Despite featuring two of the five largest television markets in the country, the NHL’s Western Conference Final got off to a slower start on NBC.
Game 1 of the Blackhawks/Sharks series drew a 1.3 final rating and 2.2 million viewers on NBC Sunday, down 19% in ratings and 17% in viewership from Blackhawks/Red Wings Game 1 last year and down 7% and 14%, respectively, from Flyers/Penguins Game 5 in ’08.
Sunday’s game is tied as the fourth-lowest rated of the eight Conference Final games on NBC since ’06.
That said, the 1.3 rating is tied as the highest rated of the postseason on NBC, and the 2.2 million viewers stands alone as the largest audience.
Ratings/Viewership For 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC
| Date | Game | # | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/17/10 | Bruins 5 | 2 | NBC |
1.0
|
1,450
|
| Sabres 3 | |||||
| Sun., 4/18/10 | Coyotes 4 | 3 | NBC |
1.3
|
2,013
|
| Red Wings 2 | |||||
| Sat., 4/24/10 | Predators 4 | 5 | NBC |
1.0
|
1,623
|
| Blackhawks 5 | |||||
| Sun., 4/25/10 | Coyotes 5 | 6 | NBC |
1.1
|
1,776
|
| Red Wings 2 | |||||
| Sat., 5/1/10 | Flyers 4 | 1 | NBC |
1.1
|
1,605
|
| Bruins 5 | |||||
| Sun., 5/2/10 | Canadiens 3 | 2 | NBC |
1.1
|
1,805
|
| Penguins 1 | |||||
| Sun., 5/16/10 | Blackhawks 2 | 1 | NBC |
1.3
|
2,161
|
| Sharks 1 |
