NBC certainly has reason to be proud as a peacock over its ratings for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, particularly the Conference Final round. Despite airing nine games out of a possible 14 as both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals went short, NBC and NBC Sports Network averaged just under 2.65 million viewers, the most since 1996 when ESPN and Fox combined to air the semifinal round.
In addition, NBC aired two Conference Final games in primetime averaging over 3.6 million viewers making those contests the most watched semifinal games on network TV.
Overall, viewership for the Conference Final round was up 111% from last year thanks to having three top ten markets, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles (numbers #7, #3 and #2 respectively).
And for the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs through the first three rounds, NBC/NBCSN/CNBC are averaging 1.074 million viewers under last year’s pace of just under 1.09 million.
NBC points out that local ratings records were set in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, L.A., Minneapolis-St. Paul and New York throughout this year’s playoffs.
Here’s the NBC Sports Group press release.
STANLEY CUP CONFERENCE FINALS ARE MOST-WATCHED IN 17 YEARS
Conference Finals on NBC Average 3.631 Million Viewers, Most-Watched Ever on Broadcast TV (data since 1993)
NBC Sports Network Averages 2.303 Million Viewers, Best on Cable in 17 Years & Up 90% vs. Last Year
Stanley Cup Playoff Viewership for First Three Rounds Is Second-Best in 16 Years
Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York & Pittsburgh All Post Record Viewership on NBC and/or NBC Sports NetworkNEW YORK – June 11, 2013 – The 2013 Stanley Cup Conference Finals, which recently concluded and aired across NBC and NBC Sports Network, are the most-watched Conference Finals in 17 years and up 111% from last year, according to data provided by The Nielsen Company. The round was highlighted by its last two games, which scored viewership records for both NBC and NBC Sports Network.
In addition, the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs so far this post-season, consisting of the Conference Quarterfinals, Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals, are the second-most watched in 16 years.
CONFERENCE FINALS
Despite having two short series (Eastern Conference Final – four games; Western Conference Final – five games), the Stanley Cup Conference Finals averaged 2.646 million viewers across NBC (two games) and NBC Sports Network (seven games). It is the most-watched Conference Finals in 17 years, since 13 games aired across FOX and ESPN (2.863 million viewers), and up 111% from last year (1.254 million).
NBC’s two games — which both aired in primetime for the first time — averaged 3.631 million viewers, making it the most-watched Conference Finals on broadcast television ever (data is available since 1993).
With 2.303 million average viewers, the seven Conference Final games on NBC Sports Network were up 90% from last year (1.215 million), rank as the best ever on NBC Sports Network, and the best on cable since 1996 (ESPN, 2.938 million).
Saturday, June 8 — Western Conference Final, Game 5, Blackhawks defeat Kings, 4-3, 2OT
With 3.813 million viewers, Game 5 of the Western Conference Final (8P-12:15A) was NBC’s most-watched non-Stanley Cup Final playoff game ever (since 2006), and the most-watched Conference Final game in 16 years (Colorado-Detroit, 5/26/97, ESPN, 3.907 million). The game recorded a 2.2 national household rating and peaked with 5.57 million viewers from 11:45p.m.-midnight ET.
The game, which saw the Blackhawks win the series with a 4-3 double-overtime victory over the Kings, was up 177% vs. last year’s Western Conference Final Game 4 (Pho-LA, 1.377 million). NBC was the top-ranked broadcast network in primetime (8-11 p.m.) among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 on Saturday night.
Friday, June 7 — Eastern Conference Final, Game 4, Bruins defeat Penguins, 1-0
With 2.9 million viewers, Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final (8-10:44P) was NBC Sports Network’s most-watched Conference Final game ever, and the most-watched Conference Final game on cable since 2002 (Detroit-Colorado, 5/31/02, ESPN, 3.036 million). The game delivered a 1.61 national household rating and peaked with 3.827 million viewers from 10:15-10:30 p.m. ET.
NBC Sports Network was the most-watched cable network during the game among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 on Friday night. The game was up 83% vs. last year’s Eastern Conference Final Game 4 (NYR-NJ, 1.259 million).
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Through the first three rounds of the playoffs, games airing on NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC are averaging 1.074 million viewers, making the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs the second-most watched in 16 years (1997, FOX & ESPN, 1.237 million), behind only last year (NBC, NBC Sports Network & CNBC, 1.089 million).
NBC is averaging 2.422 million viewers per broadcast through the first three rounds, up 12% vs. last year (2.166 million), while NBC Sports Network is averaging 1.089 million, up 10 percent vs. 2012 (994,000).
On cable, NBC Sports Network and CNBC combined to average 903,000 viewers for the first three rounds, up four percent vs. last year (868,000) and the most-watched on cable since 2000 (931,000).
LOCAL VIEWERSHIP
Through the first three rounds of the playoffs, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York and Pittsburgh have all posted record ratings on NBC and/or NBC Sports Network in their respective markets.
On NBC:
- Boston: Best non-Stanley Cup Final game ever on NBC with a 19.57 rating vs. Pittsburgh on June 1.
- Chicago: Best non-Stanley Cup Final game ever on NBC with a 19.61 vs. Los Angeles on June 8.
- Detroit: Best Semi-Final game ever on NBC with a 14.67 vs. Chicago on May 25.
- Los Angeles: Best non-Stanley Cup Final game ever on NBC with a 3.84 vs. Chicago on June 8.
- Minneapolis: Best game ever on NBC with a 7.95 rating vs. Chicago on May 5.
- New York: Best Semi-Final game ever on NBC with a 4.01 vs. Boston on May 19.
On NBC Sports Network:
- Boston: Best game ever on NBC Sports Network with a 25.4 rating vs. Pittsburgh on June 7.
- Chicago: Best game ever on NBC Sports Network with a 17.21 vs. Detroit on May 29.
- Detroit: Best game ever on NBC Sports Network with a 15.99 vs. Chicago on May 29.
- Los Angeles: Best non-Stanley Cup Final game ever on NBC Sports Network with a 2.97 vs. Chicago on June 4.
- Pittsburgh: Best Semi-Final game ever on NBC Sports Network with a 25.64 rating vs. Ottawa on May 19.
That will do it.
