The start of the NHL Playoffs did little to help NBC’s ratings over the weekend.
Both NHL playoff games drew overnight ratings of 1.0 — down 17% from last year, when two comparable games drew a 1.2.
Flyers/Capitals was the lowest rated sporting event on NBC’s Sunday afternoon line-up. The National Heads Up Poker Challenge that aired before the game drew a 1.5 rating, while the gymnastics telecast after the game drew a 1.3. Both of those events were taped programs.
In Philadelphia and Washington, the game drew ratings of 3.8 and 3.0, respectively.
One factor in the declining ratings is The Masters. Last year, the first weekend of the NHL Playoffs did not coincide with arguably golf’s biggest event.
