From NBC Sports Group, the Stanley Cup Final clinching game on Monday gave NBC an average of 8.16 million viewers as the Chicago Blackhawks came from behind and defeated the Boston Bruins, 3-2. The game drew a 4.7 rating which is up 52% from last year’s Game 6 which pitted the Los Angeles Kings against the New Jersey Devils.
NBC says Monday night’s game was the second most viewed Game 6 dating back to 1994. And Boston-Chicago Game 6 peaked at 10.4 million viewers.
Boston had the highest local rating of all metered markets with a 33.0. Chicago was second with a 30.2. Providence was third with a 22.5. Buffalo was in four with a very good 12.5.
Overall, the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs saw an average of 1.467 million viewers on NBC/CNBC and NBC Sports Network. It’s the highest average audience on record for the NHL Postseason dating back to 1995.
Here’s the NBC Sports Group press release.
8.16 MILLION VIEWERS WATCH CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS WIN STANLEY CUP ON NBC
Series-Clinching Contest is Second-Most Watched Game 6 Since 1994
2013 Stanley Cup Final is Most-Watched on Record, Up 91% vs. 2012
Entire Stanley Cup Playoffs is Most-Watched Since 1997, Up 18% vs. Last YearSTAMFORD, Conn – June 25, 2013 – Last night’s Game 6 (8:15-11 p.m. ET) of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, in which the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins, 3-2, to claim their second Stanley Cup in four years, was watched by 8.16 million viewers on NBC, up 66% vs. last year’s Game 6 and making it the second-most watched Game 6 since 1994, according to official data released today by The Nielsen Company.
Game 6 was the culmination of an exciting Stanley Cup Final. Two Original Six teams, three overtime contests — including an epic triple-overtime in Game 1 — and extremely tight games (Chicago and Boston were tied or separated by one goal 87% of the time) propelled the series to be the most-watched Stanley Cup Final on record, averaging 5.76 million viewers across NBC and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) (data available since 1994).
Overall, the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 1.467 million viewers on NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC (84 games), making it the most-watched post-season since 1997 (1.52 million on ESPN/ESPN2/FOX) and up 18% vs. last year (1.241).
GAME 6
Last night’s game drew a 4.7 U.S. household rating and 8.16 million viewers on NBC, up 52% and 66%, respectively, vs. last year (3.1 and 4.929 million viewers). This year’s series-clinching contest was the second-most watched Stanley Cup Final Game 6 since 1994, trailing only Chicago’s 2010 series-clinching Game 6 against Philadelphia (6/9/10, 8.279 million).
Game 6 peaked with 10.424 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET.
Following are NBC’s Most-Watched NHL Games (Since 2006):
Rank Program Episode Date Rtg Viewers 1 Game 7 Boston at Vancouver 6/15/2011 4.8 8,537 2 Game 6 Chicago at Philadelphia 6/9/2010 4.7 8,279 3 Game 6 Boston at Chicago 6/24/2013 4.7 8,160 4 Game 7 Pittsburgh at Detroit 6/12/2009 4.3 7,992 5 Game 6 Detroit at Pittsburgh 6/4/2008 4.0 6,781 Local
Boston led all markets with a 33.0 household rating, while Chicago posted a 30.2. Both ratings were tops for each market during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and NBC was the No. 1 rated network overall in both cities during the 8:15-11 p.m. ET time period.
The Top 10 markets for Game 6 were:
- Boston (33.0)
- Chicago (30.2)
- Providence (22.5)
- Buffalo (12.5)
- Pittsburgh (7.8)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul (7.3)
- Milwaukee (7.0)
- Hartford-New Haven (6.8)
- Ft. Myers (6.3)
- St. Louis (5.8)
Network
On the strength of Bruins-Blackhawks Game 6, NBC finished first among Adults 18-49 (3.1 rating) and Adults 25-54 (3.5). Game 6 was the No. 1 program of the night among Men 18-49 and 25-54, and tied for first among Adults 18-49 (CBS’ Under the Dome).
STANLEY CUP FINAL
The Stanley Cup Final averaged a 3.3 household rating and 5.764 million viewers across NBC (Games 1, 4 -6) and NBC Sports Network (Games 2-3), making it the most-watched on record (since 1994), and up 83% (1.8) and 91% (3.012 million), respectively, vs. last year.
Game 6 was the most-watched game of the final with 8.16 million viewers.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
For the entire playoffs, NBC, NBCSN and CNBC combined to average 1.467 million viewers for 84 games, making it the most-watched Stanley Cup Playoffs on record (since 1994) and up 18% vs. last year (1.241 million for 81 games).
The 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs set new records for NBCSN, averaging 1.209 million viewers for 55 games, up 17% vs. 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).
Most-Watched NBC Sports Network Games
Three of the five most-watched NHL games in NBCSN history occurred this season: Stanley Cup Final Game 3 (4.001 million viewers); Stanley Cup Final 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 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 Markets
Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York and Pittsburgh all posted record ratings on NBC and/or NBC Sports Network in their respective markets throughout the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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 27.2 rating vs. Chicago on June 17
- 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 is all.
