NBC drew solid numbers for Sunday’s Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Blackhawks’ Game 5 win over the Flyers drew a 3.3 final rating and 5.8 million viewers on NBC Sunday night, up 38% in ratings and 32% in viewership from Penguins/Red Wings Game 5 last year (2.4, 4.4 mil), down 11% and 6%, respectively, from Penguins/Red Wings Game 5 in ’08 (3.8, 6.2 mil), and up 83% and 102%, respectively, from Ducks/Senators Game 5 in ’07 (1.8, 2.9 mil).
Last year’s Game 5 aired on Saturday night, the lowest rated night of the week. Game 5 in 2008 aired on a Monday night and went triple-overtime. Game 5 in 2007 aired on a Wednesday night and was the final game of the series.
This marks the second-highest rated, second-most viewed Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final since Red Wings/Hurricanes Game 5 on ABC in 2002 (4.2, 6.8 mil).
Game 5 drew a 2.2 rating among adults 18-49, up 22% from last year’s Game 5 (1.8). The game finished #16 for the week on broadcast in the demographic — behind Game 2, which finished #14 with a 2.5 in the demo.
Despite the increases, Sunday’s game was trounced by Game 2 of the Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals in ratings (9.2 to 3.3), viewership (15.7 million to 5.8 million) and adults 18-49 (6.5 to 2.2).
Through three games, NBC is averaging a 3.0 rating and 5.4 million viewers for the 2010 Stanley Cup Final — the highest average for the event on broadcast TV since the aforementioned ’02 series.
Ratings For Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final Since ’99
(Sports Business Daily, TV By The Numbers)
