The NHL on NBC Sports Network continues to gain momentum. Back in January when the NHL Lockout was finally lifted (remember the lockout?), I wrote that NBCSN needed live games as its ratings had been in the depths of despair without hockey. Well, the NHL returned and the playoffs have been absolutely stellar with close series, Original Six matchups (Boston-Toronto, Boston-New York Rangers, Chicago-Detroit), and tremendous overtime games.
Game 7 on Wednesday between Detroit and Chicago had everything but a penalty shot (that took place in Game 6) and it even had some officiating controversy. And it ended with Chicago winning in overtime.
For NBC Sports Network, Game 7 of the Detroit-Chicago series has become the highest-rated NHL game in the history of the channel dating back to when it was known as OLN and Versus. The game received a 2.07. Viewership averaged an amazing 3.354 million which now is the most watched Conference Semifinal game in the history of cable dating back to 1994.
The rating is up a whopping 109% from last year’s equivalent game, Game 7 of the New York-Washington series which was the only Conference Semifinal series to reach the limit.
Locally, Chicago saw a 17.21 rating which beat all other networks in the Windy City. Detroit received a 14.96 rating.
Here’s NBC’s press release.
BLACKHAWKS-RED WINGS GAME 7 POSTS 2.07 RATING, HIGHEST-RATED NHL GAME EVER ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK
3.354 Million Viewers Surpasses All Previous NHL Regular-Season and Non- Stanley Cup Final Games on NBC Sports Network
Chicago Sets Record with 17.21 Local Rating; Detroit Posts 14.96
Conference Semifinals Average 1.5 Million Viewers, Most-Watched Semifinals Ever Across Broadcast and Cable (Since 1994)NEW YORK – May 30, 2013 – Wednesday night’s Western Conference Semifinal Game 7 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings posted a 2.07 rating and averaged 3.354 million viewers, making it the highest-rated NHL game ever on NBC Sports Network, and the most-watched Semifinal game ever on cable (data available since 1994).
The game, won 2-1 in overtime by the Blackhawks, is the highest-rated non-Stanley Cup Final game on cable since 2002 (Detroit-Colorado, 5/29/02: 2.09) and was up 109 percent vs. last year’s sole Semifinal Game 7 rating (Washington-NY Rangers, 0.99). Average viewership was up 99 percent (3.354 vs. 1.684).
The telecast peaked at a 2.83 rating and 4.613 million viewers between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m. ET.
TOP 5 MOST-WATCHED NHL GAMES IN NBC SPORTS NETWORK HISTORY
RATING GAME DATE 2.07 Detroit-Chicago May 29, 2013 1.97* Philadelphia-Chicago June 2, 2010 1.83* Detroit-Pittsburgh June 4, 2009 1.69* Detroit-Pittsburgh June 2, 2009 1.66* Philadelphia-Chicago June 4, 2010 *Stanley Cup Final
LOCALS
In Chicago, the Blackhawks-Red Wings telecast received a 17.21 HH rating, the highest local rating ever in the market for an NHL game on NBC Sports Network. The telecast was up 144 percent from the Blackhawks 2010 Conference Semifinal exclusive average on NBC Sports Network in the market (7.04). NBC Sports Network was the No. 1 network overall in Chicago during the 8-11:15 p.m. ET time period.
In Detroit, the Blackhawks-Red Wings telecast received a 14.96 HH rating. The game was up 39 percent from the Red Wings 2011 Conference Semifinal average on NBC Sports Network in the market (10.78). NBC Sports Network was the No. 1 rated cable network in Detroit during the 8-11:15 p.m. ET time period.
TOP 5 HIGHEST-RATED MARKETS
MARKET RATING Chicago 17.21 Detroit 14.96 Pittsburgh 6.24 Buffalo 5.16 Boston 4.47 SHARKS-KINGS GAME 7
Game 7 between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings on NBC Sports Network averaged 1.4 million viewers and was the most-watched Western Conference Semifinal game not involving Chicago or Detroit, since 2001 (Colorado-Los Angeles, 4/30/01: 1.7 million). The telecast peaked with 2 million viewers from 11:30-11:45 p.m. ET.
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
The 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Conference Semifinals on NBC averaged 2.347 million viewers, up 27 percent vs. last year (1.846 million). Coverage of the Conference Semifinals on NBC Sports Network averaged 1.435 million viewers, up 12 percent vs. last year (1.286 million). CNBC averaged 1.365 million viewers, up 207 percent vs. last year (444,000).
The 2013 Conference Semifinals on NBC Sports Network and CNBC averaged 1.4 million viewers, up 20 percent in average viewership compared to last year (1,431,000 vs. 1,188,000) and were the most-watched on cable ever (data available since 1994).
In addition, the 24 NHL Semifinal Games on NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC combined to average 1.5 million viewers, and were the most-watched Conference Semifinals ever across broadcast and cable (data available since 1994).
That’s all.
