Thanks to the third overtime game in four contests, NBC is assured of a long Stanley Cup Final series, six games at least. With Chicago winning 6-5 in the extra session, NBC received a 3.8 rating, up 124% from last year’s Game 2 featuring Los Angeles and New Jersey. Remember, NBC carried Games 1 and 2 last year along with Game 5. This year, it started with Game 1 and picked up with Game 4 through the conclusion.
The average viewership was 6.459 million, up 120% from last year’s SCF Game 2. These numbers mark the most watched Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final dating back to 1987 when ESPN aired the games.
Compared with Game 1, Game 4’s ratings are down by just a shade. Game 1 received a 3.9 rating, but the viewership for Game 4 is up vs. Game 1’s 6.358 million.
For the first four games, NBC Sports Group is averaging a 3.1 rating on NBC/NBCSN and 5.356 million viewers.
Locally, Boston was tops in the rankings with a 28.9 rating. Chicago was next with a 22.0. Providence was third with a 20.0. Buffalo and Detroit round out the top 5. And Detroit won’t be able to watch Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on the local NBC affiliate as it will air a fireworks display instead. I’m not kidding.
Here’s the press release.
MOST-WATCHED STANLEY CUP FINAL ON RECORD THROUGH FOUR GAMES
Bruins-Blackhawks Is Also Most-Watched Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Ever
Game 4 Averaged 6.459 Million Viewers, Up 120% from Second NBC Game Last Year
Game 4 Peaked with 8.192 Million Viewers in Overtime
NBC Wins NightNEW YORK – June 20, 2013 – With three of the first four games needing overtime, the 2013 Stanley Cup Final is averaging 5.356 million viewers per game, making it the most-watched Final through four games on record (data available since 1994), according to The Nielsen Company.
Last night’s 11-goal overtime contest (8:10-11:37 p.m. ET) between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth game of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final averaged 6.459 million viewers, making it the most-watched Stanley Cup Final Game 4 ever (since the introduction of People Meters in 1987).
Game 5 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final airs Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC from United Center in Chicago. NBC will air Game 6 at 8 p.m. ET on Monday night from TD Garden in Boston. If necessary, Game 7 will air at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday night from United Center. Pre-game coverage for all games begins with NHL Live at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.
STANLEY CUP FINAL
Through the series’ first four games, the Stanley Cup Final is averaging a 3.1 household rating and 5.356 million viewers across NBC (Games 1 & 4) and NBC Sports Network (Games 2-3), the best on record (since 1994) and up 107% (1.5) and 118% (2.460 million), respectively, vs. last year.
GAME 4
Last night’s game — in which the Chicago Blackhawks tied the series by defeating the Boston Bruins, 6-5, in overtime — drew a 3.8 household rating and 6.459 million viewers on NBC, up 124% and 120%, respectively, vs. last year (LA-NJ, 1.7 rating, 2.935 million). Viewership peaked in overtime (11:15-11:30 p.m. ET) with 8.192 million viewers.
LOCAL
Boston received a 28.9 household rating, up 36% vs. the Bruins’ Game 2 rating (the second NBC game of the series) for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final on NBC in the market (21.2). Chicago received a 22.0 household rating last night.
NBC was the No. 1 rated network overall in Boston and Chicago during the 8-11:30 p.m. ET time period. Following are the top five markets:
- Boston (28.9)
- Chicago (22.0)
- Providence (20.0)
- Buffalo (8.7)
- Detroit (6.4)
NETWORK
On the strength of Bruins-Blackhawks Game 4, NBC was the night’s most-watched network and tied Fox for first among Adults 18-49. Game 4 was the No. 1 program of the night.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
NBC is averaging 3.428 million viewers for its coverage of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, up 50% vs. the same time period in 2012 (2.283 million). For the entire playoffs, including last night’s game, NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC have combined to average 1.342 million viewers per game, up 15% vs. last year (1.164 million).
That is all.
