I received this from NBC Sports Network today touting its viewership in the first quarter of 2013. The release states that viewing of the network is up 14% across the board as compared to this time last year.
Thanks to live NHL programming for most of the quarter, NBCSN has seen a 14% rise in viewership in primetime (not counting the first three weeks of the quarter which did not have any NHL games due to the lockout).
MLS on NBC Sports Network had an 8% increase from last year’s first quarter.
And looking at IndyCar, its only race of the quarter had a 78% increase from NBCSN’s first race from last year, however, it’s a bit apples-oranges as the first race of the IndyCar season was on ABC rather than NBC Sports Network.
Here’s the press release in which NBC Sports Network is beating its proverbial chest and yelling out a primal scream.
NBC SPORTS NETWORK SEES DOUBLE DIGIT Q1 VIEWERSHIP GAINS
In Direct Comparison to Q1 2012 (Minus 3 Weeks of NHL Games and NHL All Star Weekend), Viewership on NBCSN is up 14%
7 of the 10 Most-Watched NHL Games in Network’s History Occurred in Q1 of 2013
First IndyCar Telecast of Season is up 78%
Dan Patrick Show on NBCSN up 58% Compared to Time Period in 2012NEW YORK—April 8, 2013 – Buoyed by seven of the 10 most-watched NHL games in the network’s history, NBC Sports Network viewership rose 14% in the first quarter compared to first quarter in 2012, according to data released by The Nielsen Company. Additionally NHL programming, including the newly-created Wednesday Night Rivalry games, was up 58% compared to Q1 in 2012, the best start in the network’s history; The Dan Patrick Show viewership is up 58% compared to time period in 2012 Q1; the opening IndyCar telecast rose 78%; and MLS games are up eight percent over last year.
FIRST QUARTER RESULTS:
There was no NHL programming for the first three weeks of the quarter in 2013, including no NHL All-Star Weekend programming. When removing the first three weeks of NHL programming (including All-Star Weekend) to form a direct comparison, NBC Sports Network was up 14% in primetime compared to first quarter 2012 (193k viewers vs. 170k viewers) and up 14% on total day (65k viewers vs. 57k viewers).
- In the Adult 18-49 demo, viewership is up 12% for primetime and 10% for total day for ALL programming (no NHL exclusions);
- NBC Sports Network’s audience got younger. Median age in first quarter of 2013 was 44 in primetime, down from 47 for first quarter in 2012.
- NBC Sports Network averaged 193k viewers in primetime (8-11 p.m.) and 65k viewers for total day (6 a.m. – 6 a.m.) during first quarter of 2013, both up from the first quarter in 2012 (191k and 63k, respectively including NHL programming).
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: NBC Sports Network delivered seven of the 10 most-watched regular-season games in the network’s history (NBCSN/VERSUS/OLN) during first quarter 2013, including the top two most-watched.
- NBCSN’s 38 games in the first quarter averaged 428k viewers, up 34% from the 2012 first quarter average, the best start for the NHL on NBC Sports Network in the network’s history.
- NBC Sports Network’s 10 Wednesday Night Rivalry games, newly-developed this season, averaged 680k viewers, an increase of 55% compared to the Wednesday night exclusive game average in first quarter 2012.
TOP 10 MOST-WATCHED NHL GAMES ON NBCSN/VERSUS/OLN
MATCHUP DATE AVERAGE VIEWERS BRUINS-RANGERS 01/23/13
956,000
FLYERS-PENGUINS 02/20/13
901,000
BRUINS-FLYERS 10/06/11
874,000
BLACKHAWKS-WILD 01/30/13
827,000
CANADIENS-BRUINS 03/03/13
813,000
CANADIENS-BRUINS 03/27/13
773,000
BRUINS-CANADIENS 02/06/13
771,000
PENGUINS-FLYERS 12/14/10
750,000
FLYERS-PENGUINS 10/07/10
730,000
AVALANCHE-BLACKHAWKS 03/06/13
720,000
INDY CAR: The 2013 IndyCar season debuted on NBCSN with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 24. The race delivered 388,000 viewers, a 78-percent increase vs. last year’s first race on NBC Sports Network (218,000).
- It was also the second-best season-opener for NBC Sports Network’s IndyCar coverage (since 2009) behind only the 2010 race from Sao Paulo, Brazil (410,000).
- In the advertiser-coveted Adult 18-49 demo, the race delivered 126,000 viewers, up 91% vs. last year (66,000).
MLS: NBCSN’s six MLS matches in first quarter averaged 112k viewers, an increase of eight percent over last year’s first quarter matches.
- NBCSN’s primetime MLS Rivalry Day match on March 16 (Portland at Seattle) drew 209k viewers, the second most-watched MLS game on NBCSN (excluding games that had an Olympic lead-in).
THE DAN PATRICK SHOW: Viewership for The Dan Patrick Show (41k average viewers) rose 58% from the M-F 9 a.m. – Noon time period in first quarter of 2012.
That is all.
