Weather delays are becoming en vogue in sports television, with the crown jewel of the NHL regular season the latest victim.
The NHL announced Friday that the Capitals/Penguins NHL Winter Classic, originally scheduled for 1 PM ET Saturday, will be pushed back to 8 PM ET due to a forecast of rain in Pittsburgh.
The 8 PM start time will be the latest in the four-year history of the Winter Classic.
The delay could have a positive effect on the ratings. For one, primetime is generally more conducive to big ratings than the early afternoon.
Additionally, the competition may be less formidable. Just one college football game is scheduled for Saturday night — the 8 PM Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma and unranked Connecticut on ESPN.
In the regular 1 PM slot, the Winter Classic would have faced a whopping four bowl games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ABC — with high profile teams Florida, Penn State and Alabama all in action.
Other than the Stanley Cup Final, the Winter Classic will be the first primetime NHL telecast on broadcast TV since the 1997 NHL All-Star Game on FOX. That game drew a 2.8 rating.
(NHL)
