NBC got off to a good start for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Game 2 of the Red Wings/Bruins first round Stanley Cup playoff series earned a 1.8 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon, up 20% from Blackhawks/Wild Game 3 last year (1.5), but down 22% from Penguins/Flyers Game 3 in 2012 (2.3) — at the time the highest rated early round playoff game in the metered markets since 2002.
The 1.8 overnight is NBC’s second-highest on the opening weekend of the playoffs since it began airing games in 2006, trailing only Penguins/Flyers in 2012.
Rangers/Flyers Game 2 earlier in the day drew a 1.6 overnight, up 14% from Penguins/Islanders Game 3 last year (1.4), and up a tick from Predators/Red Wings Game 3 in 2012 (1.5). Saturday’s Game 2 between the Blackhawks and Blues also drew a 1.6, up a third from Rangers/Capitals Game 2 last year (1.2), and up 7% from Captials/Bruins Game 2 in 2012 (1.5).
Rangers/Flyers and Blackhawks/Blues tied the fourth-highest overnight for the opening weekend on NBC (21 telecasts dating back to 2006). This weekend’s games made up three of the top five.
(Weekend overnights from Sports Business Daily)
