Last night, the Bulls and the Blackhawks gave Comcast SportsNet Chicago a one night ratings record. And when you combine the White Sox which were placed on a overspill channel, it’s an amazing 25.3 combined record for the three teams. The Bulls which defeated Indiana last night to go up 3-0 in their NBA Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series received a 13.69 rating while the Blackhawks who extended their NHL Western Conference Quarterfinal series with Vancouver to a sixth game garnered a 10.58 rating. Combined with the White Sox, had over 885,000 households watching sports.
Here’s our press release from Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
NEW ALL-TIME BULLS & BLACKHAWKS TV RATINGS RECORDS GIVE COMCAST SPORTSNET ITS BIGGEST NIGHT IN NETWORK HISTORY
NEW All-Time BULLS Ratings Record: 13.69;
NEW All-Time BLACKHAWKS Ratings Record: 10.58;
Close to 900,000 Chicago TV homes watched CSN’s coverage of the Bulls, Blackhawks & White Sox;
Network was also #1 in the Chicago market from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AMChicago, IL (April 22, 2011) – Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox, posted its biggest night of television ratings in network history last evening (Thu, April 21) with its coverage of three, live pro events in one evening — Bulls/NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 3 at Indiana, Blackhawks/Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1, Game 5 at Vancouver and a White Sox regular season telecast at Tampa Bay on CSN+ — delivering a “combined” 25.30 household rating (approx. 886,158 Chicago TV households watching the three telecasts).
This historic evening in Comcast SportsNet history was highlighted by NEW ALL-TIME RATINGS RECORDS for a Bulls telecast (13.69 household rating) and for a Blackhawks telecast (10.58 household rating). In addition, during the six-hour time period of 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Comcast SportsNet “averaged” an 11.8 household rating and a 7.5 “average” for Adults 25-54, making the regional sports network far and away the #1 most watched network in the market. Source for all ratings information is provided by Nielsen Media Research. Please note the following record-breaking ratings highlights for Comcast SportsNet’s Bulls and Blackhawks telecasts last evening:
CHICAGO BULLS (NBA Playoffs: Round 1, Game 3 at Indiana)
NEW ALL-TIMES RATINGS RECORD on Comcast SportsNet: 13.69 household ratingFor last night’s huge Round 1, Game 3 Bulls win over the host Indiana Pacers (series now stands at 3-0 in favor of the Bulls with Game 4 set for Saturday on Comcast SportsNet, coverage begins at 1:00 PM), Comcast SportsNet attracted approx. 479,506 households for the entire length of the game and posted a staggering 21.05 peak rating during the 8:15 PM quarter-hour (approx. 737,300 households). The 13.69 single game Bulls ratings record on Comcast SportsNet shatters the network’s previous all-time high set just this past Monday, April 18 for Game 2 of the Bulls-Pacers series (7.62 household rating). The 13.69 rating is also the network’s highest rated game – for any team – in network history (Comcast SportsNet Chicago launched on October 1, 2004).
Comcast SportsNet was also the #1-highest rated television network in the Chicago market last night for all TV Households and EVERY key demographic, including Adults 25-54 (7.64 rating in this demo), for the entire length of the Bulls game (6:00-8:45 PM).
Compared to last year’s first round playoff series vs. Cleveland, Bulls playoff ratings on Comcast SportsNet this year are currently up an impressive 204% for households, while Adults 25-54 playoff ratings are up 261%.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1, Game 5 at Vancouver)
NEW ALL-TIMES RATINGS RECORD on Comcast SportsNet: 10.58 household rating
For last night’s thrilling Round 1, Game 5 Blackhawks shutout victory over the host Vancouver Canucks (back-to-back wins by the Blackhawks send the series back to Chicago for Game 6 on Sunday on Comcast SportsNet, coverage begins at 6:00 PM), Comcast SportsNet attracted approx. 370,575 households for the entire length of the game and posted a solid 12.30 peak rating during the 10:30 PM quarter-hour (approx. 430,820 households). The 10.58 single game Blackhawks ratings record on Comcast SportsNet beats the network’s previous all-time high set last year on May 5, 2010 (Rd. 2, Gm. 3 at Vancouver – 10.14 household rating).
Comcast SportsNet was also the #1-highest rated television network in the Chicago market last night for all TV Households and EVERY key demographic, including Adults 25-54 (7.88 rating in this demo), for the entire length of the Blackhawks game (9:00-11:45 PM). During the local news time period of 10:00-10:30 PM, Comcast SportsNet was again #1 in the market scoring an 11.62 household average.
Compared to last year’s first round playoff series vs. Nashville, Blackhawks playoff ratings on Comcast SportsNet have performed exceptionally well this year with a 15% overall increase for households and a 21% increase for Adults 25-54.
UPCOMING BULLS & BLACKHAWKS PLAYOFF GAME INFORMATION on Comcast SportsNet….
BULLS: Comcast SportsNet will continue its comprehensive coverage of the #1-seeded Chicago Bulls throughout the 2011 NBA Playoffs with live coverage of EVERY first round game against the rival Indiana Pacers. The next Bulls/NBA Playoffs telecast takes place TOMORROW AFTERNOON (Sat, April 23) with live Game 4 coverage of the Bulls potential Round 1 series-clincher at Indiana (live coverage begins at 1:00 PM with Bulls Pre-Game Live featuring hosts Mark Schanowski and Kendall Gill; Bulls Post Game Live immediately follows the game). Bulls legend Scottie Pippen joins the always-entertaining announcing tandem of Neil Funk and Stacey King for every Bulls playoff game on Comcast SportsNet. In addition, viewers are urged to visit CSNChicago.com 24/7 for the very latest Bulls playoff news, highlights, game preview/recaps & blogs from Bulls “Insider” Aggrey Sam, along with exclusive videos and much more.
BLACKHAWKS: Comcast SportsNet will also continue to follow the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks throughout the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The next Blackhawks telecast takes place SUNDAY NIGHT, April 24 with live Game 6 coverage as the Blackhawks look to force a Game 7 against the rival Canucks (live coverage Sunday night begins at 6:00 PM with Blackhawks Pre-Game Live from the United Center; game will be immediately followed by Blackhawks Post Game Live). Pat Foley will be joined by Blackhawks Pre/Post Game Live studio analyst Steve Konroyd (taking the place of Eddie Olczyk for this game) for Sunday night’s game call (Blackhawks legend Denis Savard will fill in for Konroyd on Blackhawks Pre/Post Game Live joining host Chris Boden). Blackhawks fans can also check out CSNChicago.com 24/7 for the very latest Blackhawks playoff news, highlights, game preview/recaps & blogs from Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers, along with exclusive videos and much more.
That’s it for now.
