Yesterday, NBC crowed about the ratings for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final which became the most-watched NHL game in NBC Sports Network’s history, dating back to when it was known as OLN/Versus. Viewership averaged just under 4 million people.
Now, NBC Sports Group has even more reason to be proud as a peacock as viewership for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final and the last NHL game of the season on NBC Sports Network averaged just over 4 million, 4.001 million to be exact. Last night’s game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins becomes just the second sporting event to go over the 4 million viewer mark. The US Women’s Soccer gold medal game against Japan in the 2012 Olympics last August averaged 4.35 million viewers.
The game received a 2.3 rating. It’s now the most watched SCF game on cable in 11 years when Carolina-Detroit was on ESPN.
Locally, Boston received an astounding 27.2 rating. Providence was next with a 19.4 followed by Chicago with a 16.8. Buffalo and Hartford-New Haven round out the top five highest-rated local markets for Game 3.
Here’s the NBC press release.
BRUINS-BLACKHAWKS GAME 3 IS MOST-WATCHED NHL GAME IN NBC SPORTS NETWORK HISTORY
Game 3 Averages 4.001 Million Viewers, Making It Most-Watched Stanley Cup Final Game on Cable in 11 Years
Game Delivers Best Viewership among Adults 18-49 & 25-54 in NBCSN History
NBCSN & CNBC Combine for Most-Watched Stanley Cup Playoffs on Cable in 14 YearsSTAMFORD, Conn. – June 18, 2013 – Last night’s Stanley Cup Final Game 3 averaged 4.001 million viewers on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), making it the most-watched NHL game in the network’s history (since 2005-06), and the most-watched Stanley Cup Final game on cable in 11 years, according to The Nielsen Company. Game 3 is now the second NBCSN event to surpass 4.0 million viewers, and also delivered the network its best viewership ever among Adults 18-49 and 25-54.
The game (8-10:55 p.m. ET), in which the Boston Bruins defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0, delivered a 2.3 household rating and 4.001 million viewers, surpassing Game 2 of the series, which was played on Saturday night and averaged 3.964 million viewers, as the most-watched NHL game in NBCSN history. Game 3 is now the second-most watched event in NBCSN history, trailing only the U.S. Women’s Soccer gold medal match vs. Japan during the London 2012 Olympics, which averaged 4.350 million viewers.
With 4.001 million viewers, Bruins-Blackhawks Game 3 is the most-watched Stanley Cup Final game on cable since 2002 (Carolina-Detroit, 6/4, ESPN, 4.015 million). It was up 93% compared to Game 4 last year (the second on NBC Sports Network), which averaged 2.069 million viewers for New Jersey-Los Angeles.
Bruins-Blackhawks Game 3 peaked with 4.887 million viewers from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET, and delivered NBCSN its best viewership ever among Adults 18-49 (2.047 million) and Adults 25-54 (2.136 million).
Three of the five most-watched NHL games in NBCSN history have occurred this season: last night’s Stanley Cup Final Game 3 (4.001 million viewers); Saturday night’s Game 2 (3.964 million); and Game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals between Chicago and Detroit (3.354 million).
Five Most-Watched NHL Games in NBC Sports Network History
Year Game Teams Viewers 2013 Stanley Cup Final, Game 3 Chicago @ Boston 4.001 million 2013 Stanley Cup Final, Game 2 Boston @ Chicago 3.964 million 2010 Stanley Cup Final, Game 3 Philadelphia @ Chicago 3.600 2009 Stanley Cup Final, Game 4 Detroit @ Pittsburgh 3.448 2013 Conference Semi-Finals, Game 7 Detroit @ Chicago 3.354 LOCAL VIEWERSHIP
Locally, Boston led all markets with a 27.2 household rating, the highest local rating ever in the market for an NHL game on NBCSN. Chicago received a 16.8 household rating, +7% from the Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup Final average on NBCSN in the market (15.7).
Following are the top five local markets for Game 3:
- Boston, 27.2
- Providence, 19.4
- Chicago, 16.8
- Buffalo, 5.1
- Hartford-New Haven, 3.2
NETWORK RANKING
NBCSN was the No. 1 cable network in Prime (8-11 p.m. ET) among Adults 18-49 and 25-54, and ranked No. 2 in average viewers. NBCSN also outperformed all broadcast networks, except NBC, among Adults 18-49 and 25-54. The game was the No. 1 cable program of the day among Adults 25-54, and No. 2 among Adults 18-49.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final was NBC Sports Network’s final telecast of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With an average audience of 3.980 million for Games 2 and 3, the 2013 Stanley Cup Final ranks as NBCSN’s most-watched final ever, and the most-watched on cable since 1997 (Detroit-Philadelphia, 4.919 million, ESPN).
The 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs set new records for NBCSN, averaging 1.209 million viewers for 55 games, up 17% from last year (1.030 million, 52 games).
NBCSN and CNBC combined to average 1.000 million viewers over 72 Stanley Cup Playoff games, making the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs the most-watched post-season on cable since 1999 (ESPN/ESPN2, 1.022 million).
MORE INFORMATION
The 2013 Stanley Cup Final returns to NBC tomorrow night with Game 4 from Boston, and the Bruins leading the series 2-1.
That’s it.
