As it turns out, ratings did not increase for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Game 1 of the Flyers/Blackhawks series drew a 2.3 final rating and 4.4 million viewers on NBC Saturday night. According to NBC, last year’s Penguins/Red Wings Game 1 drew a 2.3 final rating and 4.3 million viewers, meaning that this year’s game was even in ratings and up 3% in viewership.
However, in June 2009, Sports Business Daily reported that Penguins/Red Wings Game 1 drew a 2.4 rating, and an NBC press release put the viewership total at 4.4 million viewers. In that case, this year’s Game 1 would be down 4% in ratings and virtually even in viewership.
Compared to Penguins/Red Wings Game 1 on Versus two years ago, Saturday’s game was up 92% and 83%, respectively, from a 1.2 and 2.4 million viewers.
Saturday’s game tied Hurricanes/Red Wings Game 1 on ESPN in ’02 as the second-highest rated Stanley Cup Final opener since ’99.
This marks the third-highest rating for the first Stanley Cup Final telecast on broadcast since 2002, behind last year’s aforementioned Penguins/Red Wings Game 1 (2.4) and Red Wings/Penguins Game 3 in ’08 (2.4).
Game 1 was the top show of the night on broadcast in the all-important adults 18-49 demographic, though four shows (two episodes of 48 Hours Mystery, one episode of COPS and America’s Most Wanted) drew higher ratings overall.
Ratings For Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final Since ’95
(NBC, Sitcoms Online, Sports Business Daily; last year’s Penguins/Red Wings numbers from Sports Business Daily, NBC via TV By The Numbers)
