The records just keep falling for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs both nationally and locally. While Game 7 ended sadly for the Boston Bruins, viewers in New England watched in droves. NESN saw an average 19.6 household rating for last night’s Game 7 between the B’s and the Washington Capitals. It’s the highest-rated Bruins game ever on the regional sports network. And it’s NESN’s 6th highest-rated event ever. The game also saw a 31 share.
The previous high for a Bruins game was last year’s Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal between the B’s and Montreal which ended at a 17.7/28.
Overall, the four games of the Caps-Bruins series on NESN averaged a 13.6, the highest-rated postseason series outpacing last year’s series with the Habs (11.9).
And the regular season on NESN averaged 4.7 which again is a record. So coming off a Stanley Cup Championship season, the Bruins gave NESN all types of record numbers. Needless to say, NESN will be looking forward to the 2012-13 season as the B’s are expected to contend for the Cup again.
Here’s the NESN announcement.
NESN’S GAME 7 COVERAGE SETS NEW RECORD WITH A 19.6 RATING
Completes Highest Rated Bruins Season in Network History
APRIL 26, 2012 – NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, set a new single-game ratings record for Bruins hockey last night when Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal at TD Garden received a 19.6 average household rating in the Boston DMA. The game ranks as the 6th highest rated event in NESN history, and earned an impressive 31 share. The peak rating was a 25.5 during the 10 – 10:15 PM quarter hour, which equaled a 39 share.
NESN’s previous best-ever single-game hockey rating was last season’s Bruins Game 7 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal victory over the Montreal Canadiens on April 27, 2011 when the network garnered a 17.7 HH rating and a 28 share.
NESN’s Game 7 ratings in most of the key demographic categories also set new network records, including a 22.1 in Men 25-54, 19.8 in Men 18-49, and 17.4 in Adults 25-54.
Top Rated Playoff Series in NESN History
NESN also set a new record for the highest rated playoff series in network history. NESN televised four of the seven games against the Capitals and garnered a 13.6 average household rating. The previous best playoff series was last season’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against the Canadiens which averaged an 11.9 HH rating.
Best Season Ratings in NESN History
Bruins regular season ratings also set a NESN record during the 2011/12 campaign with 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.
That is all.
