The 2012 Stanley Cup Final got off to a legitimately bad start in the ratings.
Game 1 of the Kings/Devils Stanley Cup Final drew just a 1.8 final rating and 2.9 million viewers on NBC Wednesday night, down 33% in ratings and 36% in viewership from Bruins/Canucks Game 1 last year (2.7, 4.562M), and down 22% and 35%, respectively, from Flyers/Blackhawks Game 1 on a Saturday night in 2010 (2.3, 4.428M).
The game ranks ranks as the lowest rated Stanley Cup Final telecast on broadcast television since 2007. This marks the only time since ’07 that a game on broadcast has failed to attract at least 2% of U.S. TV homes.
In addition, the game is tied as the fourth-lowest rated Stanley Cup Final telecast on broadcast television since FOX began airing games in 1995, ahead of only Game 3 in 2007 (1.1), Game 3 in 2004 (1.4), and Game 3 in 2006 (1.6) — all of which aired on Saturday nights.
Excluding Saturday night games, Game 1 is tied with Senators/Ducks Game 5 in 2007 as the lowest rated Stanley Cup Final telecast on broadcast dating back to ’95.
Game 1 drew a 1.1 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic — down 39% from last year (1.8), and down 35% from 2010 (1.7).
(Wednesday’s numbers from Sports Business Daily)
