watched NHL Playoff game (excluding Stanley Cup Final games) in 15 years, since May 25, 1997 (Rangers-Flyers Conference Final game, Fox, 3.61 million viewers).
- The 3.52 million for Bruins-Capitals is the most-watched early-round NHL Playoff game in Nielsen People Meter history (dating back to 1993).
- Boston (16.3 rating) and Washington, D.C. (8.6) both registered the best rating for an NHL playoff game, excluding Stanley Cup Final games, in their respective local markets in Nielsen People Meter history (dating back to 1993).
VIEWERSHIP ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK UP 17%: Through 12 days, and with one Game 6 and at least two Game 7s (possibly three) remaining, average viewership of the NHL Quarterfinals on NBC Sports Network is up 17% compared to the same days last year (691,000 vs. 591,000).
TOTAL VIEWERSHIP OF NHL PLAYOFFS UP 37%: *Nearly 23 million viewers (22.76 million) have watched the NHL Playoffs on NBC, NBCSN, and CNBC through Sun 4/22, up 37% from the same period last year (16.577 million).
*Please note that this data goes through Sunday, April 15 on NBC and Sunday, April 22 on NBCSN/CNBC
CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC or NHL Network in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.
NBC Sports Network Twenty two CNBC Eleven NBC Six NHL Network Five
That is it.
