- Entering Game 6, the Flyers/Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final is averaging 4.6 million viewers across NBC and Versus, up 10% from Penguins/Red Wings last year (4.1 mil) and the highest average since ’02 (5.1 mil on ESPN/ABC). Ratings have increased by over 50% in six non-NHL markets: Kansas City (80%), Greenville, SC (75%), Salt Lake City (67%), San Diego (64%), Seattle (56%) and New Orleans (50%). San Diego leads all non-NHL markets with a 120% increase in ratings for the playoffs as a whole. (NHL)
- Versus drew a 0.3 U.S. rating and 518,000 viewers for the IndyCar Series Firestone 550k on Saturday night, an 11% increase in viewership from last year’s race (467,000) and the largest audience ever for an IndyCar telecast on the network. Through four races, Versus averaging 434,000 viewers for IndyCar coverage, up 25% from last year (348,000), but down 51% from 2008 (893,000 on ESPN/ESPN2). (Sports Business Daily)
- Through eight telecasts, MSG Network is averaging a 0.14 rating (10,490 HHs) for New York Red Bulls (MLS) coverage. To put that in perspective, fourteen New York Liberty (WNBA) games averaged a 0.10 (7,493 HHs) on the network last year. (New York Times)
NHL season gets off to stronger start on ESPN
The NHL season got off to a much stronger start than a year ago.
