For the completed 2011-12 Boston Bruins regular season, NESN saw record ratings for the second consecutive year. NESN says the B’s 71 game season on the network averaged a 4.7 household rating in Boston which is a staggering 52% increase from last year’s successful Stanley Cup campaign that averaged a 3.1.
NESN notes that of the 25 most watched Bruins games in the RSN’s over quarter century history, 23 of them were of this past season. Just six games fell below last year’s average season rating.
So Boston has become a hockey town once again. NESN will carry as many as five games of the upcoming Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against Washington. As many as two will be picked up by NBC exclusively.
Here’s the NESN press release.
NESN SETS NEW FULL SEASON BRUINS RATINGS RECORD FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON
4.7 Average Household Rating Up 52% Over Record-Setting 2010-11 Season
BOSTON, MA – NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, set a new Bruins regular season ratings record during the 2011/12 campaign by garnering a 4.7 average household rating in the Boston DMA. The 4.7 season rating is a 52% increase over the 2010/11 season, when NESN set the network’s previous season record with a 3.1 HH rating. NESN’s Bruins ratings have increased an astounding 115% over the last two seasons.
“The impact that the Boston Bruins are having here in New England is undeniable, as the team’s popularity continues to rise and all of NESN’s Bruins programs continue to set new ratings records,” said Sean McGrail, NESN President and CEO. “The excitement around the Bruins will only get more intense as the Bruins get ready to take on the Capitals in the first round of the playoffs to defend their 2011 Stanley Cup Championship.”
NESN’s Bruins ratings showed an incredible level of consistency throughout the season, as 23 of the network’s 25 top-rated Bruins regular season games of all-time were played during the 2011/12 season, including the six highest rated hockey games in NESN history. The consistent support shown by Bruins fans was also illustrated by the fact that only six of NESN’s 71 Bruins games failed to garner at least a 3.1 household rating (last season’s record-setting average rating).
Bruins Fans Watch More Than Just NESN’s Game Coverage
All of NESN’s Bruins-related studio programs also experienced substantial ratings gains this season. Bruins Face-Off LIVE (1.1 HH, up 96%) and Bruins Overtime LIVE (1.9 HH, up 55%) both earned their best-ever regular season average household rating. Big Bad Bruins (+177%) and The Instigators LIVE (+10%) both improved after making the switch from tape delay to a live program format.
That’s is all.
