The increasingly heated rivalry between NHL stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin did not light up the ratings on NBC Sunday.
NBC drew a 1.1 overnight rating for the Capitals’ win over the Penguins on Sunday, up 10% from a 1.0 overnight for lone match-up between the teams on NBC last season. NBC did not televise an NHL game on the comparable weekend last year.
While the 1.1 overnight is good by NHL standards, it would not be unreasonable for NBC to expect a match-up featuring the game’s two biggest stars to draw better numbers.
So far this season, NBC is averaging a 1.4 overnight rating for five NHL telecasts, up 17% from a 1.2 through five games in ’08.
Overnight ratings for NHL on NBC (2008-09 season).
2.9: Red Wings/Blackhawks (Thu., 1/1/09, 1 PM NBC); +12% from ’08.
1.1: Rangers/Penguins (Sun., 1/18/09, 12:30 PM NBC); even with ’08.
1.1: Red Wings/Penguins (Sun., 2/8/09, 12:30 PM NBC); +22% from ’08.
0.9: Rangers/Flyers (Sun., 2/15/09, 12:30 PM NBC); +13% from ’08.
1.1: Penguins/Capitals (Sun., 2/22/09, 12:30 PM NBC); no comparable game in ’08.
