Comcast SportsNet Chicago Sets Ratings Record For Blackhawks and Bulls Again

Comcast SportsNet Chicago set another ratings record on Tuesday for Game 7 of Blackhawks-Canucks and Game 5 of Pacers-Bulls. These are really good ratings. We’re talking a 13.33 for the Blackhawks which played late night and lost in overtime to Vancouver, 2-1. But for the Bulls who were victorious over Indiana and closed them out in five games, it was another record at 10.93. We have the press release from Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

NEW ALL-TIME BLACKHAWKS TV RATINGS RECORD & TOP MARKET RANKING FOR BULLS TELECAST DELIVERS (ONCE AGAIN) COMCAST SPORTSNET’S BIGGEST NIGHT IN NETWORK HISTORY

NEW All-Time BLACKHAWKS Ratings Record: 13.33 (#1 in Chicago market);
BULLS post #1 Chicago market ranking for its 10.93 rating;
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 5:30 PM to 1:30 AM

Chicago, IL (April 27, 2011) – For the second time in five days, Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox and Cubs, posted its biggest night of television ratings in network history last evening (Tue, April 26) with its coverage of three, live pro events in one evening — Bulls/NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 5 vs. Indiana, Blackhawks/Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1, Game 7 at Vancouver and a White Sox regular season telecast at New York Yankees on CSN+ — delivering a “combined” 25.62 household rating (approx. 897,366 Chicago TV households watching the three telecasts). The 25.62 “combined” rating eclipses the previous single night record for the network, set just last week when live coverage of the Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox delivered a 25.30 “combined” rating.

In just the past five days, Comcast SportsNet posted its TOP 5 Highest-Rated games in network history:

1) 13.69 – Bulls at IND (Rd. 1, Gm. 3 on April 21)
2) 13.33 – Blackhawks at VAN (Rd. 1, Gm. 7 on April 26)
3) 12.45 – Blackhawks vs. VAN (Rd. 1, Gm. 6 on April 24)
4) 10.93 – Bulls vs. IND (Rd. 1, Gm. 5 on April 26)
5) 10.58 – Blackhawks at VAN (Rd. 1, Gm. 5 on April 21)

Last night’s historic evening on Comcast SportsNet was highlighted by a NEW ALL-TIME RATINGS RECORD for a Blackhawks telecast (13.33 household, which was #1 in the market from 9:00 PM – 12:15 AM) and a #1 market ranking for its Bulls telecast (10.93 household rating, game ran from 7:00 – 9:45 PM; it was the second highest-rated Bulls game in network history).

In addition, during the eight-hour time period of 5:30 PM – 1:30 AM, Comcast SportsNet was the #1 most-watched network in the Chicago market with an 8.43 household “average” during this time period, along with a 6.84 “average” for Adults 25-54 (also #1 overall in the market). This expansive, live, eight-hour time period included airings of “Chicago Tribune Live,” “SportsNet Central,” “Bulls Pre-Game Live,” the Bulls-Pacers game telecast, the Blackhawks-Canucks game telecast, “Jose Cuervo Blackhawks Post Game Live” and “SportsNet Central.” Source for all ratings information is provided by Nielsen Media Research. Please note the following record-breaking ratings highlights for Comcast SportsNet’s Blackhawks and Bulls telecasts last evening:

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1, Game 7 at Vancouver)
NEW ALL-TIME RATINGS RECORD on Comcast SportsNet: 13.33 household rating

For last night’s thrilling Round 1, Game 7 Blackhawks OT battle against the host Vancouver Canucks, Comcast SportsNet attracted approx. 466,897 households for the entire length of the game and posted a massive 18.35 peak rating during the 9:45 PM quarter-hour (approx. 642,727 households). The 13.33 single game Blackhawks ratings record on Comcast SportsNet beats the network’s previous all-time high set just last Sun, Apr. 24 for Game 6 of this series (12.45 household rating). NOTE: Comcast SportsNet set consecutive all-time Blackhawks ratings records in its last three Stanley Cup Playoff telecasts.

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 (11.74 rating in this demo), for the entire length of the Blackhawks game (9:00 PM -12:15 AM). During the local news time period of 10:00-10:30 PM, Comcast SportsNet was again #1 in the market scoring a 15.51 household average.

Compared to last year’s first round playoff series vs. Nashville, Blackhawks first round playoff ratings on Comcast SportsNet this year posted significant ratings gains with a 47% FINAL overall increase for households and a 59% increase for Adults 25-54.

CHICAGO BULLS (NBA Playoffs: Round 1, Game 5 vs. Indiana)
SECOND HIGHEST-RATED BULLS GAME EVER on Comcast SportsNet: 10.93 household rating

For last night’s Round 1, Game 5 series-clinching Bulls win over the visiting Indiana Pacers, Comcast SportsNet attracted approx. 382,834 households for the entire length of the game and posted a solid 14.20 peak rating during the 9:30 PM quarter-hour (approx. 477,369 households). The 10.93 game rating ranks second to last week’s (Apr. 21) all-time network highest rated game – for any team – with a 13.69 (Comcast SportsNet Chicago launched on October 1, 2004). NOTE: Comcast SportsNet also set consecutive all-time Bulls ratings records in its last three NBA Playoff telecasts.

The Bulls on Comcast SportsNet last night was also the #1-highest rated television network in the Chicago market for all TV Households and for Adults 25-54 (7.78 rating in this demo) for the entire length of the Bulls game (7:00-9:45 PM).

Compared to last year’s first round playoff series vs. Cleveland, Bulls first round playoff ratings on Comcast SportsNet this year posted enormous gains with a 211% FINAL overall increase for households and a 279% increase for Adults 25-54.

Although the network will not carry any remaining Bulls playoff game telecasts, viewers can still look forward to extensive coverage on Bulls Post Game Live following every Bulls NBA Playoff game and nightly coverage on SportsNet Central, along with 24/7 Bulls coverage on CSNChicago.com featuring Bulls playoff news, highlights, game previews/recaps & blogs from Bulls “Insider” Aggrey Sam, along with exclusive video and much more.

And that’s all for now.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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